Of mice and men quotes

Quotes on the theme of dreams

• “we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house” -George

• “live off of the fatta the lan” -Lennie

• “This thing they never believed in was becoming true”

• “every damn one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ’em ever gets it.” -Crooks

• “I coulda been in the movies, and had nice clothes… an had pitchers took of me” -Curley’s wife

“This thing they never believed in was becoming true”

• The dream of owning land was simply a fantasy which he didn’t believe in

• Offered a form of escapism to deal with the difficulty of his life as an itinerant worker.

“every damn one of ’em’s got a little piece of land in his head. An’ never a God damn one of ’em ever gets it.”

• conveys the sense of displacement felt by itinerant workers.

• The modesty of the dream emphasizes the sense of desperation felt.

• Shows Steinbeck’s criticism of the American dream as an illusion and a form of escapism to make life bearable

Quotes on the theme of loneliness

• “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

• “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” -Lennie

• “A guy needs somebody―to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody” -Crooks

• “I can't talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How'd you like to not talk to anybody?”

What is the name for the belief that some people are better of in society because they are innately superior

Social Darwinism

When was the wall street crash

Oct 1919

Quotes on the theme of discrimination for each important character

Crooks

• “he give the stable buck hell…Ya see the stable buck's a n****r.” -Candy

• “I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny” -Curley’s wife

• “Crooks had reduced himself to nothing”

• “I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse” -Crooks

  Candy

• “Why n’t you shoot him Candy?”-Carlson’

• “Just as soon as I can’t swap out no bunkhouses they’ll put me on the county” -Candy

  Curley’s wife

• “Tart”, “ratrap”, “Jailbait” has “the eye”

• “Whyn't you tell her to stay the hell home where she belongs?”

• “You done it, di’n't you?” -Candy

  Lennie

• “Crazy bastard” -George

• “Crazy son-of-a-bitch” -George

Explain the significance of this quote: “he give the stable buck hell…Ya see the stable buck's a n****r.” -Candy

• Shows the dehumanisation of crooks, as his mistreatment is justified because he is black.

• Candy does not use his name either

• This predjudice from Candy, who is marginalised himself for his age and disability, shows how intrinsic racism was in American society in the 1930’s

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

• Despite being treated as inferior herself as a women, Curley’s wife easily asserts dominance over Crooks

• Shows that because of his race, Crooks is the most vulnerable on the ranch

• Reffers to the widespread lynchings and the influence of the KKK

“Why n’t you shoot him Candy?” “Just as soon as I can’t swap out no bunkhouses they’ll put me on the county” -Candy

• Candy’s dog mirrors Candy, once he is no longer useful, Candy will also be gotten rid of

• Shows the lack of compasion; since the dog has no tangeable value anymore, he can be replaced

• Steinbeck’s criticism of the exploitativness and uncaring nature of capitalism

• Older people struggled during the great depression as they’re life savings became worthless and there was a lack of reliable social safety nets

“Tart”, “ratrap”, “Jailbait” has “the eye”

• Despite never acting in an explicitely sexual manner, Curley’s wife is immedeatly judged and insulted for being overly sexual

• This is contrasted to the men (including her husband) who are never criticised for going to the brothel

• Critisism of society which promotes male promescuity while marginalizing women for their sexuality

You done it, di’n't you?” -Candy

• Shows the normalisation of violence against women

• Displays the deeply ingraned mysoginy which inclines people to blame women rather than take accountability

• Shows the deep biases against Curley’s wife because of her perceived sexuality

“Crazy bastard” “Crazy son-of-a-bitch” -George

• Highlights insensitivity and lack of compassion in society

• Points out the lack of understanding and support for the mentally disabled

• Emphasized since George is the character who cares most about Lennie

• Critizes social darwinism ideology which justifies lack of support and compassion for the most vulnerable

• Mentally ill or disabled people were often treated very cruelly in mental asylums

Quotes on the theme of power and authority for each important character

• George talks to Lennie “sharply”

• “George won’t let me tend to the rabbits now” -Lennie