Of Mice and Men – Quotations

‘I ought to have shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to have let no stranger shoot my dog.’

‘You guys better go …A colored man got to have some rights even if he don’t like em.’

‘Guys like us that work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world.’

‘He snivelled and his voice shook. I could of hoe’d in the garden and washed dishes…’

‘I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup.’

‘Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever once in a while?’

‘I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice man.’

‘this here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me.’

‘I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room.’

‘s’pose you didn’t have nobody…?’

‘this is just a nigger talking and a back busted nigger.’

‘I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.’

‘I coulda been somebody… I could a been in pictures.’

‘look Lennie if you just happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right back here and hide in the brush.’

‘Because I got you to look after me and you got me…’

‘Ever’ damn one of ’em’s got land in his head. An never a damn one of ’em ever gets it. Just like heaven… nobody ever gets to heaven and nobody never gets no land… it’s just in their head.’

‘Must be nice to have a room all to yourself this way.”

‘you god damn right we’re gonna do it.’

‘Ever’ body wants a little bit of land. Not much. Just somethin’ that was his.’

‘If you guys would want a hand to work for nothing – just his keep, why I’d come and lend a hand.’

Of Mice and Men – Section Two

Plot

George and Lennie arrive at the ranch.

We meet the other characters.

George realises the threats here are Curley and Curley’s wife, for different reasons.

The bunk house:

  • Whitewashed
  • Small square windows
  • Eight bunks
  • Apple boxes for shelves
  • Small articles: soap, razors, talc, Western magazines, medicines, combs, ties
  • Square table, boxes to sit on, laying cards

George

  • Fastidious –picky! – about hygiene, likes neatness,
  • Protective of Lennie against boss and Curley
  • Takes out his anger on Lennie ‘Damn near lost us the job.

Boss

  • Little, stocky, jeans, waistcoat, black jacket, belt and big square buckle, soiled Stetson, high heeled boots and spurs ‘to prove he was not a labouring man.’

Curley

  • Young, thin brown face, tightly curled hair, glove filled with vaseline, high heeled boots like the boss
  • He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. His glance at once calculating and pugnacious (aggressive)’
  • Ex-boxer, hates big guys, scrappy ‘Curley ain’t givin’ nobody a chance.’

Candy – the swamper

  • One handed, old, lonely ‘a guy on a ranch don’t never listen nor he don’t ast no questions.’
  • Drag-footed sheep dog, grey muzzles and blind old eyes, lame; had the dog since he was a pup, good sheep dog then.

Curley’s wife

  • A ‘tart‘; girl; full rouged lips, wide spaced eyes, heavily made up, red nails, hair in tight curls; red slippers with feathers on
  • Stands against the door frame, hands behind thrusting her body forward (provocatively)
  • Afraid of Curley? ‘she was suddenly apprehensive.’
  • purty‘ Lennie calls her.

Lennie

  • Admired Curley’s wife ‘gosh she was purty.’
  • Picks up on atmospheres; ‘Let’s go George… it’s mean here.

Slim

  • Moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty, prince of the ranch, a gravity in his manner, people stopped talking to listen to him, authoritative, ageless face, slow thoughtful speech, delicate hands
  • He looked kindly at the two new comers ‘hope you get on my team.’
  • Tone friendly, invited confidence.’
  • Pragmatic (practical) drowned 4 of the pups because his dog ‘couldn’t feed that many.’

Carlson

  • Powerful, big stomached
  • Mean ‘why’n’t you get Candy to shoot his old dog