Preview

Of Mice and Men Character Analysis

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
3785 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Of Mice and Men Character Analysis
OMAM (3 POSSIBLE TO REVISE MORE THAN OTHERS)
CROOKS
Loves ‘torturing’ Lennie about George’s disappearance
Racial injustice
Curley’s Wife has greater authority
Casuality of ‘nigger’

CURLEY’S WIFE
‘a girl’
‘flopped like a fish’
Listen, Nigger’
‘Where’s Curley?’
NO NAME
‘tart’

CURLEY
Curley is the boss's son, so he doesn't need to work like the ordinary ranch hands, and he has time to kill. He's little - so he hates big guys. He is a prize-fighter and looks for opportunities for a fight. "He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious." He is newly-married and is very possessive of his wife - but he still visits brothels. There is a rumour that he wears a glove filled with Vaseline to keep his hand soft for his wife. Wife is a possession- authority and patronising Unrespected unlike Slim as a boss (natural authority)
Revenge on Lennie at end
‘I don’t like Curley’ – CW
‘cause his old man’s the boss’

CANDY
His relationship with this dog and how they reflect the old and 'handicapped' people during 1930s America. When Candy speaks to George about wishing he was the one to kill his dog, that foreshadows the ending of the novela, when George takes it upon himself to end Lennie's life. The killing of Candy's dog also adheres to he cyclical nature of solitude during that period that Steinbeck uses throughout the novel. Candy is really the only character with a real voice. He voices his opinions and is the man source of Gossip on the Ranch. Overall Candy is portrayed as a character that has outlived his use or 'usefulness' and is clinging onto the hope of living the American Dream. ‘disposed of’- represents age discrimination- ‘tall, stoop’ shows how age is

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Curley wants to get more authority on the ranch. When we first see Curley, he is described as closing his hands "into fists" and stiffening his back "into a slight crouch" after looking at Lennie, showing the reader that Curley wants more authority over him. This makes the reader feel slightly uneasy as it hints that Curley may do something which will affect George and Lennie's dream later in the novel.…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Therefore, she is a vital figure conveying the single- minded views of the ranchworkers, showing one of the reasons Curley’s wife was isolated by the men, who viewed her as a ‘rattrap,’ designed to get them sacked from their job, or even worse,…

    • 269 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Soon after they arrive at the ranch, George and Lennie meet some new and delightful people that they will be living with, until they earn enough money to buy a place of their own. One of the new people that Lennie and George meet was Candy and his old dog. Candy was an old…

    • 1272 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    An aging ranch handyman, Candy lost his hand in an accident and worries about his future on the ranch. Fearing that his age is making him useless, he seizes on George’s description of the farm he and Lennie will have, offering his life’s savings if he can join George and Lennie in owning the land. The fate of Candy’s ancient dog, which Carlson shoots in the back of the head in an alleged act of mercy, foreshadows the manner of Lennie’s death. He is an old man that is missing a hand. He is an outcast and is discriminated against. He offers his life savings to George and Lennie to help finance their dream. He wants to be…

    • 883 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Candy is lonely because of his old age. He is rejected by the people of the ranch due to him being old and handicapped. His only company is his faithful dog companion who later in the story is killed by Carlson. Candy response was "You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody'd shoot me. But they won't do nothing like that. I won't have no place to go, an' I can't get no more jobs.”(Steinbeck, 60) This quote really symbolizes the suffering that Candy goes through and how the men were willing to kill the old dog, while letting the old guy suffer. This also leads to Candy wanting to join George and Lennie on there dream to own their own ranch.…

    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Curley tries to pick fights and start arguments. For instance, he instigates numerous fights with various characters, always being the aggressor. This is shown especially when he challenges Carlson: “You keep outta this ‘les you wanta step outside” (Steinbeck, 62). Once Carlson tells him off, he turns his anger to Lennie, who in Curley’s his mind is the easiest target due to Lenny’s his simple demeanor: “Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier. ‘What the hell you laughin’ at?’” (Steinbeck, 62). This is one of several times that Steinbeck depicts Curley accosting someone else.…

    • 391 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Crooks Loneliness

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages

    This sign of eagerness mislead others into believing she was a “tart”. Many stayed away from her in hopes of not being knocked around by Curley or even worse getting “canned”. In a way, Curley wanted to protect her but was never willing to provide to her needs. Because of this lack of comfort, Curley’s wife also spoke to George. When speaking to him, she admits that she is very lonely and only stays with Curley because her past dreams didn't come true. As the story unfolds, she begins to grow on Lennie and tries to relate to his strange behaviors in reason to feel a connection.…

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    J.W. Van Goethe once said “no two persons regard in the world in exactly the same way.” This means everybody has different views of the world and responds physically and mentally to different situations. I agree with this quote because we all have different perspectives and we often debate about the way we view society. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck clearly shows how two persons are different in their own independent ways. The story of two migrant workers, George and Lennie run away from a farm in weed California because Lennie who freezes when he’s s cared,doesnt let go of a girls dress she panics and accuses him of rape. they try to make their dream come true of having their own house where they can live off the fat of the land. George and Lennie have to work at a ranch miles away from their preceding job, they meet the bosses son named Curly who has a short temper, and also meet a well-respected jerk line skinner who people look up to. Both men regard the world in different ways and both have different personalities that make them who they are.…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The book 'Of Mice and Men' mainly illustrates the ranch life of Lennie and George and the conflicts between Lennie and other workers. The author uses details of their experience to demonstrate the helplessness and the powerlessness of the victims of the Great Depression and the falsity of American dream.…

    • 400 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Curley’s is an aggressive and unpleasant character who is always picking fights; he is handy with his fists. When Lennie and George first arrive at the ranch Candy the swamper, tells them that Curley is ‘alla time picking scrapes with big guys’. It appears that Curley is trying to compensate for his small stature, he wants the respect of the men who work at the ranch and believes that violence and aggression is the only way to prove himself. The scene opens with Curley, the son of the ranch owner left fuming after Carlson a ranch hand calls him “yella of a frogs belly’’. In an attempt to recover power he attacks Lennie. He knows that whilst Lennie is the largest and biggest worker on the ranch he is also a simpleton, is easily intimidated and is unlikely to retaliate or defend himself. Curley sees the physical effect of his verbal outburst on Lennie. Lennie looks ‘helplessly’ at George and tries ‘to retreat’. Curley’s attack is planned because he is ‘balanced and poised’ he is in command of his actions. Hearing Lennie’s ‘cry of terror’ gives Curley a rush of power and incites him too continue his attack.…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Listen Nigger” this is an interesting quote that could suggest that Curley’s wife is discriminating Crooks, which is ironic because she is a victim of discrimination…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    disabled. These people are used in order to illustrate that minorities are unequal in the…

    • 1156 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He has no social status within the community and he is very low down the pecking order as he is old and useless. Candy only has one companion; which is his old dog that never leaves his side. Candy’s main fear is that the boss will decide that he is too old and useless to work anymore and will can him so he spends nearly all the time worrying about getting canned. Steinbeck uses the dog to comparison to Candy as the dog represents Candy, he is old and useless and it reminds the reader the inevitable fate that awaits anybody who outlives there usefulness. Carlson decides its best for the dog to be shot, Candy tries to get him to change his mind but because of the lack of his social status he is unable to overrule Carlson’s decision this shows just how important it is to have a high social status within the community. Steinbeck creates tension on page 75, this is when the dog is just about to be shot by Carlson, Steinbeck uses short sharp sentences and uses the other characters to build up to the moment the shot is fired, after the shot is fired Candy turns on his side and faces the wall, this represents the feeling of loneliness and isolation that shooting this dog brings to…

    • 1200 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thankfully, George didn't seem to be mad at me. He didn't seem to be mad at me at all. We were both beside the brush far away from the ranch, infront of a vast river. Across the river was the Gabilan mountain range, which reminded me of the rabbits that I would soon be able to tend with George. I asked him to tell me about the other guys an' about us, like he's done before. Then I asked him to tell me how it's gonna be in the future, at our farm. I love it when he talks about the farm, and the way he describes it is so dreamy. Once again, it felt as if I fell into a deep trance by George's words; I could imagine all the rabbits and the alfalfa, the cows, pigs, and chickens.. All in our very own farm where we have our own freedom. As George…

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Candy

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Steinbeck presents Candy as a vulnerable character in this passage. He does this by referencing him as an “old man” before giving his name, so that the reader instantly knows his physical state and that he is weak person. He is also shown to be desperate throughout the passage when he tries to make friends with George and Lennie as soon as he meets them. He gossips about other people on the ranch and makes sure George “won’t tell Curley nothing” he said, as he finds this the only way to keep the men talking to him. He is presented as a lonely character due to his lack of friends already on the ranch, so he feels it is necessary to get close to the new men, therefore needs to be welcoming and confident. He also familiarizes George and Lennie on all the other men on the ranch and gives his opinion to warn them, “Slim’s a jerkline skinner. Hell of a nice fella”. This way the two men are given first impressions on all the other men before they even meet, according to Candy’s point of view, so that they can agree with him and get along well. He instantly becomes a pivotal character in the novel due to his knowledge of all the people at the ranch. Finally, Steinbeck introduces Candy’s “ancient dog” in this passage, which symbolizes his position. Even though his dog is old and useless he is still alive with no purpose, just like Candy staying on the ranch with no hand as he cannot do any of the proper jobs except “settin’ out the wash basins”.…

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays