By John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men

Agrees to care for Lennie, finds fun at Lennie’s expense at first

Understands his responsibility for Lennie’s life and death

Appears nobleTragic flaw – his willingness to hide the

wrongs Lennie commitsTries to make his and Lennie’s dream come

true, only to see it collapse

George, the tragic hero

Retarded and means no harm; tries hard to obey George

Can’t anticipate or understand the consequences of his actions

Has great strength; large with shapeless features

Has a sense of innocence but is terrified when George is displeased with him

Doesn’t understand the harm his strength can bring

Lennie, George’s companion

Ranch boss’s son, small and quickHot-tempered and belligerentJealous and possessive of his new wife, whom

he does not love

Curley

Never named directlyDresses provocatively, flirts with ranch

workersBored and disappointed with present life,

unhappy with new husbandShe and Curley provide suspense and climax

of plot

Curley’s wife

Old ranch worker who has lost one hand, is helpful and friendly

Afraid of being fired when he gets too old to work

Plans to help George and Lennie buy a farm

Candy

Master skinner (mule driver) at ranchQuiet, grave, dignified, and perceptiveAccepts people as they areHigh moral standards, respected for skill and

authority

Slim

Powerful ranch workerPractical and down to earthFocuses on actions and thingsUnaware of others’ feelings

Carlson

Black stable hand at ranchProud and aloofLives by himself in the harness roomEndures pain from a crooked spineYearns to join George, Lennie, Candy as they

dream of a small farmLonely life serves as counterpoint to George’s

and Lennie’s life

Crooks

George Milton – reference to Milton, the poet who is physically blind; George is blind to the importance of his friendship with Lennie

Lennie Small – presents irony. He is actually big, but small brained

Curley – typical name for a bully “cur” Middle English for “to growl”, an inferior dog, surly or cowardly fellow

Symbolic Meaning of Names

Carlson – Old German for “farmer”Crooks – crooked spineCandy – sweetCurley’s nameless wife – it is significant in its

absence (the prostitute Susy has a name), called by many other nicknames

Symbolic Meaning of Names

Candy’s old dog – represents Candy, old past his use, wants to be spared from future suffering, should have been put out of misery by trusted friend

Rabbits – represent Lennie’s dreamCurley and his wife – represent evil – both

oppress and abuse the workers

Symbols

Curley’s wife – reaches out for human contact and is killed by it

Lennie – peaceful, gentle man, becomes an agent of death for so many creatures

Slim – sanctions shooting of Lennie after refusing to be drawn into violence by Curley

Irony

All main characters suffer from it, try to flee from it

A part of an itinerant ranch worker’s lifeFear of loneliness is major reason why

George and Lennie stay togetherCurley’s wife is so lonely she forces her

attention on workers; leads to her death

Loneliness

George and Lennie dream of having their own place, central to action of story

Dream compels them to stay at the ranch though they sense danger

Characters say repeatedly they share the same dream, but none achieve it

Curley’s wife dreams of becoming film star, frustrated by marriage and empty life

Hopes and Dreams

Dream gives George, Lennie, Candy, and Crooks a sense of dignity because they hope to succeed where others have failed

Lennie takes pride in George’s friendship and in his part of the dream

Curley has little pride, challenges every man he meets to a fight

Crook’s pride cause aloofness; when he reaches out he is reminded of “his place”

Dignity and Pride

George and Lennie’s dream of having their own place, being their own boss, and “living off the fatta the lan”

Other ranch workers who want part of the same dream

Lennie’s fascination with rabbits, owning them represents his view of the dream

Curley’s wife has her own dream – being in films

Curley illustrates a dark side of dream – becoming violent

The American Dream

George’s makes him regret pranks played on Lennie; also compels him to defend Lennie from taunts and threats

Lennie feels bad when he does “a bad thing”; tries to do right by watching and listening to George

Ranch workers will patronize prostitutes, yet condemn Curley’s wife for being flirtatious

Sense of Morality

Candy’s sense of morality leads him to regret not shooting his own dog

Men regard Curley’s aggressiveness as unfair; he expects sympathy

George believes he must shoot Lennie rather than have strangers hurt him

Slim passes judgment on Lennie’s death saying twice, “you hadda do it”

Curley and Carlson shown as morally oblivious to Lennie’s death

Sense of Morality cont.