Of mice and men themes
Lennie/Curleys wife
Lennie
"He pawed up the hay until it partly covered her."
Animal imagery is used here, indicating the animal instinct that all humans have- Seinbeck commenting on the ugliness of human nature- Would do anything to reach their goal
"Her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still. for Lennie had broken her neck"
Level of violence builds up to a cresendo when lennie kills curleys wife
Short sentences to build tension, yet tere is a peacefullness after the struggle symbolising curleys wife is finally at rest-Not frustrated-Sense of calm
Curley's wife
"I could get you strung up a leaf so easy it ain't even funny"
Highlights the social prejudice during the 1930s
Reppitition of violence mirrors how the mens lives were repetitive and unfulfilling, only the american dream gives them hope in the never-ending cycle
Highlights the violent atitude of 1930s men following the great depression
although not at the top she still has power and is making it evident that she has power-Commenting on the manipulation and prejudice that was a societal norm in ranch life
Even a hierachy between minorites
Curley's wife picks on crooks to feel as though she has some kind of power
"you're the non fellas that just come, ain't ya?"- wants to show she is powerfull, although in reality she may not be
“Lonely. Why can’t you talk to you? I never talk to nobody ”
"Lennie's closed hand slowly obeyed"
Lennie follows georges every command
Mirrors candy and his dogs realationship-foreshadows lennie's death
Fore shadows Lennies death
Feeling of loneliness and desperation for social interaction/companionship
The lives of itinerant workers were not sociable, Financially driven they choose ranch life due to its availability and convenience, not for the sociability and experience it brings.
“Now her roughed cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly”
Vision of mythical being such a princess-snow white perfect in the eyes of society only in death
Goerge
"Shoot the guts outa him"
George is faced with a painful choice that grips the reader: he can either kill his friend, and save him from Curley who has promised to “shoot the guts outa” him or he can leave Lennie to the law and “the boobyhatch”
"Piece of jailbait"
George sees the potential for disaster. This is expressed in the violence of his reaction where he calls her a “tramp” and a “piece of jail bait”. In a way though, George is responsible for her death - he can see it coming. When he finds her dead, he doesn’t react as Candy does (blaming Curley’s wife for destroying their dream) - which is interesting. He’s more resigned to it, as if he’d seen it already. George knows he has to kill Lennie. All along he’s been protesting Lennie is a “nice guy” with no “meanness” in him (which is true) but he knows Lennie is dangerous.
“You do bad things and I got to get you out.”
George is Lennie’s carer: fighting Lennie’s inevitable tragic destiny: “You do bad things and I got to get you out.” Lennie is the catalyst of the action - moving from Weed, killing Curley’s wife. George is purely reactive.
"get the jack together"
George seems to be in charge of the dream: “get the jack together” for “a couple of acres… an’ live’ off the fatta the land”, but also promises “millions” of rabbits “red” and “blue”. In a weird kind of way, it’s only Lennie’s faith, and desire for George to retell the fairy story that makes the dream real. The dream isn’t realistic. It can’t exist in this dirty, cruel world. It only exists in Lennie’s head. BUT through his faith, George, Candy and Crooks start to believe.