CHARACTERIZATION

Of Mice and Men

CHARACTER: Lennie Small

Physical Description, Age, Personality: Large, lumbering, childlike Mild mental disability Gentle, kind Loves to pet soft things Very strong; doesn’t know his own

strength

CHARACTER: Lennie Small

What do they do or what is their relationship to others?

Travels with George, his caretaker Migrant worker His goal is to tend the rabbits on their farm Crushes Curley’s hand in a fight Kills his puppy, then breaks the “tart’s” neck Shot by George at the end of the novel

CHARACTER: George Milton

Physical Description, Age, Personality: Small, wiry, quick-witted

CHARACTER: George Milton

What do they do or what is their relationship to others?

Travels with and cares for Lennie / devoted to him and protects him

Migrant worker Leads Lennie & Candy in possibly buying

farm Forced to shoot Lennie in the back of the head

CHARACTER: Candy

Physical Description, Age, Personality: Old man who lost his hand His old dog follows him Paid $250 for losing hand on the ranch

CHARACTER: Candy

What do they do or what is their relationship to others?

“Old swamper” The fate of his ancient dog, which Carlson shoots

in the back of the head in an alleged act of mercy, foreshadows the manner of Lennie’s death.

Offers his life savings to buy the farm with George & Lennie

CHARACTER: Curley

Physical Description, Age, Personality: Confrontational, mean-spirited, aggressive Wears high-heeled boots Wears a glove with Vaseline to keep his

hand soft for his wife Fighter

CHARACTER: Curley

What do they do or what is their relationship to others?

Boss’s son Jealously guards his wife Fights Lennie and, in turn, Lennie crushes

his hand Leads the men to kill Lennie at end of book

CHARACTER: Curley’s wife

Physical Description, Age, Personality: Only female character in the novel Never given a name “Tart” Lonely Dresses / makes herself up Flirtatious Represents the temptation of female sexuality in

a male-dominated world

CHARACTER: Curley’s wife

What do they do or what is their relationship to others?

Curley’s wife Wants attention from others Wanted to be an actress Confesses that she doesn’t like Curley Dies when Lennie breaks her neck

CHARACTER: Slim

Physical Description, Age, Personality: Considered “prince of the ranch” Hatchet face is ageless Big man

CHARACTER: Slim

What do they do or what is their relationship to others?

“Foreman” / leader of the team Jerkline skinner / mule driver Well-respected by others He alone understands the bond between George &

Lennie Only character at end of novel who knows/

understands why George shot Lennie; he comforts George at the novel’s tragic ending.

CHARACTER: Carlson

Physical Description, Age, Personality: Big-stomached man Persistent; not sympathetic to others’

feelings

CHARACTER: Carlson

What do they do or what is their relationship to others?

Ranch hand Shot Candy’s old dog George uses his Luger (gun) to shoot

Lennie

CHARACTER: Crooks

Physical Description, Age, Personality: Only black man in novel Gets name from crooked back Proud, bitter, funny Lonely, so he reads in his room Not a “southern negro”; he is from CA

CHARACTER: Crooks

What do they do or what is their relationship to others?

Stable buck (stable hand) Because of segregation, lives by himself Grows fond of Lennie, & even mentions he

would like to live with them on their farm Cowers in his bunk when Curley’s wife

indicates she could have him lynched

CHARACTER: The Boss

Physical Description, Age, Personality: Wore high-heeled boots to prove he

wasn’t a working man Bought the ranch workers a gallon of

whiskey for Christmas Fair-minded

CHARACTER: The Boss

What do they do or what is their relationship to others?

Boss of the ranch He is afraid George is taking advantage

of Lennie Respected by ranch workers