In chapter one, Steinbeck creates George being more of a parent father figure that an ambassador. When George and Lennie are camping by the river on the night before they set out for the ranch. George is seen as a father telling Lennie his favourite tale about the land that they will one day own together. (American dream) The reader assumes it is familiar to Lennie because of the way; George ‘spoke rhythmically.’ As if he had memorised it, this comforts Lennie to hear the words. This is symbolic of how a child wants to hear a bed time story from a parent. It also shows the love George has in reassuring Lennie that life will get better ‘live of the fatta the lan.’ Both anticipate in a dream that will improve their quality of life.
What is ironic as Steinbeck from the onset set Lennie as a huge companion caricaturing his animalistic characterises like ‘pig paws’ which relates to a bear, ‘snorting’ has a derrogotry connotation to a pig. Steinbeck purposefully creates discrepancies between Lennie and George. George is seen as being gentle and ‘defined.’ This shows the reader that the two men are incongruent and that, George is an anthesis to Lennie both physically and mentally but their differences complement each other rather than clash.
George is troubled and disconsolate on learning about Lennie’s killing of Curley’s wife, in a last fervent plea to save his much loved companion, he says ‘Lennie never done it in meanness... all the time he done bad things, but he never done of ‘em mean.’ (Page 132) this again shows, how George is always there to rescue Lennie like an ambassador. He doesn’t want anyone to hurt Lennie like a parent who is protective of their child. He always raises a wide fence for Lennie ‘hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull.’ Through his comments he is seen as persistently praising Lennie in order to show everyone what he is capable of even though, his intellect might not show it.
Lennie died having faith in his American dream. Chapter six ‘go on… how it gona be…’ George killed Lennie out of mercy so that, he wouldn’t face the brutal violence from Curley. He was willing to save Lennie and be traumatising for the rest of his life. He was ‘stiff’ he knew, there wouldn’t be no more companion to travel with. To share the dream of a ranch and rabbits like lennie would. George’s euthanistic killing is the ultimate sacrifice in order to prevent his friend from suffering a long sentence i.e. brutal death. He is willing in place to face the torture of mental anguish of blood on his hand.
The relationship between Curley and his wife is an unfruitful, unsuccessful and unstable marriage. Lacking the key elements of mutual trust respect and compassion. Curley’s infidelity is apparent in his visits to the cat house. In addition he is haughty and impertinent towards his wife. Although he has a glove of vaseline especially for his wife there’s more to it. The glove symbolises Curley’s status that he is married and moreover, his career in boxing it marks his dominance and enhances reputation of a big guy. He uses his authority and privileges to overcome his barrier of shortness. ‘His eye flashed over George, took his height, measured his reach.’ This reveals his insecurities of height which was seen as a slur on a man’s manhood, especially in an era where physical power was so valued in men.
We learn from the novella that both couples fell in love and married shortly after the night they met. Curley wife got married to escape the situation she was in, to get away from her mother and a hope for a better life of greater freedom. The irony is that marital life fails to meet her expectations or widen her horizon as she is consistently confided under the prying claustrophobic eye of her husband, ‘anyone is seen my wife?’ Hence the verbal abuse of a group of misogynistic ranch workers.
Curley views his wife as a sexual possession we can see this, when she confides with other men on the ranch i.e. Lennie. This is a result of her feeling lonely as her husband restricts and deprives her from talking to anyone. ‘I get lonely.’ This makes the reader sympathise towards Curley’s wife for the first time. As she openly expresses her emotions and is caught up in a twisted catharsis, which she releases in her discussion with Lennie. When the reader first learns about Curley wife she comes across as a femme fatale ‘roughed lips’ finger nails painted. Through the comments of the men, the reader is felt to believe that Curley’s wife is looking for trouble by inviting male attention. As Candy says to George ‘I seen her give Slim the eye.’ This shows she is flirting with other men it also shows that Curley doesn’t provide her affectionate love.
However, it is later revealed when confiding in Lennie that it is a ploy to alleviate her loneliness ‘Don’t I get to talk to anyone?’ As she continues talking about herself to Lennie about the ‘pitcher...movies...Hollywood.’ This makes her utterly human as she has ambitions like the rest of the ranch workers. Here we can see her beyond the stereotypical vixen in red lipstic. ‘She moved closer to Lennie and sat besides him.’ (Page 125) Shows us the desperate attempt for love and companionship and her need for a physical proximity, with another male figure as she seeks solace with Lennie. This shows that, there is no husband – wife bond between the couple. In chapter two, it seems most of the time Curley’s wife is simultaneously venturing to find Curley. She comes into look for him like a constant, cat and mouse chase. She asks Slim about Curley in attempt to talk to him, he replies, ‘well you aint trying hard. I seen him goin in your house.’
When learning of his wife’s death Curley shows no sorrow and expresses no concern or sympathy towards his wife. All he wants is to take revenge on Lennie for his earlier incident involving his mangled hand. Similarly before her death Curely’s wife expresses distaste for her husband. In chapter five Curley’s wife says explicitly to Lennie ‘I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella.’
This foreshadows the fact that she doesn’t get along with Curley as it ends up in a tragedy as Curley views her death as trivial in comparison the mighty thirst for revenge from Lennie on account of his mangled hand.