OMAM QUOTES

George and Lennie have their own farm

‘Live off the fatta the land’ - Lennie

How Unlikely this dream was

“I seen hundreds of men come by [...] an' that same damn thing in their heads.” -Crooks

Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land.

-Crooks

Curley’s Wife’s dream of becoming a movie star

“He says he was gonna put me in the movies.” - Curley’s Wife

Inability for men to marry

“I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl.” - George

How Curley wants fear, not respect

“This guy Curley sounds like a son-of-a-bitch to me. I don’t like mean little guys’

Crooks is perceived as weak

“I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.” 

-Curley’s Wife

Repetitive use of the N-word

Candy is perceived as being without power

“I ain’t much good with on’y one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That’s why they give me a job swampin’.”

-Candy

George's power over Lennie

"George gonna say I done a bad thing. He ain't gonna let me tend no rabbits."

-Lennie

Crooks is presented as lonely

“S'pose you couldn't go into the bunk house and play rummy 'cause you was black. How'd you like that?”

-Crooks

Curley’s Wife is presented as lonely

“I get lonely […] You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?”

-Curley’s Wife

Ranch workers are perceived as lonely

“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place.”

-George

Georges's friendship with Lennie is driven by fear of loneliness

 “Course Lennie's a God damn nuisance most of the time," said George. "But you get used to goin' around with a guy an' you can't get rid of him.”

-George

Steinbeck explores memories through the relationship between George and Lennie.

‘Lennie was still smiling with delight at the memory of the ranch’

Steinbeck explores how Curley’s wife’s memories lead to bitterness and regret.

‘"I never got that letter," she said. "I always thought my old lady stole it.”

Steinbeck explores Crooks’ memories of happier times with his family.

‘" I ain't no southern n-word. I was born right here in California."

Steinbeck explores memories through his portrayal of Candy and his dog.

“That dog ain’t no good to himself. I wisht somebody’d shoot me if I get old an’ a cripple.”