UNIT ONE Section A Of Mice and Men

UNIT ONE Section A – ‘Of Mice and Men’ - Extract question: 10 marks - Essay question: 20 marks Section B – Poetry - Comparison Question: 20 marks Answer both Section A and Section B

UNIT ONE TIMING 2 HOURS OMAM 1 HOUR Extract 20 Mins Annotating Writing POETRY 1 HOUR Essay 40 Mins Planning 5 Mins 10 Mins Writing 30 Mins

OF MICE AND MEN OVERVIEW • John Steinbeck’s pessimistic novella about life in 1930 s America. • Demonstrates the hopelessness of dreams following the 1929 Wall St. Crash. The Dust Bowl – Itinerant/Migrant Farmers – California: The Golden State - • Describes a harsh world ruled by ‘Survival of the Fittest’. • Society treats those who are “other” (race/disability/age/gender) as outsiders

SETTING • The ranch is used as a microcosm of the larger issues facing America in this time. • • Racism is accepted by many of the ranch workers. Women are stereotyped and those who stray from those roles are isolated. Disability is not fully understood and actually feared in some cases. Age discrimination is also seen with Candy (and Crooks) a rare exception. • The treatment of Candy’s Dog also shows how society treats those no longer seen as ‘useful’

THEMES • Dreams and the impossibility of The American Dream. • Isolation and Loneliness. • Prejudice, Inequality and Powerlessness. • Violence and Power. • Friendship/Companionship. • Loss. • Survival of the Fittest.

CHARACTERS • George Milton • Lennie Small • Candy • Curley’s Wife • Curley • Slim • Crooks • Carlson?

CHARACTERS • George Milton – Cynical, short tempered, father figure. • Lennie Small • Candy • Curley’s Wife • Curley • Slim • Crooks • Carlson?

CHARACTERS • George Milton – Cynical, short tempered, father figure. • Lennie Small – Childlike, simple minded, animalistic giant. • Candy • Curley’s Wife • Curley • Slim • Crooks • Carlson?

CHARACTERS • George Milton – Cynical, short tempered, father figure. • Lennie Small – Childlike, simple minded, animalistic giant. • Candy – Lonely and desperate Old Swamper. • Curley’s Wife • Curley • Slim • Crooks • Carlson?

CHARACTERS George Milton – Cynical, short tempered, father figure. Lennie Small – Childlike, simple minded, animalistic giant. Candy – Lonely and desperate Old Swamper. Curley’s Wife – Isolated and misunderstood “rat trap”. Victim of the patriarchy. • Curley – Insecure, confrontational and focused on his status. • Slim • Crooks • • • Carlson?

CHARACTERS George Milton – Cynical, short tempered, father figure. Lennie Small – Childlike, simple minded, animalistic giant. Candy – Lonely and desperate Old Swamper. Curley’s Wife – Isolated and misunderstood “rat trap”. Victim of the patriarchy. • Curley – Insecure, confrontational and focused on his status. • Slim – Respected and revered “prince of the ranch” • Crooks • • • Carlson?

CHARACTERS George Milton – Cynical, short tempered, father figure. Lennie Small – Childlike, simple minded, animalistic giant. Candy – Lonely and desperate Old Swamper. Curley’s Wife – Isolated and misunderstood “rat trap”. Victim of the patriarchy. • Curley – Insecure, confrontational and focused on his status. • Slim – Respected and revered “prince of the ranch” • Crooks – Segregated and bitter victim of society’s racism. • • • Carlson?

CHARACTERS George Milton – Cynical, short tempered, father figure. Lennie Small – Childlike, simple minded, animalistic giant. Candy – Lonely and desperate Old Swamper. Curley’s Wife – Isolated and misunderstood “rat trap”. Victim of the patriarchy. • Curley – Insecure, confrontational and focused on his status. • Slim – Respected and revered “prince of the ranch” • Crooks – Segregated and bitter victim of society’s racism. • • • Carlson? – Represents the harsh nature of many people in American society.

GEORGE • Friend to Lennie, kind hearted – ‘I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you…’ • Feels a sense of duty to Lennie; looking after him gives him a purpose • Can be impatient with him – ‘I could live so easy if it wasn’t for you…’ • He is a thinker – all around him he sees loneliness • Good judge of character – knew Curley’s wife would be trouble “stay away from that bi*ch!” • Confides in Slim about his troubled past

GEORGE • Hardworking but dreams of owning own ranch to “live off the fatta the land” • Often tells Lennie about their ‘dream’ • Prepares for Lennie getting them into trouble ‘hide in the brush’ • Quick-witted and intelligent – knew Slim could be trusted / Curley’s wife would be trouble • His sense of morality tells him Lennie must be allowed to die with dignity - after killing Curley’s wife • He is a realist and understands the world • At the end of the novel when he loses Lennie, he also lost his dream

• George: “Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want. God a’ mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. ” This shows George, although often friendly and thoughtful, has a dark and malicious side to his character. In this quote, he is shown to get angry with Lennie and it is obviously on his mind that his life could be a lot easier if Lennie wasn’t part of it. • George: “I ain’t got no people. I seen the guys that go around the ranches alone. That ain’t no good. ” This quote shows that, although he sometimes speaks of how easy his life could be without Lennie, he would not really want to live without him. This is due to the fact that he has grown used to being in the constant company of someone familiar and would not enjoy living as the other itinerant workers do i. e. , constantly moving to new places and new people.

• The Boss: “Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. I just like to know what your interest is. ” This quote shows that it is obvious unfamiliar to find itinerant workers travelling in groups. This therefore shows that George is different to the other workers as he shows compassion towards Lennie, and travels with him. • George: “-I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her. ” This quote shows that deep inside, George always knew that the dream will not be fulfilled, but kept believing it for the sake of Lennie. This quote also shows that their friendship was one in a million; they were true friends.

LENNIE • He is slow-witted but ‘a nice fella’ • He is a child trapped in a man’s body – ‘ huge man, shapeless of face’ • He has never learned to control his strength / power • After his strength his innocence is his most striking feature • Often described as animal like - he is described as like a terrier, a bear etc.

LENNIE • Can be cunning – plays on George’s feelings of guilt • Instinctive – knows the ranch isn’t a nice place “I don’t like it here” • Relies heavily on George but George is fiercely protective of him. George says: • ‘Maybe he ain’t bright but I never seen such a worker’ • His fault they left Weed and he loses George ‘every job I ever get I lose because of you’ “aint nobody gonna suppose no hurt to George!”

Lennie • “So you forget that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you’re a crazy bastard” This introduces us to the idea that Lennie is a bit slow, and has a bad memory. We also learn about the relationship between George and Lennie, and how George approaches Lennie with new things; he is clearly childlike and is small minded. Although George doesn’t approach Lennie as a child, for example using swear words, the relationship between the two is a guardian-to-child relationship. • “Why do you got to get killed? You ain’t so little as mice. I didn’t bounce you hard. ” Lennie’s compassion for the small dog is clear here. We are given a distinct description of how he thinks, and feels. His understanding of how animals should be treated is small, and he does not know how or why they die. His understanding is little and his childlike mind shows frequently throughout the book.

• “You’re nuts, but you’re a kinda nice fella. Jus’ like a big baby. ” (Curley’s Wife) Curley’s wife has previously said that Curley is not a nice fella, and in this quote you can see a small reference to what she said; although Lennie does not understand. He thinks that he is normal, and does not know the difference between a friend, a girlfriend a pet. It shows again, that he isn’t the smartest of them all. We also see a spark in Curley’s wife, towards him. • “Let’s do it now, let’s get the place now!” This is just before he dies, and we can see a small sense of impatience; something that is often seen in children. In the midst of the drama that is unfolding around him, he is still in a happy place. This childlike reference gives the effect of George killing a child, and the reader is inclined to be against George, especially after he lured himself into a false sense of hope.

• “George says I gotta stay here and not get in no trouble” By saying this, Lennie is referring to George as his guardian. Much like a child would refer back to their parents forbidding them from doing something. George may have foreshadowed trouble and disallowed Lennie to leave this particular place; this puts George as ‘alpha male’. • “He [Curley] stood crying, his fist lost is Lennie’s paw” Lennie is rather large and the fact that Curley’s hand is LOST gives the effect that Lennie may even be twice the size of Curley and is just throwing his weight around as an advantage. Describing Lennie’s hand as a ‘paw’ gives the illusion, not only that he’s big, but also he’s like a hopeless dog; a dog who doesn’t understand what’s right and what’s wrong. The metaphor of a dog makes the reader understand how lost and helpless Lennie really is.

SLIM • Understands the bond between George and Lennie • Shows natural dignity and leadership ‘There was a gravity in his manner and all talk stopped when he spoke’ • Described as “the prince of the ranch” “majesty” about him. • Has a natural authority – the men look up to him ‘his word was accepted on any subject, be it politics or love’

SLIM • Has a natural authority – the men look up to him ‘his word was accepted on any subject, be it politics or love’ • He is a good listener and ‘his ear heard more than was said to him’ • He stands up to Curley when accused of having an affair with his wife • Steinbeck could use a character like him to show that in all aspects of society there is goodness.

Slim • Slim is treated as a god of the ranch, “Godlike eyes, ” “Slim’s opinions were law. ” This shows that people were honoured by his presence and his decisions were conclusive. They showed Slim a tremendous amount of respect. • Slim is a very calm and collective character, who has a peaceful aura about him. “Slim’s calm invitation to confidence. ” • "He's got a team" showing Slim is a leader. This quote shows us the different levels of authority amongst the itinerant workers. Slim's "authority" means that he gets to decide who deserves justice, and who deserves a little leniency. He's good at reading character, saying "I can tell a mean guy from a mile off", this too shows his influence on the rest of the ranch members. • “You hadda, George. I swear you hadda…” Slim seems to agree with George’s decision about killing Lennie. George’s actions are justified by Slims lawful verdict.

CANDY • Lost his arm in a ranch accident and is now reduced to ‘swamper’ • Pathetic figure who passes his time taking orders from other people • Stands up to people twice – Curley (when the others do) and Curley’s wife (in Crooks’ room) but this confidence is short-lived • Only a little is needed to revitalise him – a ranch of his own, a dream to follow ‘ when they can me I wisht they’d shoot me’ • Clings to George and Lennie’s dream as it’s his only hope of escape

CANDY • Death of his dog shows he is a human being • Steinbeck shows sympathy for him – weak, old, down-trodden • Characterised through his dog • Unwillingly lets Carlson shoot his dog then realise his should have done it himself ‘ I oughtn’t to have let no stranger shoot my dog’ • Calls Curley’s dead wife a ‘goddamn tramp’ because she has killed their dream ‘everybody knowed you’d mess things up’

• ‘‘Why’n’t you shoot him, Candy? ’ The old man squirmed uncomfortably. His dog is his company and his equivalent of a friend. No one else understands the idea of their friendship and they simply want the dog shot because it is no longer useful and is a nuisance in the bunkhouse. • ‘I had ‘im too long’ ; ‘I had him from a pup. ’ Candy has a certain affection for his dog. He knew deep down that it was the best thing, but he dreaded losing his long-time companion. • ‘Maybe tomorra. Le’s wait til tomorra. ’ He tries to delay the shooting of his dog as he pleads with them to let the subject drop.

• ‘They’ll can me purty soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk house they’ll put me on the county. ’ Candy knows that he is useless and cannot do as a good a job as the other workers as he only has one hand so as soon as he can no longer do his minor job, they will send him on his way. • ‘You seen what they done to me dog tonight? They says he wasn’t no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me. ’ He knows that by shooting the dog it was for the best, so he wishes that when he has no place where he belongs he could just be shot and put of his misery. His is comparing himself to the dog. • ‘I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog. ’ Candy feels that it should have been his responsibility to shoot the dog. He knew it was best for him and he should have taken it upon himself to do that.

CROOKS • An example of Steinbeck’s compassion • An illustration of the way in which loneliness can corrupt and destroy a man ‘I guy gets too lonely and he gets sick’ • Double burden in their society – a cripple and a negro • Curley’s wife crushes him when he stands up to her – he can’t win against a white person ‘you just know your place nigger’

CROOKS • His function is to prepare the reader for the destruction of George and Lennie’s dream – he knows it won’t come true ‘seems like every guy got land in his head’ • His character looks for dignity and self respect in a racist, prejudiced world which gives him none ‘they say I stink, all you stink to me’ • Intelligent – has books in his room – nobody gets to really know him because of his colour / disability • “a man gets lonely … suppose you couldn’t talk to nobody…because you is black”

Crooks • Until his conversation with Lennie, Crooks is permanently detached from the rest of the group and is never asked to join to play horseshoes etc. ‘I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse’ he described to Lennie • Crooks faces loneliness and discrimination, probably more because of his color than because of his past • ‘A guy needs somebody to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. ’ This shows how there is no family, friends or companions to abide with Crooks. • With Crooks being black ; other ranch hands and Curley’s wife give him abuse such as ‘nigger’ ‘stupid ol’ nigger’. This makes him more isolated because he feels uncomfortable around them all.

• Crooks to Lennie and George ‘’Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It's just in their head. They're all the time talkin' about it, but it's jus' in their head. ” This quote shows that Crooks can be very pessimistic. Also, it makes his personality very mournful as if he does not look on the positive sides. • “S'pose you couldn't go into the bunk house and play rummy' cause you was black” • Crooks (named for his crooked back) • Lennie's brief interaction with Crooks reveals the complexity of racial prejudice in the northern California ranch life. • Crooks: “I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an’ on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an’ that same damn thing in their heads. ” This quote shows that Crooks, during his time at the ranch, has seen many men just coming and going, but none have ever accomplished the “American Dream”. George and Lennie also share this dream and is sure that they are just another pair of workers day-dreaming.

CURLEY • Spoilt, restless and arrogant boss’s son • Sees everyone as a potential opponent for a fight ‘no big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me’ • Keeps a ‘glove fulla vaseline’ for his wife but still visits the brothel with the men • Obsessive over controlling his wife – spends most of his time looking for her • Can be cunning and bordering on sadistic ‘shoot for his guts’

CURLEY • Picks a fight with Lennie because he thinks he’ll be a pushover • Forced into lying about his damaged hand to save his reputation • ‘He hates bug guys… kind of like he’s mad at them ‘cos he ain’t a big guy’ • ‘His glance was calculating and pugnacious’ • His hands automatically curl into fists when he’s talking to people

• He is the boss’s son. He is not respected by the others due to his lack of decency. He uses his authority to control over the other ranch hands. He thinks he is the king of the ranch and has his father backing him up. • He does not treat his wife with respect and gets jealous easily even though he does not give her much priority. • He is also very handy which means he is good at boxing and hates big guy, the mean reason for that is probably because he is a small guy. “Well, Curley’s pretty handy” • He only aims at the weak ones for example when Carlson mentioned you yelled [You tried to throw a scare into slim, an’ you couldn’t make it stick. “Slim throwed a scare inta you. And you yelled like a frog’s belly” this shows the weakness. • He is short tempered and often takes his temper out on other people. e. g Lennie

CURLEY’S WIFE • Overdressed, flirtatious and attractive ‘she had full rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes heavily made up’ • Attention-seeking – prefers negative attention to none at all • Vain – asks Lennie to stroke her hair thus unwittingly causes her own death • Catalyst for the violent scenes in the text • ‘her voice had a nasal brittle quality’ • Nobody to talk to, no social life, only woman on the ranch = lonely • Trapped in a loveless marriage – husband visits prostitutes

CURLEY’S WIFE • Married Curley to spite her mum – ‘He ain’t a nice person. ’ • Treated like an object - ‘Curley’s wife’- we never know her name • Turns nasty when put in her place by Crooks and Candy ‘stuck with a nigger, a dum-dum and a lousy ol’ sheep an’ likin’ it cos there ain’t nobody else’ • Dreams of being a movie star ‘I tell ya, I coulda made somethin of myself’ • Had she met the right man, she might have been different • When she dies Steinbeck shows she wasn’t a totally evil person – ‘ She was very pretty and simple and her face was sweet and young’ • Her tragedy lies in the fact we only find out about her just before she dies • Aware of her sexuality – ‘she breathed strongly as though she had been running’

• The men view Curley’s Wife as a “tart” George refers to her as a “rattrap” and “jail bait” during the novel. • ‘Curley’s Wife’ is how the lady is referred to. She is never actually given a real name showing how she is just seen as Curley’s property. Also this shows again how women were unimportant and she doesn’t deserve or require a proper name. • Lennie says to Curley’s Wife: ” George says I ain’t to have nothing to do with you- talk to you or nothing. ” This shows that she is Curley’s property and therefore forbidden to the other men; even to simply speak to. This would anger Curley and as he is the boss’ son, the ranch workers abide by this ‘law’ to keep their jobs. • Curley’s Wife craves attention from other men on the ranch due to her loneliness, so asks: “Any you boys seen Curley? ” She asks in the hope that it would then lead on to more detailed conversation that she generally lacks.

• “I get awful lonely” – she is the only woman on the ranch so she has no one to talk to and is isolated because of her gender. There is repetition of the word “lonely”. • “A girl…heavily made up” describes the first impression of Curley’s Wife when she stands in the doorway. “Fingernails were red”, “Rouged lips”, “Red mules” and “Red Ostrich feathers” all have the colour red involved which is a sign of danger. Furthering the argument that Curley’s Wife is a “rattrap”. • Curley’s Wife knows she has power over people as she is married to the boss’ son. Therefore, the ranch workers don’t want to get on the wrong side or even talk to her so they would rather have nothing at all to do with her. She shows this when she says to Crooks: “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap? ” • Curley’s Wife only married Curley to get away from home and try and pursue her dream which was to be “in the movies”. She says: “I wasn’t gonna stay no place where I couldn’t get nowhere”. • Despite being his newly wedded wife, Curley’s Wife doesn’t like Curley. She says to Lennie in the barn: “I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella. ”

Themes • Discrimination and Prejudice a. Racial b. Sexism c. Disability d. Ageism • Dreams • The American Dream • Loneliness and Isolation

Racial • Crooks – he’s coloured, so automatically he is isolated by the others. He is often referred in the novella as a “nigger”, ”the negro stable buck” ”why it’s just a nigger sayin’ it” “s’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk… cause you was black” he blocks himself from the other ranch hands because he is not used to being part of a society. No one feels pathos for him because no one can sympathise with him. Sexism • Curley’s wife- she’s the only woman on the ranch, always excluded from activities such as horse shoes. She seeks for attention. she always goes onto the ranch to seek for company. “Can’t talk to nobody but Curley” • “Cat house” also shows how women had low value back then. They were used as items to please men and is shown without self-respect.

Disability • Lennie- he had learning disability. This shows that people did not understand this kind of illness and is badly treated by others. • Candy-he lost a limb on the ranch, due to this, he is given simple jobs. He’s also at an old age which means he cannot do much work. “They’ll can me purty soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk houses they’ll put me on the county. ” • Crooks-he is not given a real name; clearly the character is named after his disability which is a crooked back. “Busted-back nigger” Ageism • Candy-he is allowed to stay at the ranch despite his old age. He is described as a “lousy ol’ sheep” by Curley’s wife.

• It is simply evident as they refer to Crooks as a “nigger”. This is offensive but he is at the bottom of the hierarchy so evidently “he don’t give a damn about that”. His room is situated away from the others as they “don’t want nothing to do with him. ” • Racism in the novella is shown through the isolation and discrimination of the “stable buck” or “Nigger”, Crooks. He was also made to stay away from the bunk house because he was black. • Sexism was also an issue in the 1930 s as the ranch men treated Curley’s wife as an object rather than a woman. • The men of the ranch discriminated against Candy because of his age. Candy says “They’ll can me purty soon”, this makes us feel sympathetic towards him. • Lennie is a victim of social prejudice in the fact that, being retarded, he can't socially interact with the natural ease of George. Also Lennie is also left behind when they go to town because of his disabilities

• Curley’s Wife says to Crooks: “Listen, Nigger” – which is racial discrimination towards Crooks, the poor and lonely ranch worker. Every ranch worker refers to Crooks as “Nigger”. • George says: “Might go in and look the joint over” which is a remarkably casual statement to make considering how a brothel isn’t really that casual of a place to go. It shows how back then women were thought of and treated differently to how they are nowadays. • Curley’s Wife says: “Even Curley. I know where they all went. ” – this explains further how women were treated differently as she has only just got married and her husband, Curley, is going to a “cat house” and leaving her at home. • Because he is black, Crooks is only allowed to socialize with the other ranch workers when they play horseshoes on a Sunday, and only then because he is good at it. • Candy says: “They let the nigger come in that night [for Christmas]”. This shows how it was really rare for Crooks to come in to the bunk house as he is usually not allowed.

Dreams • George and Lennie share a dream - to own a little patch of land live on it in freedom. “We'd jus' live there. We'd belong there. ” He is so set on the idea that he even knows of some land that he thinks they could buy. “You know where’s a place like that. . . S’pose I do” • Lennie's main desire is to tend the soft-haired rabbits they will keep. “An’ I could tend the rabbits” Unlike other things, Lennie always remembers “the rabbits” which tells us it is Lennie’s main ambition and his personal dream. • Curley’s wife dreams of being a movie star, “gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural” Curley’s Wife’s ambitions are stereotypical of the American dream- a small town girl dreaming of being a movie star.

Dreams • Crooks dreams of being seen as equal to everyone else. “This is just a nigger talkin’… so it don’t mean nothin’” this quote shows us as to what crooks goes through and what makes him so bitter towards the other ranch workers. Crooks dream like all others in the book is idealistic and at that time unachievable. • When George tells Lennie to look across the river and imagine their farm, he lets Lennie die with the hope that they will attain their dream, and attain it soon. “George raised the gun…Lennie giggled with happiness. ‘An’ live on the fatta the lan’” this telling of how lennie died in peace and visualising their shared dream. • Steinbeck has purposely mad the individual dreams of each simply dreams and makes them progress no further. This tells us of how Steinbeck knew the unlikeliness of each happening but conveys to the reader of how many at that time were compelled forward by their own version of the American dream. (different characters’ dreams seen above in other bullet points)

The American Dream • George: "'Well, we'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. ” Their perfect world is one of independence. Workers like Lennie and George have no family, no home, and very little control over their lives. They have to do what the boss tells them and they have little to show for it. They only own what they can carry. Therefore, this idea of having such power over their lives is a strong motivation. A little bit of land, their own crops and animals-this is all they want. It is a simple American dream. They want to be self-reliant. • George: "We could live offa the fatta the lan'. ", "I could build a smoke house like the one gran'pa had. . . ", "An' we'd keep a few pigeons to go flyin' around the win'mill like they done when I was a kid. " When George goes into a full description of the farm, its Eden-like qualities become even more apparent. All the food they want will be right there, with minimal effort. George yearns for his future to reflect the beauty of his childhood. • George: "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place. ” Whatever the American Dream is, this isn't it: a bunch of lonely, itinerant farmworkers that George describes as being without family or hope. Steinbeck seems to be saying that you can't build a nation on these men—and we're inclined to agree.

The American Dream • George: "For two bits I'd shove out of here. If we can get jus' a few dollars in the poke we'll shove off and go up the American River and pan gold. We can make maybe a couple of dollars a day there, and we might hit a pocket. " What George fantasizes about here is a Grade A American Dream: heading out West to pan for gold, and striking it rich. Too bad that's only ever happened to maybe a handful of people in the entire country. The people who really got rich from the gold rush were the shopkeepers: it's not as romantic, but everyone needs to buy shovels and boots. • ‘Maybe if I give you guys my money, you’ll let me hoe the garden even after I ain’t no good at it. An’ I’ll wash dishes an’ little chicken stuff like that. But I’ll be on our own place, an’ I’ll be let to work on our own place’ By Candy giving his money to George and Lennie, the dream may actually become possible.

• ‘Tell you what – S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some. How’s that be? ’ His isn’t able to do much work so he volunteers to do anything he can. Candy is excited about the dream and wants if to become real as soon as possible. He offers all of his savings for it and gives them as many ideas as he can for his services. • ‘We’ll do her’. We’ll fix up that little old place an’ we’ll go live there. ’ Calling the place ‘her’ makes the dream seem more personal and easier to achieve. They are determined to succeed.

• ‘They all sat still, all bemused by the beauty of the thing, each mind was popped into the future when this lovely thing should come about. ’ By using descriptive language, it tells us that the men are imagining what it would be like to be living the dream • ‘He says he was gonna put me in the movies’ This is the only reference of Curley’s Wife as an individual. She isn’t property of anyone when she is talking about her dream to Lennie. • ‘This here’s my room…I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse’ Crooks dreams of being seen as equal to everyone else. He knows his civil rights. He remembers fondly his childhood, when he played with white children who came to his family's chicken ranch, and longs for a similar relationship with white people again.

Loneliness and Isolation • ‘We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us’ George and Lennie are different from the other ranch hands, they have their own way of life and they are quite happy as a pair. They work well together; although, it is possible to feel lonely in a room full of people. As much as Lennie and George have each other, Lennie doesn’t quite understand George as much as George understands him, this shows when it is only George giving advice to Lennie and not vice-versa. • “I had him since he was a pup” (CANDY) His dog is his companion and his equivalent of a friend. He has been stuck at the ranch for so long, due to injury and he has seen people come and go. He doesn’t understand the idea of a true friendship and why the other workers don’t like the dog. This gives more sense of isolation from the other ranch workers because they are isolating him because he has a dog. They could be jealous that he has a companion and they don’t, causing more isolation on the ranch.

Loneliness and Isolation • “This here’s my room…I aint wanted in the bunkhouse and you aint wanted in my room. ” (CROOKS) He is segregated in the barn and this represents racial discrimination. He is so used to this isolation that he doesn’t know how to react when someone actually wants to talk to him. He has had to put up with this for so long, and we can see the effect it has had on him; a bitter lonely man. • “I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy” (BOSS) With the boss’s previous experience of workers travelling individually, it is no surprise that it comes as a shock to him when George and ‘his cousin’ Lennie, arrive together, after travelling together. This makes the boss suspicious and gives him an ulterior motive to keep an eye on Lennie and George for the remainder of their time.

Loneliness and Isolation • “I never get to talk to no-body, I get awful lonely” (CURLEY’S WIFE) Curley’s wife is perhaps one of the loneliest people on the ranch. She has no girlfriends to talk to and she isn’t allowed to venture into town. She often confides in the workers and goes looking for company. Curley has forbidden her from discussing her life with any of the workers, and has also threatened the workers against speaking to her. • “I don’t like Curley , he aint a nice fella” Prior to this quote, we have heard the sob story of how she could not leave home at fifteen. As this conversation goes on she realises that she can confide in Lennie and goes on to discuss Curley. She only married him to get away from home; there is a bit of sympathy from the reader and we start to wonder how happy she truly is. She wanted to be an actress, and claims she was good, so as a reader you don’t know whether she is just putting on a brave face for the workers and pretending everything is alright. When in reality, it’s not okay. Her real world in lonely and miserable and being separated with her dream doesn’t help anything. Being on a ranch, where no-one shares your interests can make it harder for her.