Explore the way in which Steinbeck presents the relationships between between Curleys Wife and other characters in Of Mice and Men
Matthew Peers Explore the way in which Steinbeck presents the relationships between between Curley’s Wife and other characters in Of Mice and Men In the book Of Mice and Men the author John Steinbeck presents Curley’s Wife dramatically different to his other characters. Throughout the story she remains nameless, only known as ‘Curley’s Wife’ and yet she is constantly mentioned around the ranch. She wanders around gaining many different reactions from ‘she’s purty’ to ‘married a tart’. By presenting us with only one female character Steinbeck is suggesting that their is no real place for women on the ranch and their role in society is made clear. Steinbeck also never gives Curley’s Wife a name, this presents her as being Curley’s possession and nothing more. Curley’s Wife is introduced not by here appearance but in conversation between George and Candy. She is the only character Steinbeck introduces in this way, that is by being spoken of and described in detail, before being met by George and Lennie. In chapter 2 Candy begins to describe Curley’s relationship with his wife. ‘Married two weeks and got the eye? Maybe that’s why Curley’s pants is full of ants.’ Steinbeck tells us here that the couple do not have a strong relationship at all and suggests that Curley’s Wife has become bored with her new husband and she has turned to the
Loneliness is a big theme in Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie are set apart from Slim, Crooks and Candy. They have something unique a special bond with each other.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck By Drew Jones Relationships are essential in everybody's life. Having no real friends makes life dull, dark and lonely. Loneliness is a big theme in Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie are set apart from Slim, Crooks and Candy. They have something unique a special bond with each other. Each character influences, plays a role to the other characters. Steinbeck's portrayal of the men's relationship seems minimal, but is in fact monumental. The setting of Mice and Men takes place on a ranch where George and Lennie meet Slim, Candy, Crooks, Carlson, Curly and Curly's wife. Although the story takes place over a three-day span, all the characters make a relationship with one another. One relationship is between George, Candy and Lennie. Candy a lonely man, is pressured into having his dog shot he confides in George about his regret. In return, George tells them of their dream. Now they have a bond, and share a goal that is within grasp. Candy is a true friend he helps during a crisis in a minute you come out and tell the guys about her, and I'll come along and make like I never seen her. Will you do that? So the guys won't think I was in on it? (104). Slim is the wise rational person. He is quick thinker during trivial and difficult situations. Slim and George build a friendship of trust, George tells Slim
How Does Steinbeck present the character of Lennie in Of Mice and Men?
How does Steinbeck present the character Lennie in Of Mice and Men? In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck presents Lennie as a childlike character who relies on George. Although the reader quickly learns that Lennie "ain't smart," the reader also learns later in the novel that "he's a God damn good worker." Lennie, just like many itinerant farm workers from 1930s America, wants to achieve the American dream and "tend the rabbits." When we are first introduced to Lennie in Section One of the novel, we learn that Lennie is both strong but, at the same time, unintelligent. Steinbeck refers to Lennie as "a bear." A bear is an animal which has a lot of strength. This characteristic of a bear is one of the characteristics that Lennie has: strength. However, most bears are unsure of when to use that strength. This shows us that Lennie, in addition to having a lot of strength, is unintelligent. This makes the reader feel slightly uneasy as it hints that Lennie may use his strength unwisely later in the novel. Steinbeck also presents Lennie as being childlike. Lennie looks "timidly" at George when George is in a bad mood, and Lennie asks a lot of questions. When a parent is in a bad mood, a child tends to be scared to approach that parent because of fear at being shouted at. This is why Lennie looks "timidly" at George-because he is scared that he will be shouted at, just like a child. In
How does Steinbeck reveal the State of the US in the 1930s in Of Mice and Men?
How does Steinbeck reveal the State of the US in the 1930s in "Of Mice and Men?" Steinbeck reveals rascism and segregation of black people in America at this time through "Of Mice and Men" and in this passage. Steinbeck shows the importance of relationship, we can see this through George and Lennie's and also the unsentimental features faced from being a migrant worker. Throughout "Of Mice and Men" Steinbeck shows very pragmatic scenes, such as the killing of Candy's dog, who now "stinks" and Carlson says "he ain't no good to you" due to heaving "rheumatism" and "He don't have no fun." Carlson, in fact takes in the idea of shooting the dog despite Candy's obvious attraction to the dog who was "the best damn sheep dog I ever seen," this pragmatic approach of shooting the dog is also later scene in the ranch when Slim "drowned four" puppies "right off" because the dog "couldn't feed that many," showing a casual attitude towards life and death, and a very unsentimental one. George and Lennie's relationship and their idea to live off the "fatta land" reflects the way so many migrants in America in the 1930s hoped to own a farm, and this attitude was called the American Dream: the idea that anyone could achieve anything. This stemmed from the US Declaration of Rights, where every person has the right to "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Furthermore this was due to
Explore the Character Candy in "Of Mice and Men".
Throughout the novel, the themes of loneliness and the American dream are portrayed throughout. Steinbeck effectively uses the character, candy and his relationship with his dog to portray the dull and dismal society of 1930s America and the harsh effect it had on migrant workers across America. To initiate, the significance of Candy is first depicted through his name which implies his sweet caring nature which is evident for example through the relationship with his dog, 'i had him since he was a pup.' In addition, his recent friendship with George and Lennie and the joining of their dream implies that he is a likable character as Lennie and George form a bond with him. However, another facet of candy's character is later discovered by the audience as Steinbeck portrays him as a pathetic character- he often gossips about other ranch workers, 'you seen that glove on his left hand... that gloves fulla Vaseline... keepin that hand soft for his wife.' This pathetic characteristic candy possess is perhaps used as a vehicle to portray how ranch workers in the time of the great depression were also quite pathetic due to the greater forces at work such as the wall street crash. This is similarly illustrated in the poem, 'to a mouse' which inspired Steinbeck, it stats, 'the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley' which shows how no-one is in control of the inevitable forces
Comparing Crooks and Candy in the novel 'Of Mice and Men'
Comparing Crooks and Candy in the novel 'Of Mice and Men' John Steinbeck, in the novel 'Of mice and men', creates the two characters Crooks and Candy, who on the surface appear overtly different. However, Steinbeck establishes throughout the novel that underneath the surface the two characters are very similar. Due to the colour of Crook's skin , and the old age of Candy, both the characters fall prey to discrimination that leads to isolation. As Crooks is a victim to the racism evoked upon him, he is forced to live alone. This is because of the unjust prejudice of that period in time. Steinbeck cleverly conveys Crooks feelings towards his discrimination, by the statement 'glittering with intensity' when describing his eyes. This clearly conveys to the reader the anger he feels due the unjust prejudice he is a victim of. Whereas, Although Candy lives with the other workers he is still subtly discriminated against. This becomes apparent when the workers shoot Candy's dog because it is no longer useful. Steinbeck uses this to as a metaphor, and to also echo the fact that soon Candy will be no longer useful, due to his age and will not be wanted by the ranch. Moreover, since Steinbeck does not refer to both characters by name he indicates as to how they may be portrayed. As Crooks is firstly described by the racist term 'nigger', and Candy as 'The old swamper',
Who is the loneliest character in 'Of Mice and Men'?
Who is the loneliest character in 'of mice and men'. I think the loneliest character in 'of mice and men' is 'Crooks the stable-buck'. This character is a very lonely person and leads a very miserable life because of this making the reader fell sympathetic towards him. Crooks the stable-buck is lonely mainly because of his colour, there is a lot of racism at this point in history and black people were considered lower beings than white people and black people suffered greatly because of this and had virtually no rights to defend themselves, if they did they usually got killed. If it were not for this racism plagued environment then Crooks would probably make a success out of himself because he is actually one of the most intelligent people on the ranch. Crooks is lonely because he is the only person who has a room to himself, he is isolated because of this, he has nobody and no-one to talk to and people who dare enter his room get a frosty reception, 'you ain't got no right coming into my room, this here is my room, nobody got any right in here but me, this shows that the room is his only right of possession and defends this indefinitely. He says 'I ain't wanted in the bunk-house' which shows again he is left out of social happenings and left all by himself on a regular basis. He says to people who come in his room; 'you ain't wanted in this room' this is because he
How does Steinbeck present the characters of George and Lennie, and their relationship, in Section 1 of the novel?
How does Steinbeck present the characters of George and Lennie, and their relationship, in Section 1 of the novel? As the first characters to be introduced in the novel, Steinbeck needs to present George and Lennie in a way which explains in great detail about who they are and their relationship with each other and the novel itself. I am exploring how Steinbeck presents their characters and their relationship through examining their individual characters and their relationship as a whole. The first thing that Steinbeck mentions about George and Lennie is their appearance. "Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders." In the era in which this book was set, denim was the hallmark of workers, and as they are carrying blanket rolls, it is evident that they are migrant workers, moving from ranch to ranch. Steinbeck chooses to describe George first; this may connote George being the head of the two of them, almost a parent figure. George is described as being "small and quick, dark of face with restless eyes and sharp, strong features." This shows that he's quite fit and athletic, perhaps used to this sort of traveling as a migrant worker. His "restless eyes" tell the reader that, although he has been traveling for probably a long time, he is
Character Analysis - Devoted Lennie - Lennie Small - from John Steinbacks Of Mice and Men
CP English, Oct.5 Character Analysis Devoted Lennie Lennie Small, from John Steinbacks Of Mice and Men, is the least dynamic character, but also the star of this short but impacting novel. John Steinbacks conception of this novel is centered on Lennie's simplicity. Throughout the entire book, Lennie's personality and life seem based on three things: soft things, devotion to his protector (George) and his dream of one day owning a farm. Within the novel, Lennie shows no significant changes, development, or growth; yet is a favorite character by most readers. To start with, Lennie is protected. Lennie is protected by Slim, but mostly by George. Slim keeps Lennie from getting fired when Curley got his hand "caught in a machine" (64). Lennie is also protected by George; as friends they stick together, "I got you. We got each other" (104) and as friends they contribute all they can. George protects Lennie from many things; but is most remembered for protecting Lennie from being killed painfully by Curley. Candy's regret that he didn't kill his dog himself, foreshadows George's decision to shoot Lennie before Curley gets to him first. Also, Lennie is devoted. Devoted to the rabbits, and devoted to George. The rabbits are an important part of the novel. The rabbits are Georges way of keeping Lennie from getting into any trouble. George often reminds Lennie that he "...aint
The relationship between George and Lennie
"OF MICE AND MEN" JOHN STEINBECK The relationship between George and Lennie. From the start to the end of the book the most important and dramatic characters are George and Lennie. These two characters presented by the author as two close friends who are travelling to a ranch where they are looking for jobs, and to eventually achieve the "American Dream" of obtaining enough money to buy their own land and farm to live off the "Live off the fatta (fat of) the land". George, the small and keen one of the two, goes in front. Lennie, a big shapeless man with a feeble mind, but an enormous strength, comes after him. Lennie has been accused of assaulting a girl and that's why they had to leave town. He merely wanted to stroke her dress, because it seemed soft. Lennie loves soft, furry things, but he can't have a pet animal, for they all die under the pressure of his huge hands. George could not always prevent Lennie from getting into trouble and together they travelled from ranch to ranch, trying to gather as much money as they needed to get their own place, where Lennie could tend rabbits. As we progress throughout the story, this theme for George and Lennie's relationship seems follow on. This is very true in the narrow view of the story, but while reading the book I found a much more deeper and important description of George and Lennie's relationship. I first had the simple
