Slim

• [Chapter 2, Pg 39]

  "I hardly never seen two guys travel together"

  • He comments on the oddity on George and Lennie travelling together, which highlights the uniqueness of their relationship
  • May offer us a question as to whether is it a good or a bad thing as he doesn't elaborate on this
  • He just highlights it to the reader and it suggests that he is implying it could end up badly; which it does as George always has to look after Lennie and then he is the who eventually has to kill him (foreshadowing??)
• [Chapter 2?]

  "Slim's opinions were law"

  • This metaphor shows the power and the INFLUENCE his opinions have on others
  • He seems to have the final say, like when he tells Candy that his should dog should be put down, Candy doesn't put up a fight
  • Also when he blackmails Curley about his hand; Curley doesn't say a word, he obeys
  • This is very shocking for the reader as we see how much power Slim has on the ranch
• [Chapter 2, Pg 37]

  "Calm, God - Like eyes"

  • The SIMILIE "God like" shows that Slim is almost REVERED by all of the Men. There's an AURA that accompanies him when he's on the Ranch
  • He clearly sits at the TOP of their Social HIERARCHY, and is viewed as this MESSIANIC FIGURE
  • This is IRONIC, since Curley is supposed to be higher up the hierarchy than any of them, but it is Slim who is "King of the Ranch"

  A) -

  
• [Chapter 2, Pg 37]

  "Capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders"

  • The VERB "driving" is showing his sheer Power in commanding all of these Mules
  • The ADJECTIVE "Twenty" describes the QUANTITY of his Power and the amount of Authority he has
  • By saying he can order twenty MULES to line up straight, shows how great his authority is, as mules tend to be quite stubborn, and not listen to instructions

  A) -

  
• [Chapter 2, Pg 37]

  "Prince of the Ranch"

  • The METAPHOR "Prince" describes how all of the men are almost in AWE of Slim
  • All of the other characters often look to Slim for advice and APPROVAL

  ---> This is IRONY, as Curley is supposed to be "Prince of the Ranch", since he's the Boss' Son, but SLIM is the one they all look up to

  A) -

  
• [Chapter 2, Pg 37]

  "His word was taken on any subject"

  • The ABSTRACT NOUN "Word" illustrates the VALUE and IMPORTANCE of what he says, if it is being distinguished as its own Noun
  • The ADJECTIVE in "any" subject, illustrates how Slim is seen as such an INTELLECTUAL among these Men, almost like a Teacher or a Preacher
  • Whatever he says goes

  A) -

  
• [Chap 3, Pg 44 + Chap 2, Pg 41] There's a CONTRAST between:

  • Slim: "His tone was friendly. It invited confidence without demanding it"

  He is not INSISTING any Confidence, it suggests that Steinbeck is insinuating that Slim respects other people’s PRIVACY and other people, just as they Respect Him

  • Curley: "He demanded angrily"

  Curley attempts to FORCE a Response out of the other Ranch Workers, when he asks if they've seen his Wife, almost like he is DEMANDING RESPECT

  A) -