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

 


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