mice n men

• Lennie Small is George's friend with childlike qualities and an obsession with soft things like rabbits.
• Slim is the most respected worker at the ranch and becomes friends with George and Lennie.
• Curley, the boss's son, has a reputation as a fighter and dislikes Lennie.
• Soledad


  Means loneliness
• Economic collapse of the Depression

  Made people lonely and isolated
• Ranch workers


  • Iterant workers were forced into labour camps which were similar to prisons
  • Characters are forced into each other's company
• 1930s left men disconnected, dehumanised, desensitised and broken
• 1930s society


  • Was male dominated
  • Women were expected to be mothers and wives, rather than individuals of their own right
  • Women were nothing more than possessions
  • Women lacked the opportunities and practical opportunities for self definition their male partners had
• "Ash pile made by many fires" - everyone has gone on the same journey, it is as if dreams will turn into ashes
• The dream embodies the freedom immigrants travelled to America to find
• Steinbeck reveals the dream offered hope but were ultimately doomed
• Steinbeck shows humans cannot live without hope
• The ranch was a microcosm for society at the time
• Many people lost their homes
• The characters demonstrate little understanding of one another because of society
• Characters showed to be quick to reveal their anger which shows their emotions due to the hardship they faced
• Black people were treated as 2nd class human beings and segregated from society
• Racial inequality crooks act independently
• Crooks questioned faced caused harsh psychological effects on him, to the point of questioning his existence
• George is controlling over Lennie but comes from concern and passion
• It is up to George to look after Lennie as the government wouldn't support people with learning difficulties
• Ranch worker, out in the open trying to survive and find a job with his mate Lennie
• "But you get used to goin' around with a guy an' you can't get rid of him"
• Guys like us that work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world
• Lennie is always compared to animals or animalistic features
• Lennie does not understand his strength when he sees soft things
• "I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you" shows his relationship with George- also chronic as George kills Lennie at the end of the book
• A lonely, isolated and misunderstood woman, Only woman in book
• No-name, under her husband's name = possession, asset to him
• Leaned against the door frame so her body was thrown forward
• "Tramp" said by George
• "You can't blame a man for looking"
• "I don't like Curley. He ain't a nice fella"
• "I tell you I ain't used to livin' like this. I coulda made something of myself"
• "You know what I can do to you if you open your trap"
• Curley wears "high-heeled boots" to make up for his height and reminds workers of his wealth and status
• "Any of you guys seen my wife?"
• "What the hell you laughing at?"
• "Nobody never gets to heaven and nobody gets no land. It's just in their head"
• "Cause I'm black... Why ain't you wanted"