You can use this area for legal statements, copyright information, a mission statement, etc. The other ranch hands barely remember Bill Tenner. However, he strokes her hair too hard, making her panic and shout. He has a childs mind and a giants body. You leave her be" (35-36). I tried not to forget. ", "She slang her pups last night, " said Slim. I don't know what the hell she wants George said, 'She's gonna make a mess. Even with all of its concern for treating with dignity the lives of the socially disempowered, Of Mice and Men derogatorily assigns women only two lowly functions: caretakers of men, and sex objects. The story takes place during the Great Depression. The most important thing a reader learns is that people who are different can be friends. Jesus Christ, you're a crazy bastard! Hubba hubba. Lennie discovers that Slims dog has had puppies. "George lay back on the sand and crossed his hands under his head, and Lennie imitated him, raising his head to see whether he were doing it right" (7). "Come on, ya big bastard. z/}VFK-`! As Lennie and George fall asleep they talk about their version of the American Dream, to own their own ranch some day and live off the fat of the land. Read more about strength and weakness as a motif. ]n}w`" aSVh$eKBHfE&35Q$SX$k9u{{Mzc!qW?n,Av=6J\Y^,eX#RwLj"f--l'[3;c~MA&3GaOIODE I:V ON1RVLD|K(=yU"O This incident shows how unusual George and Lennie's friendship is. What is Georges biggest fear at this point in the novel? George tells the men to go in a different direction to where he knows Lennie will be. likes to pet soft things (mice, rabbits, puppies, soft fabric), does not understand cause and effect (he keeps catching and petting mice, when they bite he kills them, over and over again), he does not understand the consequences of his own actions, the bunk house has beds with thin, cheap mattresses, the men have an old apple crate to store their little belongings they own, it is common for the bunkhouse to have lice and roaches, He gives the men a gallon of whiskey on Christmas, He is annoyed that George and Lennie are late for work on the ranch, the boss is suspicious of George and Lennie's friendship, the boss thinks that George might be taking advantage of Lennie because he is "simple", George tells the boss that Lennie got kicked in the head by a horse and he takes care of Lennie because they are cousins (not true), "the old swamper"--the farm custodian, he cleans up around the farm, old and handicapped--he lost his hand in a farming accident years ago, best friend is his ancient dog, the dog cannot see and can barely walk and smells, Curley wears boots with heels to set himself apart from the other ranch hand and to make himself taller, likes to prove himself by picking fights with bigger men "he hates big guys", It is immediately apparent that Curley does not like Lennie (because Lennie is a big man) and there will be trouble, George and Lennie agree to stay away from Curley, Curley wears a glove on his hand filled with Vaseline. Of Mice and Men. Get instant access to all the benefits of SparkNotes PLUS! "he moved into the room, and he moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen. Many men are out of work and the farming industry in the Midwestern United States is suffering. He can't chew nothing else" (39). In chapter 1 the setting of the story is revealed to the reader. Worked here about threee months ago Bill and me worked in that patch of field peas. ". Read more about why Curleys wifes name is never revealed. He converses with Lennie and George, and is quietly impressed by their friendship, appreciating the fact that they look out for one another. Slim leaves the bunkhouse with Crooks, the "Negro stable buck", to fix a mule's foot. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. endobj As Lennie gets off the bunk and approaches the door, Curley returns, looking for his wife. "A guy got to sometimes" (105). He reached in his side pocket and brought out Carlson's Luger; he snapped off the safety, and the hand and gun lay on the ground behind Lennie's back. "I don' know, " said George. And he is worried about Curley because Curley clearly dislikes Lennie. The purpose of chapter 1 is to introduce the setting of the novel and the main characters George and Lennie. I swear you hadda. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). "Lookin' for his old lady. What prediction can readers draw from George's instructions. He got newspaper clippings about it. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love. Our tips from experts and exam survivors will help you through. As George and Lennie prepare to leave, Curley appears again, looking for his wife, and hurries off angrily when they tell him where she went. George claims that Lennie had Carlsons gun and he had to shoot him after managing to take the gun away from him. Lennie chills in the barn with his (dead) puppy. To avoid getting into trouble with Curley, they promise to stick even closer to each other than usual. They dont belong no place. During the Great Depression, friendships did not last. We got a future. "Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella. The novel Of Mice and Men has a circular plot lineIn Chapter 6 the story has come full circle. Don't let him do it Curley's fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it. At first, he tries to ignore her because he knows that George doesnt want him to speak to her. George and Lennie are talking about their dream and Candy overhears them. He is sent to town to fetch the Sheriff after Curleys wife is murdered. Curley will not fight with Slim because Slim is needed on the ranch and respected by all the ranch hands. Maybe he ain't bright, but I never seen such a worker. She's a jail bait all set on the trigger" (56-57), "What's eatin' on Curley?" He has accidentally killed the dog through stroking it too hard and is worried that George will find out and stop him from looking after the rabbits when they get their farm, so he tries to hide it under some straw. Curley agrees to say his hand was crushed in a farm machine. CHAPTER 1 (pages 1-18) "Meeting George and Lennie". Curley, an aggressive and malicious ex-boxer, immediately senses that he might have some fun at Lennies expense, and begins to demand that the big guy talk. After Curley leaves, Candy explains that Curley loves beating up big guys, kind of like hes mad at em because he aint a big guy. Curleys temper has only gotten worse since his recent marriage to a tart who enjoys flirting with the ranch-hands. An' Curley's handy, God damn handy. Curley is short. He is fair. Lennie begged, "Le's do it now. I can smell that dog a mile away. When the boss asks about their skills and previous employment, George speaks for Lennie to prevent him from revealing his lack of intelligence. Please wait while we process your payment. "Look, Candy. Whit said sarcastically, "He spends half his time lookin' for her, and the rest of the time she's lookin' for him. " "His eyes slipped on past and lighted on Lennie; and Lennie was still smiling with delight at the memory of the ranch. Curley notices Lennie lying on his bunk smiling (about his puppy and the rabbits). She has no identity other than Curley's Wife. His eyes were wide open. What does George's tirade reveal about their relationship and past? He says that if there is trouble, to go to the complete other side of the room. Candy is worried he will lose his job and home when he gets to old to work. "I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with 'im. Ace your assignments with our guide to Of Mice and Men! (15-18). "Don't you remember Bill Tenner? He made a promise to Lennie's mother when she died to take of Lennie. Candy was injured working on the ranch years ago. ", "Curley's just spoilin' or he wouldn't start for Slim. Seems to me sometimes it jus' works the other way around. Accompanying Candy is an ancient, half-blind sheepdog, an animal that the old man has raised since it was a puppy. It is peaceful with fresh green willows and golden. Lennie turned his head and looked off across the pool and up the darkening slopes of the Gabilans. It is revealed to the reader in Chapter 2 that ranch hands have a very hard and difficult life. And he knows how much it's gonna set him back. Carlson A ranch worker. As Slim, who voluntarily drowns four of his dogs nine puppies, makes clear, there is little room or tolerance for the weak, especially when resources are limited. Candy asks about the dream of buying a farm and the two realise that this is now never going to happen. Red and blue and green rabbits, Lennie. The story takes place on a ranch in the Salinas River Valley in California. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! These here jail baits is just set on the trigger of the hoosegow. With us it aint like that. Candy reluctantly agrees to let Carlson shoot his dog. CHAPTER 2 (pages 19-41) "George and Lennie arrive on the ranch".

He doesn't want him drinking the water because George thinks it's not clean. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! ". If you don't tell nobody what happened, we ain't going to. Alone with Curleys wifes body, Candy lets out his frustration and anger, blaming her for the destruction of their dream.

"I can't stand him in here, " said Carlson. She claims to be looking for her husband and flirts with the two men and Slim, the skilled mule driver, who passes by outside. George finds Lennie and speaks to him, telling him that he is not angry and trying to calm him down. Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent (54). I never seen nobody like her. There ain't nobody can keep up with him. An' he was so damn nice to me for pullin' him out. Lennie gave a cry of terrorLennie covered his face with his huge paws and bleated with terror. Free trial is available to new customers only. Got no teeth, damn near blind, can't eat. She took him when he was a baby and raised him up. Slim enters the bunkhouse. George tells him that she was there looking for Curley. She opens up to him about her dislike of her husband and her aspirations of becoming a movie star. Lennie tries to sneak the one-day old pup into the bunkhouse in his shirt. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Made me seem God damn smart alongside of himturns to Lennie and says, 'Jump in. ' And Slim gave him noneCandy lay rigidly on his bed staring at the ceilingSlim said, 'Candy, you can have any one of thme pups you want'The silence was in the room again. George is afraid he will tangle with Curley himself as they all leave for supper. He is short, stocky, and thinks he is better than all the others. He can't think of nothing to do himself, but he sure can take orders "He ain't no cuckoo, " said George. On the contrary, he is the more resolved to protect him, because, as he says to him: Somebodyd shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself. He sat down again. He walked over with his heavy- legged stride and looked down at the dog. His talents make him one of the most important and respected men on the ranch. Its like shes using them to make her husband mad. "What the hell you laughin' at?" Lennie is afraid when Curleys wife enters the barn, but shes not freaked out about the dead puppy. Candy leaves, and George tells Lennie to stay away from Curley and not speak to him; however, George says, if Curley punches Lennie, Lennie is to let him have it.. George and Lennie arrive at the ranch after the men have left to work the morning shift. Men are working as migrant farm workers, traveling from farm to farm looking for any kind of temporary work they can get. With Candy's money George realizes they will only need to work another month on the ranch and they will have enough money to buy the farm ($600). I gotta tell you again, do I? The novel altogether dismisses women from its vision of paradise, regardless of their place in the real world. Candy leaves to prepare wash basins for the men who will soon return from the fields, and George tells Lennie to steer clear of Curley, because fighting the bastard will likely cost them their jobs. George fears that Lennie will make them loose their job and will do something similar to what happened in Weed. He breaks her neck then leaves, aware that he has done something wrong. He damn near killed his partner buckin' barley. Got kinda used to each other after a little while" (44). Used to play jokes on 'im 'cause he was too dumb to take care of 'imself. Then Curley's rage exploded. Lennie gets his puppy! Lennie obliges. From Lennie and George's arrival at the ranch to an unpleasant encounter with Curley. Notice she does NOT have a name other than Curley's wife. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Candy who has saved up nearly $350 dollars convinces George and Lennie to let him give them his money and Candy can go live with them. They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else. endobj Stinks like hell, too. This section also immediately and painfully establishes the cruel, predatory nature of the world. An' he ain't no good to himself. }rhT,)thN2pxfVg+l=~nfG_y.JM &$&. Lennie looked blankly at him. The triangle rings for dinner, and the men filter out of the bunkhouse, with Lennie suddenly excited by the prospect of having a puppy. "We gotta get a big stake together. what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys? He damn near drowned before we could get him. <> Which of the three branches of government is the most powerful and why? "Got no teeth, " he said. Why do George and Lennie travel together? Curleys wife The only woman on the ranch. When the other men head to Suzys, Lennie gets lonely and goes to see Crooks. George is concerned because he thinks that Curleys wife will get them all into trouble. The men in Of Mice and Men dominate the ranch and long, more than anything else, to live peaceful, untroubled lives in the company of other men. Lennie speaks to her about the farm he and George will have and the rabbits he will look after. The uneasy feeling comes after she leaves and George becomes enraged at Lennie. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. He hallucinates, seeing his Aunt Clara and a giant rabbit. George's tirade reveals that George thinks Lennie made them lose their jobs in weed and how Lennie is so child like and feels Lennie liking soft things made him touch the girls dress in weed. The bunkhouse is an unadorned building where the men sleep on burlap ticking and keep their few possessions in apple boxes that have been nailed to the walls. Millions of 'em. It is the end of the work day and the men return to the bunkhouse. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. He hallucinates, seeing his Aunt Clara and a giant rabbit. Their friendship is rare and impressive. Carlson wants to kill the dog because he is crippled. What does it reveal about Lennie to the reader? George explains to Slim that he used to make fun of Lennie's disability but stopped because he almost killed Lennie. Throughout the course of the work, nearly all of the characters will confront this grim reality. Carlson says that his gun is missing and they suspect that Lennie has taken it. Take a real smart guy and he ain't hardly ever a nice fella. What is Georges fear at this point in the novel? One of the ranch hands Whit sees a letter from his friend Bill Tenner in a magazine. It is silent in the bunkhouse as the men wait for Carlson to kill Candy's dog and best friend. God awmighty I never seen such a strong guy. " Candy overhears George telling Lennie that he is glad they are not actually related. They do not understand that Curley's wife is lonely living far from town on a ranch with only men. He pulled the trigger. "Jus' tell Lennie what to do an' he'll do it if it don't take no figuring. When Lennie momentarily forgets Georges instructions and speaks, George becomes visibly nervous. When George says that Curleys wife seems like a tramp, Lennie responds that he thinks she is purty, causing George to warn Lennie to keep away from her, just like hes supposed to keep away from Curley. "Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly" (4). Slim smiled wrylySlim went on. George claims that Lennie had Carlsons gun and he had to shoot him after managing to take the gun away from him.

Furry ones, George, like I seen in the fair in Sacremento. I been thinkin'. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose" (2). The purpose of the story of the rabbits is to help Lennie relax and calm down and to give him some hope of a better life. This was Slim, the jerkline skinner" (37). " He does not live witht he other ranch workers. In the novella as a whole, Steinbeck celebrates and romanticizes the bonds between men. , Lennie is hiding in the bushes next to the clearing he and George stayed in at the start of the book. Lennie Small The obedient friend of George. Lennie tries to hide the mouse he has petted (to death). Worried that he will get into trouble, Lennie covers her mouth with his hand and shakes her. He is sensible and neat, with a mind of his own. He wonders if George is taking advantage of a man who lacks the faculties to take care of himself. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Lennie gets to see Curleys wife again. %PDF-1.5 He wants George to "give him hell," and then to tell him the dream-farm story.

It is possible because when Lennie says he will go live somewhere else, George backs down because he likes and cares about Lennie and feels like he needs to protect him. However, she notices his puppy and comforts him so he starts talking to her. Go on George! Copyright 2002-2022 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. "No, " said George. They move into the bunk house and meet the boss, his son and the workers on the ranch. "S'pose I went in with you guys. CHAPTER 3 (pages 42-72) "Candy's Dog and Curley's Hand". Lennie asks George to describe the dream of the farm and he does so. The next day, Lennie and George make their way to the ranch bunkhouse, where they are greeted by Candy, an aging swamper, or handyman, who has lost his right hand. A brutal man. What is George afraid of what does he tell Lennie to do? "Someday--we're gonna get the jack together and we're gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an' a cow and some pigs and-- an' live offa the fatta the lan', Lennie shouted. Lennie is attacked by Curley. Do George and Candy still plan to buy the dream farm after Lennies death? The author's purpose is to show how unusual George and Lennie's relationship is for this time period. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. I hardly never seen two guys travel togetherNever seem to give a damn about nobody. Got in the finals for the Golden Gloves. Curleys strength, on the other hand, depends upon his ability to dominate and defeat those weaker than him. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. He is alternately mad and sad. That's why they give me a job swampin'. Soon enough, Curley, the bosss son, a small young man who wears a Vaseline-filled work glove on his left hand and high-heeled boots to distinguish himself from the laborers, joins them. "Never you mind, " said Slim. Lennie is only worried that George will be mad at him and George will not let him tend the rabbits. George and Lennie imagine themselves alone, without wives or women to complicate their vision of tending the land and raising rabbits. Lennie looks happily toward the river as George shoots him in the back of the head. George and Lennie are on their way to a ranch to get jobs. He is mentally retarded, and relies upon George. She says that she understands and offers him her hair to stroke, which he does. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. George then uses Carlsons gun to shoot Lennie in the back of the head. , which takes place on the Sunday afternoon, starts with Lennie in the barn, petting his dead puppy.

I gotta.

Why does Curley wear a glove on one hand? George worries that something bad will happen between the two of them. George reminds him again of the meeting place they agreed on should anything go wrong. He is knowledgeable about farm animals. The men enter and Curley demands that Lennie be found and killed.

The men on the ranch look to him for advice, and, later, even Curley will deliver an uncharacteristic apology after wrongly accusing Slim of fooling around with his wife. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is focused on the unlikely friendship of workers George and Lennie. From this incident George learned the moral lesson that it is wrong to take advantage of the weak. Read about our approach to external linking. George has to make Lennie throw the mouse away. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Curley The boss son who was a boxer. Their behavior strikes the boss as suspicious, and he asks why George feels the need to take such good care of his companion. "Go on, " said Lennie. Read more about the realistic depiction of human struggle in Of Mice and Men. Georges fear that lice and roaches infest his bunk furthers the image of the struggles of such a life. Why is Crookss room set apart from the others? Lennie waits for George to show up and worries about how mad he will be. Wed love to have you back! Bill Haley ultimately failed to become the first rock star in part because he: When the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system becomes activated, from which organs is blood flood shunted away from. " A man's voice called from up the river, and an-other man answered. He is a cripple (missing a hand), working as a Swamper. Tha's three hunderd, and I got fifty more comin' the end a the month. What does this show the reader that George is worried about? Slim reports that he drowned four of the puppies immediately because their mother would have been unable to feed them.

An' have rabbits. Bill was a hell of a nice fella" (51). That dog of Candy's is so God damn old he can't hardly walk. Cancel within the first 7 days and you won't be charged.

"George spoke proudly. "Well, you keep away from her, 'cause she's a rat-trap in I ever seen one" (36). Lennie and George are different from other ranchers because they want to work together. "George had been listening to the distant sounds. Carlson and Curley watch them leave, wondering, what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys? <> Of Mice and Men follows him toward a difficult realization that the world is designed to prey on the weak. stream Cancel within the first 7 days and you won't be charged.

However, Crooks has a skill. 4 0 obj It jus' seems kinda funny a cuckoo like him and a smart little guy like you travelin' together George said at last. He is a lonely character, who is discriminated against, due to his race. An' they give me two hundred an' fifty dollars 'cause I los' my hand An' I got fifty more saved up right in the bank, right now. We'll even send you a reminder. Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier. 'So you forgot that awready, did you? And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie's head. He runs to get George and the two discuss what has happened and predict that Curley will want to kill Lennie. >zp06 cosf$}paa04:^[0P}|4GFw/*2Nvd;z}~pG Kg8koW}? Curley and Slim get into a verbal argument about Curley's wife. He ain't no good to you, Candy. He is discriminated against because he is handicapped and now he is getting old. He tells her that he likes to pet soft things. 7,5;K8e~ Clean forgot I told him to jump in. He feels "connected" to Bill again. During the Great Depression it was very unusual for men to be friends, travel together and look out for each other. I know a little place we can get cheap, but they ain't givin' it away. " If you dont use it, the Bb footer will slide up. The rest of the men find George after hearing the shot. This admonition worries Lennie, who says, I dont like this place, George. Whereas Curley is plagued by self-doubts that cause him to explode violently, Slim possesses a quiet competence that earns him the respect of everyone on the ranch. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD.