Lennie and George are two migrant workers who live and work on a ranch in California during the American depression, this was when America was at its worst. There is a very clear hard working system where everyone would have had to work very hard to earn a living. This would affect individuals, which would lead to different attitudes in the society.
There is a racial attitude towards Crooks the Negro stable buck, for example Lennie says to Crooks “Why ain’t you wanted?” Crook replies “Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black”. This shows that Crooks has been isolated from the others in the ranch because he is black.
There are themes of sexism in this story towards curly’s wife because she is the only woman in the ranch, she is always left in her house with nothing to do, people don’t treat her with any respect because they just think that she is only a silly woman. This is shown by Curley’s wife saying to George “Think I’m gonna stay in that two-by-four house and listen too how Curley’s gonna lead with his left twice”.
Lennie is a huge man, shapeless of the face, who has large pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders. Lennie is sort of like a “Big baby” who can’t control his actions. He lacks confidence and intelligence, which people take as an advantage, especially Curly. Lennie always looks up to George and whenever he needs help he will always look straight for George. Lennie has a dream to live with George on a farm and to “Live off the fatta the lan” and to be able to “Tend the rabbits”. These are Lennies true desires, which he is prepared to make come true.
George is a small man who has sharp fascial features and small beadie eyes. George is a very caring man who is always looking after Lennie. He can sometimes be bossy towards Lennie. For example George says to Lennie “Well you ain’t petting no mice while you walk with me”. This proves that George wants to get his own way. George can also be easily tormented and get angry sometimes, which shows his real side, he expresses this by saying to George “Well, we ain’t got any”. George exploded. This shows that George can be easily tempted by Lennie to release his anger. George’s dream is to be able to live on a farm in a big cottage with Lennie and “Live off the fatta the lan”. With no worries or responsibilities.
Sherlock Holmes is a “Singular character” as Watson describes him. He is a very knowledgeable man who always has an answer for everything. Holmes is a master of disguise, this is shown when Watson is looking for a man in the opium den and Holmes is disguised as an old man. Holmes has a passion for investigations and he is very eager to help with cases, for example Holmes says to Mr Wilson “My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything”. Holmes is a very wealthy and upper-class man, this is shown by the way Holmes speaks, for instance sherlock Holmes says “My dear fellow”, this shows that Holmes must have been brought up in a posh and wealthy area.
Watson is a helper for Sherlock Holmes, he is always helping Holmes out with his investigations to solve a crime. Watson is not very bright because he is always asking Holmes for answers, for example Watson says to Holmes “But why are you not conducting the case from Baker street?”. I asked. Watson is a quiet man, this is shown by Holmes saying to Watson “You have a grand gift of silence, Watson”. Watson is also a wealthy man because he has a butler, which in those days showed that you were very wealthy.
Lennie and George can sometimes get on well and they are very protective over each other, for example Lennie says to George “I’ve got you to look after me and you’ve got me to look after you”. This shows that they care about each other. They both have a typical friendship between them like most friends have. George is like a father to Lennie because he always has to look after him and take good care of him. Lennie is like a son to George or a “Big baby”, because he doesn’t know how to control himself, which means George has to be there to help him out. Lennie and George speak to each other in a very slangy dialogue, for example George says to Lennie: “You crazy son of a bitch”. This doesn’t offend them both because that’s how people naturally spoke back then.
Sherlock Holmes and Watson have a friendly relationship between them, for example Holmes says to Watson “I could not wish anything better than to be associated with my friend”. This shows that Holmes likes to occasionally compliment Watson. For instance Holmes says to Watson “You have a grand gift of silence Watson”. Said he “It makes you quite invaluable as a companion”. This shows that Holmes likes Watson’s valuable gift of silence. Holmes and Watson speak to each other in an upper-class manor. For example Holmes says to Watson “I would be very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your pocket”. This shows that they speak to each other in a polite manor.
Others see Lennie and George as two hardworking men who are very ambitious and passionate towards their dreams. They see Lennie as a “Big baby”, who can’t control his temper. Others see George as a very protective and courageous man who is very caring.
Others see Holmes and Watson as two upper-class typical friends. They see Watson as a quiet man, who is very inquisitive because he wants to know about every thing Holmes does. Others see Holmes as a very knowledgeable and well-respected man, who is excellent at whatever he does. They also see him as a master of disguise.
