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
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