Of Mice and Men Past Paper PDF

Lennie Authority  George (AO1) George Milton is an important character in the novel. He is a father figure to Lennie. George has taken care of Lennie since Lennie’s Aunt Clara died, showing that George is caring, loyal and a man of his word George is a hard worker and has ambitio...

Lennie Authority  George (AO1) George Milton is an important character in the novel. He is a father figure to Lennie. George has taken care of Lennie since Lennie’s Aunt Clara died, showing that George is caring, loyal and a man of his word George is a hard worker and has ambition. He, like Lennie and many others on the ranch, is an itinerant farm labourer and has the dream of one day having a place of his own and to ‘live off the fatta the lan’’ George plans ahead. He knows that Lennie gets them into trouble and tells Lennie to ‘hide in the brush’ if he should need to run away from the ranch. George is concerned that Curley’s wife is ‘jail bait’ and could cause trouble in the future, foreshadowing future events George takes control. Lennie does everything that George instructs him to do. George shows that he has a guilty conscience when he confesses to Slim about a time when he told Lennie to jump into a river and he nearly drowned. George warns Lennie ‘not to say a word’ when they go and meet the boss and Lennie takes the pup back to ‘the nest’ when George tells him to do ñso, showing that George is respected by Lennie George can have a temper and loses his patience with Lennie, such as when he becomes frustrated when Lennie will not give George the dead mouse and when Lennie forgets things. In his frustration, George says that he could ‘live so easy’ without Lennie. George berates Lennie, saying that he gets him in ‘hot water all the time’ George can be a solitary character, playing solitaire when he is in the bunk house George visits the ‘cat house’ on Saturday night with the other men when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife, George knows that he must find Lennie and shoot him before Curley and his posse get to him. George shoots Lennie in the back of the head after he has persuaded Lennie to think about the dream. (AO4) George has a version of the American Dream that he shares with Lennie. Without him, Lennie and Candy would not have hope. George accepts Candy’s offer of money to encourage the dream of owning their own land there was very little social care for the disabled and Lennie could have been put in a ‘booby hatch’. Had Lennie been caught by Curley and his posse, he would have been killed. George shows his ultimate care for Lennie when he shoots him at the end of the novel to save him from a worse fate as an elderly citizen, Candy would not have received money from the state to support him in retirement. Candy, like many other ranch workers, feared getting ‘canned’, especially as he was old and physically disabled George and Lennie’s relationship is considered unusual by the other men on the ranch because of the solitary lifestyle of an itinerant farm worker during the Great Depression.  Future (AO1) several characters have a plan for the future, but often these plans are just fantasies and unrealistic George and Lennie have a plan to ‘live off the fatta the lan’’. Lennie dreams of tending the rabbits and George is mesmerised by the image he creates when he tells Lennie about the ‘big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens’ that they will have. There is little chance of achieving this and even that chance is removed when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife Candy’s plan is to have enough savings to live on during his retirement. When Candy meets George and Lennie, their dream of living in their own place becomes more of a possibility. Candy offers the men his savings to buy ‘a little place’ that George knows about. Candy is excited about their prospects and plans for the future by ‘figurin’’ when others have gone to the ‘cat house’. Candy’s plans go wrong when Curley’s wife is killed by Lennie. Candy knows that without Lennie, George will not continue with the dream Crooks momentarily believes that he can live with George, Lennie and Candy when he offers to help them: ‘If you … guys would want a hand to work for nothing – just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand’. When Curley’s wife arrives, she soon reduces him ‘into himself’ as he ‘seemed to grow smaller’. Crooks, as a black man, knows his place in society and any plans that he tries to make can only go wrong Curley’s wife’s plan was to be in the ‘movies’. She tells Lennie the story of when she naively believed a man who promised to write to her with an offer. Curley’s wife believes that her mother stole her letter and, in retaliation, marries Curley. She confesses that she does ‘not like Curley’, even though they have only been married a fortnight. Curley’s wife’s plans have already gone wrong at the start of the novel Curley’s plans of becoming a boxer are probably ruined when Lennie crushes his hand. His plans for revenge on Lennie are thwarted at the time by Slim, and later when Lennie escapes Curley’s posse. (AO4) the title of the novel is taken from the poem To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With the Plough, November, 1785 written by the Scottish poet, Robert (Robbie) Burns. The poem tells the story of a mouse running away from the approaching farmer’s scythe when her nest is destroyed. The lines: The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley (astray) are reflected in the experiences of some of the characters in the novel characters have their own plans, but none of them are achieved the economic hardships experienced during the Great Depression left little opportunity for plans to be realised the ranch is representative of American society, with its own hierarchy. Racism and sexism were the norm during the time the novel is set and even though characters may have plans they have little hope of achieving them. Loneliness (AO1) there are many lonely characters on the ranch, such as: Curley’s wife, George, Candy, Crooks and other ranch hands. Some of these characters are lonely due to the nature of their job as itinerant farm labourers; some are lonely as they have lost everyone who is close to them and others are lonely due to circumstances they find themselves in, such as Curley’s wife George can be considered a lonely character, even though he has Lennie as a companion. He often gets frustrated with having to care for Lennie and this also prevents him from living a normal life; he joins with the other men when they go to ‘old Susy’s place’ Candy is both disabled and old, which prevents him from working on the land; he is left alone to do the ‘swamping’ and only has his dog for company. The shooting of Candy’s dog takes away his only companion Loneliness has made characters like Crooks bitter and cynical; Crooks’ segregation, owing to the colour of his skin, has made him suspect anyone who shows him the hand of friendship, such as when Lennie visits his room Curley’s wife is the only female mentioned on the ranch and her position on the ranch is simply as one of Curley’s possessions as she is not given a name. Curley’s wife’s loneliness leads her to seek company from the ranch hands which ultimately leads to her death. Context (AO4) - one context point per paragraph The ranch is located near Soledad, which means ‘loneliness’ in Spanish Characters are often lonely due to discrimination: racism, sexism and disability; there is no social care for the old and vulnerable members of society The nature of the life of itinerant ranch-hands leads them to have no stability, home, possessions, friendships or relationships due to their constantly moving in search of work. There was a high level of unemployment during the Great Depression Even those higher in the social structure on the ranch suffer from loneliness: Curley is often looking for his wife and the men on the ranch keep their distance from him. Slim does not suggest that he is lonely, but goes with the others into town on a Saturday night.  Candy (AO1) Candy is the first person at the ranch to greet George and Lennie on their arrival. His role is that of the ‘old swamper’, which largely involves sweeping and cleaning the bunk house. He is described as ‘a tall stoop-shouldered old man’. He is dressed in the denim clothing that is typically worn by the workers. Candy has lost his right hand in a farming accident and points out George’s and Lennie’s bunks with his ‘stick-like wrist’ Candy represents the isolation felt by some on the ranch. His only friend is an old sheepdog that has been with him since the dog was a pup. Candy speaks proudly of the dog’s prowess in younger days: ‘he was the best damn sheepdog I ever seen’. When Carlson pushes for the dog to be shot, Candy protests: ‘Well - hell! I had him so long’. Eventually, Carlson leads the dog outside to shoot him in the back of the head. When the shot rings out, Candy turns miserably to face the wall Candy tells George that he should have shot his dog himself. His relationship with the dog mirrors that of George and Lennie, foreshadowing George’s decision to end Lennie’s life at the end of the novel Candy becomes part of the dream and his money appears to put it within their reach. After overhearing George and Lennie talking about the dream of owning their own place, Candy offers his compensation money towards the ‘little place’ that George describes. He convinces them by offering to work and pledges: ‘I’d make a will an’ leave my share to you guys’ Candy shows that even weak people can be provoked into standing up for themselves. When Curley’s wife joins Candy, Lennie and Crooks in Crooks’ room on the evening when the other men go into town, she says: ‘They left all the weak ones here’, ironically not realising that she is including herself in this statement. She refers to Candy as ‘a lousy ol’ sheep’. Candy stands up to her: ‘You got no call foolin’ aroun’ with other guys, causin’ trouble’ it is Candy who discovers the body of Curley’s wife in the barn and raises the alarm with George. Candy blames Curley’s wife for the trouble she has caused, reacting angrily to her dead body: ‘You done it, di’n’t you? … Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up’ Candy holds out a brief hope that perhaps he and George will be able to fulfil the dream themselves. George admits that he ‘knowed we’d never do her’ and, when George does not answer Candy asking whether it is ‘all off’, Candy knows that their dream is over. (AO4 - context  because of his disability and age, Candy is fortunate to have a job. He is aware that he will soon be ‘canned’ and put ‘on the county’ it was unusual, during the Great Depression, for Candy to have savings. He has two hundred and fifty dollars compensation money and with the wages that he is due, he can offer ‘three hundred an’ fifty bucks’ Candy faces a bleak future of homelessness and poverty as the novel ends. There was very little social care during the 1930s Candy, like most other ranch workers, is racially prejudiced. He tells George about the events one Christmas when Crooks was allowed in the bunk house. Candy ‘paused in relish of the memory’ of how Crooks was beaten by another ranch worker, Smitty. Curley and co. (AO1) the relationship between Curley and his wife is strained, even though they have only been married for a short while. Candy tells George that Curley has been ‘cockier’n ever since he got married’ a ‘couple of weeks ago’ and that Curley’s wife has already ‘got the eye’ flirting with the ranch hands. Candy also delights in telling George that Curley wears a glove ‘fulla Vaseline’ to keep one hand soft for his wife. Curley’s wife is never named, suggesting that she is merely a possession and even less valuable than Lulu, Slim’s dog, who is named both Curley and his wife always seem to be looking for each other through either their suspicion of each other or their loneliness. Curley’s wife is desperate for company and attention, spending time on her appearance in order to achieve this. When Curley is looking for his wife, he thinks that she is with Slim and goes in pursuit of them; however, Slim is not afraid of Curley and soon tells him: ‘If you can’t look after your own God damn wife, what you expect me to do about it?’ Curley is so angry that he picks a fight with Lennie when most of the men go to ‘old Susy’s place’, Curley goes with them leaving his wife alone. It is Saturday evening that she ventures into Crooks’ room. She admits to Lennie that she is ‘glad you bust up Curley … He got it comin’ to him’, suggesting that there is little or no love between Curley and his wife. Shortly after this Curley’s wife threatens Crooks, demonstrating her vicious and vindictive nature which, perhaps, is a way that she vents her frustration in the barn, Curley’s wife confides in Lennie when she tells him that Curley ‘ain’t a nice fella’. She reveals that she only married him in order to leave home when she had accused her mother of stealing her letters. Curley’s wife met Curley at the Riverside Dance Palace ‘that same night’ the only time that Curley and his wife are seen together in the novel is when he looks at her dead body. Even at this point, there is no affection demonstrated, as Curley is more intent on getting his revenge on Lennie: ‘I’ll kill the big son-ofa-bitch myself. I’ll shoot him in the guts’. (AO4 - context the ranch hierarchy is demonstrated through the characters of Curley and his wife. White women had little power, but had higher status than characters like Crooks. Women had little chance of independence and were often objectified the glitz and glamour of Hollywood offered escapism. Curley’s wife’s American Dream was to be ‘in the movies’. The majority of characters have a dream. Curley’s dream was to become a boxer, having reached the finals for ‘the Golden Gloves’ in the past. In both of them and in their relationship, mundane lives contrast with unattainable dreams of stardom and fame casual racism and sexism were inherent in society at the time. Ranch (AO1) life on the ranch involves hard work and the men simply exist day-to-day. The majority of men are itinerant farm labourers and they live in meagre conditions in the bunkhouse. The layout of the bunkhouse is described as being regimental with ‘eight bunks, five of them made up with blankets’. Personal or necessary items are stored in apple boxes converted into shelves: ‘And these shelves were stocked with little articles, soap and talcum powder, razors and those Western magazines ranch men love to read and scoff at and secretly believe’. The men lack any privacy, but most are lonely life on the ranch involves long working days as well as hard labour. Lennie’s sheer strength and ability to buck barley are valued on the ranch, especially as he can lift four hundred pounds on his own. Slim is the ‘jerkline skinner’, a skilled role and, as such, respected by the other workers. Crooks is the ‘stable buck’ and is lowest in the ranch hierarchy. Crooks lives with the mules and horses he cares for as he is not allowed to live with the other men in the bunkhouse: ‘They say I stink’. Candy works as a ‘swamper’ leisure time for the men revolves around the bunkhouse and games of cards or solitaire. Whit outlines the advantages of visiting the brothel in town: ‘Hell of a nice place. Old Susy’s a laugh – always crackin’ jokes’. The life of the itinerant worker precluded the possibility of raising a family and the men would go to town for companionship from Susy’s ‘girls’. When the men go into town, Lennie, Crooks and Candy are left behind along with Curley’s wife. Another significant leisure activity is the game of horseshoes that the men play in the evenings and on Sundays. Crooks is adept at this game. It is ironic that, while George is finally relaxing with a game of horseshoes, happy that the dream is about to be realised, Lennie is engaged in the conversation with Curley’s wife that proves fatal for both of them life on the ranch for Curley’s wife is very dull and monotonous. She is lonely and craves companionship and attention from the workers. She devotes a good deal of time to her appearance. She has ‘full, rouged lips’, is ‘heavily made up’ and wears ‘red mules, on  the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers’. Curley’s wife’s need for someone to talk to leads her into her final, doomed exchange with Lennie in the barn. AO4 - Context: the reader sees the everyday life of itinerant ranch workers during the 1930s. During the time of the Great Depression, work was scarce. The intinerant farm labourers desperately sought work and travelled large distances. They had very few rights and very little pay. Itinerant farm labourers had to obtain work slips in order to work; George and Lennie have gained their work permits or slips from Murray and Ready’s the social hierarchy on the ranch is reflective of American society of the time. Crooks, being a black man, is at the bottom of the social hierarchy and he knows his place there was no provision for the old or disabled members of society. Candy knows that once he has been ‘canned’ he will have nowhere to go. Similarly, if Lennie did not have George to look after him, he would be put in a ‘booby hatch’. Suffering (AO1) suffering is a significant theme in the novel. Most characters in the novel suffer because of the situation that they find themselves in George suffers through the burden of Lennie's condition. Although Lennie provides companionship, George must always think about future possible outcomes of Lennie's behaviour and worry while considering their next move. George suffers at the end of the novel because he has to sacrifice his best friend for Lennie’s own good. Through this act, George faces the loss of his friend and his dream, which will inevitably lead to loneliness, but it is the only option remaining to him Lennie suffers as he must cope with his disabilities and must learn to control his strength. Lennie suffers emotionally when he accidentally kills his mice and puppy. He suffers physically and mentally when Curley picks a fight with him. He does not understand why Curley is beating him and does not retaliate until George sanctions it. Lennie reproaches himself for killing Curley’s wife and knows that he has done another ‘bad thing’. To save Lennie, George shoots him in order to spare him the greater suffering that would be imposed by Curley and his posse the social hierarchy on the ranch is reflective of American society of the time. Crooks, being a black man, is at the bottom of the social hierarchy and he knows his place Crooks suffers because he is physically disabled, by having a crooked back, and lives in constant pain. He also suffers from prejudice and segregation because, as he is black, he is lowest in the ranch hierarchy. He is referred to by the other men, apart from Slim, as the 'nigger'. When he is allowed in the bunkhouse at Christmas, the other men beat him. Even Curley's wife made Crooks reduce ‘himself to nothing’ with her threat that she could get him 'strung up so easy', as any accusation by a white woman against a black man would be believed Curley's wife suffers as she is isolated and lonely. She is so insignificant on the ranch that she is not given a name. She is unhappy in her marriage to Curley who she states 'ain't nice'. Curley’s wife tries hard to gain attention and companionship from the men on the ranch, but they rightly consider her to be nothing but trouble: 'jailbait'. When seeking Lennie’s company in the barn, she tells him about her dream of being in the movies and, through her attempt to be friendly, she suffers the ultimate penalty of death when Lennie accidentally breaks her neck Candy, the ‘old swamper’, suffers. He has lost a hand in a farming accident and can now only sweep up and do the most menial jobs on the ranch. Candy suffers greatly when his only companion, his old dog, is shot by Carlson because it is too old and 'no good'. He becomes involved with George’s and Lennie’s dream, pledging money to help make it happen. He lives in terror of being 'cann'd' and faces a bleak future when the dream is shattered by the death of Curley's wife Curley suffers when his hand is crushed by Lennie, preventing him from pursuing his boxing dream. He suffers loneliness because his mean nature results in his not being liked or respected by the ranch hands or his wife. 2 (AO4 - context at the time of the Great Depression, work was scarce. Itinerant farm labourers desperately sought work and travelled large distances. They had very few rights and very little pay and many suffered hardships as a consequence the social hierarchy on the ranch is reflective of American society of the time. Crooks, being a black man, is at the bottom of the social hierarchy and he knows his place there was no proper provision for the old or disabled members of society. Candy knows that once he has been ‘canned’ he will have nowhere to go. Similarly, if Lennie did not have George to look after him, he would be put in a ‘booby hatch’. Cruelty cruelty is an important theme in the novel and is illustrated in different ways, such as the cruel treatment of different people, the cruel nature of life on the ranch and cruelty within the natural surroundings even George can be cruel to Lennie, especially when he loses patience with Lennie: ‘’An’ whatta I got,’ George went on furiously. ‘I got you! …’. George confesses to Slim about how he used to take advantage of and tease Lennie: ‘Used to play jokes on ’im ’cause he was too dumb to take care of ’imself’ and admits how he hit Lennie over the head with ‘a fence picket’ Lennie can be considered unintentionally cruel. He is cruel to the animals that he pets. He does not realise how fragile the animals are and accidentally kills them, like the mice. He ‘pinched their heads a little and then they was dead’, and he kills his puppy by being too rough with it: ‘I didn’t bounce you hard’. Lennie is cruel when he crushes Curley’s hand and later when he breaks Curley’s wife’s neck Crooks is cruelly treated because he is the only black man on the ranch. Crooks is segregated from the others and is called derogatory names by most of the ranch hands. Crooks has a crooked back from a horse’s kick, which presumably resulted from life on the ranch. Candy fondly recalls the time when Crooks was allowed in the bunkhouse and Smitty ‘took after’ him and ‘woulda killed’ him had he been allowed to use ‘his feet’. Crooks, in turn, is cruel to Lennie when he teases him about George not coming back after a night out: ‘Crooks’ face lighted with pleasure in his torture’ Candy has lost his hand in an accident on the ranch. The cruel nature of life on the ranch has left him as the ‘swamper’ and he fears being ‘cann’d’. Candy’s dog is shot by Carlson. Some may consider this an act of cruelty, but others may see it as an act of kindness in putting the dog out of its misery. Candy considers the death of his dog as a cruel act as Carlson relentlessly pressures Candy into letting him take his dog away Curley’s wife is cruelly treated by some of the men on the ranch, as they see her as ‘jail bait’ and they fear that she will only bring them trouble. She thinks that her mother treated her cruelly by taking a letter meant for her from a man whom she believed to be a Hollywood film director. Curley could be considered cruel for keeping his wife isolated on the ranch the natural environment can be cruel. In the final chapter, a heron plucks a water snake from the river: ‘swallowed the little snake while its tail waved frantically’. The survival of the fittest illustrates the harsh realities of life. (AO4) life for itinerant farm labourers was harsh during the Great Depression. They were forced to travel from place to place in search of work and became isolated from family and friends PMT 12 society was cruel to those who were old or disabled. There was very little provision or help for those in need. Candy knows that once he is ‘cann’d’ he will have nowhere to go. Similarly, if Lennie did not have George to look after him, he would be put in a ‘booby hatch’ Curley’s wife talks about her dream of being ‘in the movies’. Many people dreamt of being famous Hollywood stars at the time, as it offered the chance of an escape from poverty, and fulfilment of the American Dream. Unhappiness candidates may choose any one character that they feel is the most unhappy. These could include: George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks or Curley’s wife; however, other characters may be considered George could be considered most unhappy because at the end of the novel, he is forced to shoot his companion, Lennie. At times, George has demonstrated his frustration and anger about caring for Lennie, telling him that he could ‘get along so easy’ without him, even though Lennie’s companionship keeps him from some of the loneliness the other workers suffer. George believes that he cannot have a future or ‘a girl’ all the time he must care for Lennie Lennie could be considered most unhappy when George takes the dead mice from him or when he accidentally kills his puppy and Curley’s wife at the end of the novel. He fears that George will not let him tend the rabbits. Lennie also demonstrates his unhappiness when Crooks teases him about George not coming back to the ranch for him Candy’s unhappiness is demonstrated when his dog is taken by Carlson and shot. Candy appeals to Slim for some ‘reversal’ of the decision, but he does not receive any. Candy lay ‘rigidly on his bed staring at the ceiling’. Later in the novel, Candy demonstrates his unhappiness when he realises the dream has ended with Curley’s wife’s death. He ‘viciously’ comments on the lost dream; he ‘sniveled, and his voice shook’ with disappointment Crooks may be considered as most unhappy, because he is lonely and subject to racial abuse. His segregation has made him a ‘proud, aloof man’. Crooks is fully aware of his situation and is put in his place when Curley’s wife threatens him: ‘I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny’ other unhappy characters could include: Curley’s wife who has lost her dream of being in the movies and now leads a lonely life as the only woman on the ranch, or Curley, whose dream of being a boxer is destroyed when Lennie crushes his hand. (AO4) several contextual features may be significant to making characters unhappy. The Great Depression led to many men becoming itinerant farm labourers and living solitary lives racial segregation led characters like Crooks to become isolated and desperately unhappy. The Scottsboro Boys’ trial and the activities of the Ku Klux Klan highlight the injustices and racial discrimination at the time Candy struggles to come to terms with the fact that the dream with George and Lennie is only short lived and is now over. For elderly people, like Candy, there was no provision or state care once they had retired. Prejudice Curley’s wife Curley‘s wife is criticised by many of the men who have no understanding of her isolation. This links with a prejudiced view of her behaviour. She is a dreamer. ―‘Nother time I met a guy, an‘ he was in pitchers. Went out to the Riverside Dance Palace with him. He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon‘s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it.‖ She looked closely at Lennie to see whether she was impressing him. ―I never got that letter,‖ she said. ―I always thought my ol‘ lady stole it.‖ Candy sums up the view of the men: ―Yeah? Married two weeks and got the eye? Maybe that‘s why Curley‘s pants is full of ants.‖ ―I seen her give Slim the eye. Slim‘s a jerkline skinner. Hell of a nice fella. Slim don‘t need to wear no high-heeled boots on a grain team. I seen her give Slim the eye. Curley never seen it. An‘ I seen her give Carlson the eye.‖ George says: ―She‘s gonna make a mess. They‘s gonna be a bad mess about her. She‘s a jail bait all set on the trigger. That Curley got his work cut out for him. Ranch with a bunch of guys on it ain‘t no place for a girl, specially like her.‖ Later George calls her a tramp. Not one of the men knows her real name. Curley's wife is responsible for the worst example of prejudice. She is talking to Crooks. ‗She turned on him in scorn. ―Listen, Nigger,‖ she said. ―You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?‖ the men might be prejudiced against her but she still has Crooks that she can humiliate. In that incident Steinbeck shows how the dispossessed can strike back to exert power Crooks the dice are loaded against Crooks not only is he black but he is disabled too. Steinbeck gives him a great deal of dignity. When Lennie goes into Crooks‘ room Steinbeck describes it with economy. ―This room was swept and fairly neat, for Crooks was a proud, aloof man. He kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs. His body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine, and his eyes lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with intensity. His lean face 47 was lined with deep black wrinkles, and he had thin, pain-tightened lips which were lighter than his face.‖ naïve Lennie cannot understand why Crooks is ostracised. ――Why ain‘t you wanted?‖ Lennie asked. ―‘Cause I‘m black. They play cards in there, but I can‘t play because I‘m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me.‖ Crooks has had a lifetime of being subjected to racist prejudice. He is very articulate. There is an impression created that he could be the most intelligent man on the ranch. He does occasionally retire ―into the terrible protective dignity of the negro.‖ Level Mark A01/A02/A04 0 No rewardable material. Level 1 1-6 Limited knowledge and understanding of Respect (AO1) respect is demonstrated in a variety of ways throughout the novel. It is shown through the relationship between George and Lennie, the respect for the boss, the respect that Slim has on the ranch and the lack of respect for Curley, Curley’s wife and Crooks. Some candidates may consider the respect for nature, such as Steinbeck’s idyllic opening description of the setting Lennie demonstrates respect for, and dependence on, George throughout the novel. When the characters are introduced, Lennie follows George to the clearing and ‘imitated George exactly’. He does as George instructs him to do and is protective over him: ‘Ain’t nobody goin’ to suppose no hurt to George’ George respects Lennie’s devotion to him when he tells the boss that Lennie is ‘sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull’ and, later, he explains to Slim how Lennie is not mean and ‘he’ll do any damn thing’ that George tells him to do the boss is respected because of his place at the pinnacle of the ranch hierarchy. He employs the labourers, and so he demands respect, even though he is seldom seen in the novel. When he first meets George and Lennie, he questions George about their relationship and warns George ‘don’t try to put nothing over’ and that he has ‘got my eye on you’ the men have most respect for Slim. He is described as being ‘prince of the ranch’. His skills are extolled as he is ‘capable of killing a fly on the wheeler’s butt with a bull whip without touching the mule’ and his ’authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject’. Even the headstrong Carlson takes a step back to allow Slim to ‘precede him’. Slim’s views are respected when Carlson shoots Candy’s dog: ‘Slim’s opinions were law’. A short while later, respect for Slim is demonstrated when, after Curley’s hand is crushed, he is able to convince Curley to say he got his hand ‘caught in a machine’ Candy, the old ‘swamper’, has little respect on the ranch because he is old and disabled. He is left to clean the bunkhouse whilst the men are out working. He is scared of getting ‘cann’d’ as he knows he is of little use on the ranch very little respect is given to Curley, despite his being the boss’s son. Candy delights in telling George that Curley keeps a glove ‘fulla vaseline’ and that Curley is ‘cockier’n ever since he got married’. When Curley is looking for his wife and picks a fight with Lennie, Carlson disrespectfully tells Curley to keep his wife at home and calls him a ‘damn punk’ Curley’s wife is shown little respect. As the only female on the ranch, her flirtatious manner leads her to being labelled a ‘tramp’ and a ‘bitch’. Some candidates may also consider the lack of respect for women in general, such as when the men go to ‘old Susy’s place’ Crooks is given very little respect. Being the only black man on the ranch, he is a victim of racist abuse and is segregated from the other ranch hands. Curley’s wife is particularly disrespectful to him when she tells him that she could get him ‘strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny’. Slim treats Crooks kindly and shows him some respect. Slim does not call him by derogatory terms. Crooks shows his respect for Slim by calling him Mr Slim. It can be argued that Lennie shows respect for Crooks when he goes to his room some candidates may consider the respect for nature. Steinbeck’s circular structure begins and ends at the foothill of the Gabilan mountains at the clearing. The water snake and heron feature in both the first and last chapters and illustrate the natural order of survival. (AO4) the American Dream gave hope for all those whose goal was to gain some form of independence and respect the social hierarchy on the ranch illustrates those with and without respect. The novel illustrates that respect can be earned, such as by Slim characters like Candy, Crooks and Curley’s wife are subjected to ageism, racism and sexism, typical of life in the 1930s. There was little or no provision for those with physical or mental disability and, just as with the water snake and heron, it was survival of the fittest there was little respect shown to itinerant farm labourers like George and Lennie. High unemployment meant that ranch hands could soon be replaced should they leave. Crooks Crooks is the ‘negro stable buck’ who ‘had his bunk in the harness room’. His role in the novel is important because he represents a minority group. Crooks is the lonely black stable buck on the ranch and he is one of the only permanent workers there. His job is to tend the mules and horses. He injured his back in an accident and often rubs his back with horse liniment to ease the pain Crooks is segregated owing to his colour. He lives alone and is isolated from the other men in the bunk house. He has few comforts and sleeps in the harness room, ‘a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn’. Apart from playing a game of horseshoes on Sundays, he does not socialise with anyone. When Lennie visits his room, he says: 'A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody … I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick' Crooks is an outsider. He is referred to as 'nigger' by the other men, which shows how racism is taken for granted and an everyday part of life on the ranch. The only character who does not call him ‘nigger’ is Slim. Candy tells George and Lennie about how the boss ‘gives him [Crooks] hell when he’s mad’ and a story about how one Christmas Crooks was allowed in the bunk house and Smitty beat him, but the ranch hands would not allow him to use his feet because of Crooks having ‘a crooked back’. Even Candy demonstrates his racist attitudes when he recalls the event with ‘relish’ Crooks has a few treasured possessions. These include a number of books, among which is a ‘mauled copy of the California civil code for 1905’, suggesting that Crooks frequently refers to it and he knows his rights. Crooks also has other possessions, such as a pair of ‘gold-rimmed spectacles’ and a ‘tattered’ dictionary that suggests frequent use Crooks has become proud and aloof as a result of his situation. He informs Lennie that he is not descended from slaves and how he used to have friends. Crooks enjoys little power on the ranch and seems almost to enjoy the opportunity of taunting Lennie when he says that George will not come back from town initially, Crooks is sceptical of George’s and Lennie’s dream but eventually warms to the possibility. He promises to work for nothing, so long as he can live out the rest of his life there and no longer feel like an outsider Crooks is quickly and sharply put in his place by Curley's wife who threatens him with hanging. Crooks knows that the threat is real and is crushed by it: 'Crooks had reduced himself to nothing …"Yes, ma'am," and his voice was toneless’. (AO4) during the Great Depression years of the 1930s, racism was widespread particularly in California and the Southern states. Lynch-mobs were prevalent and often black people were lynched without a fair trial. Curley’s wife’s treatment of Crooks and her threat of ‘I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny’ was a shocking reality at the time in the socia Power the lack of power is evident throughout the novel, such as: Lennie’s lack of control over his actions; Candy‘s being unable to save his dog; Curley’s wife‘s lack of power because of her gender; Crooks‘ being ‘reduced to nothing‘ and George‘s having no power to stop Curley from setting out to kill Lennie Lennie’s lack of cognitive power means that he cannot control his great physical strength that leads to the death of his puppy and, subsequently, Curley’s wife George takes control of Lennie’s life because he is unable to do so himself. The boss, suspicious of George’s motives, warns ‘don’t try to put nothing over, ’cause you can’t get away with nothing‘. George must advise Lennie on all aspects of life, such as what to drink, where to go and what he should or should not say and do: ‘I tried not to forget. Honest to God I did, George‘ despite Candy‘s trying to get Slim to stop Carlson destroying his dog, Candy cannot do anything about it. He is powerless. His injury means that he is unable to work ‘bucking barley‘ with the other men and is left at the bunkhouse ‘swamping‘. His elderly age and disability make him vulnerable Curley’s wife is powerless because she is the only female on the ranch. She is lonely and seeks the company of the ranch hands who see her as a ‘rattrap‘. Her husband goes with the other men to the brothel, even though the couple have only been married two weeks. She tells Lennie her story and shows how she felt powerless when her mother supposedly stole the letters she was expecting to receive from a man in Hollywood. She was left with no alternative but to marry Curley to escape her former life. She is powerless in Lennie’s hands when he tries to keep her quiet Crooks ‘reduced himself to nothing‘ when Curley’s wife threatens him: ‘I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny‘. Crooks is marginalised and segregated from others on the ranch George has no power to stop Curley. When Curley decides to hunt down Lennie and ‘shoot him in the guts‘, George knows that he must find him first and allow him to die relatively pain free other valid points could include: how the watersnake is powerless in the face of the heron; how Lennie is powerless to stop visions appearing to him at the end of the novel; how Curley is physically powerless when Lennie grabs and crushes his hand or any other valid points. (AO4) the title of the novel comes directly from Robert Burns’ poem To a Mouse. The poem tells of a mouse having to run from a scythe and that ‘The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, / Gang aft agley’. The title links to characters’ lack of power to control their destinies Lennie’s lack of cognitive power means that he must rely on George to care for him. There was little or no provision of social care. Without George, Lennie would most likely have been put in a ‘booby hatch’ and, as Crooks taunts, he would be kept like a dog: ‘They’ll tie ya up with a collar’ Crooks is subjected to racism and segregation. The harsh treatment he receives is typical of 1930s America. At the time, the Ku Klux Klan was prevalent and lynching was commonplaceitinerant farm workers were powerless. They were forced to travel from place to place in search of work during the Great Depression. They were grateful for any work that they could get and had to obtain work cards, such as those gained from Murray and Ready’s. Unemployment was high, especially at the time of the Dust Bowl and Wall Street Crash. Slim (AO1) Slim has a good relationship with the men on the ranch, but he tends to remain detached. When the reader is introduced to him, he is presented in a positive way. He is friendly and respectful to the other men and Curley’s wife, and he is respected by them. Slim forms a friendship with George and appears to be the only man on the ranch who is neither sexist nor racist. Slim is not afraid of Curley Slim appears to be one of the more permanent workers and is referred to as the ‘prince of the ranch’, possessing exceptional skills as the jerkline skinner the other ranch hands stop talking when Slim speaks: ‘There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke’ and he possesses an ‘understanding beyond thought’. The ranch respects his authority and judgement: ‘His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject’ and his ‘ear heard more than was said to him’. His judgement is illustrated when Candy hopes that Slim will tell Carlson to leave Candy’s old dog alone, but there is no ‘reversal’ and Slim gives him no hope Slim has a calm nature, ‘His voice was very gentle’, and his friendly disposition gives others the confidence to talk at ease with him Slim’s act of kindness, giving a puppy to Lennie, makes George feel comfortable in his company. In conversation, George confesses that he used to ‘have fun’ with Lennie by playing tricks on him and tells Slim about how they had to flee from Weed. Slim is sensitive to George and Lennie’s relationship and is sympathetic he is kind towards Curley’s wife and, unlike the other men, does not make derogatory comments about her nor appear to be as sexist as the other men, although he still goes to town with them respect is shared between Slim and Crooks. Crooks calls him Mr Slim and tells him when Lennie is petting his pup. Slim does not show any prejudice against Crooks and, unlike others, does not refer to him in derogatory ways when Curley thinks that Slim is with his wife in the barn, Curley confronts him. Slim is not intimidated by Curley and soon makes him retract his accusations: ‘Well, I didn’t mean nothing, Slim. I just ast you’. Slim tells Curley that he should tell his wife to stay at home. The confrontation leads to Curley’s turning his attention to Lennie and picking a fight with him. It is Slim who warns George to get Lennie to release Curley’s hand, and it is Slim who makes Curley say that he got his hand ‘caught in a machine’ towards the end of the novel following Curley’s wife’s death, it is Slim who warns George that Curley will want his revenge on Lennie. At the very end of the novel, Slim shows his kindness once again when he comforts George, suggesting ‘Me an’ you’ll go in an’ get a drink’ and leads him ‘up toward the highway’. (AO4) Slim is one of the more permanent ranch hands, whereas many others were itinerant farm labourers, which perhaps explains why Slim keeps himself more detached Slim is a jerkline skinner, which was an important job. He was capable of ‘driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line‘. His position and skills automatically elevate him in the ranch hierarchy at the time the novel is set, racism and sexism were commonplace. Slim is different from the other men, as he tends to treat everyone with kindness and understanding Steinbeck deliberately presents Slim as a thoughtful and sensitive man, in order to challenge the stereotypical perception of ranch hands. Curley’s wife (AO1) Curley’s wife is the only female character in the text and, significantly, she is given no name. She married Curley to escape her mother. Curley is a thoughtless, cruel, controlling character who mistreats his wife; their relationship is not a loving one; it is a marriage of convenience. references about, or to, Curley’s wife, are often offensive and vulgar; she dresses provocatively which unsettles some of the men. Her husband clearly has little time for her, choosing to spend Saturday night with the men on the ranch at the local whorehouse instead of paying attention to his wife her appearance is always unsuitable for life on the ranch and is provocative to the men. This appearance leads the men to believe she is a ‘tart’. The care she lavishes on her appearance shows she has nothing else to do and no role on the ranch or in her marriage despite her lack of status, she knows that she is superior to Crooks and uses this as a threat: ‘I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny’ when telling Lennie of her dreams of being in the movies, she demonstrates her outsider status even more, as her dreams are very different from those of the others on the ranch when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife: ‘the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face’. Her death incites neither grief nor pity, but rather anger on the part of Curley who is more intent on pursuing his vendetta against Lennie. (AO4) Curley’s wife is no different to the men on the ranch who, at a time of hardship and depression, want to be part of ‘the American Dream’. She had aspired to become an actress, a Hollywood star, as she confides to Lennie, but married Curley when this dream failed by calling her ‘Curley's wife’, Steinbeck indicates she is Curley’s possession. Like many women at the time she is totally dependent on her husband. He refuses to let her talk to anyone on the ranch, isolating her from everyone and setting the stage for trouble when she seeks attention. She is lonely because she is a social outcast; she suffers from being isolated from other women she is of low status on the ranch but even she is above Crooks, the black stable buck, showing the pervasiveness of racism at all levels of society. Violence (AO1) life on the ranch is inherently violent: Candy has lost his hand in a machinery accident; his dog is shot when it reaches the end of its useful life; Crooks’s beating at Christmas demonstrates casual racism, sometimes fuelled by alcohol George uses harsh language to Lennie in his frustration with him when he wants 'ketchup'; the relationship between the two men can be strained. George's confessions, when speaking with Slim about the time he hit Lennie with a 'fence picket', show that George sometimes has to use force to control Lennie. At the end of the novel, George has to take a violent step to protect Lennie from greater violence from Curley, who has threatened to shoot Lennie in ‘the guts’ Curley demonstrates aggression when he picks on and fights Lennie. He is a bully and is able to bully others because of his position as the boss’s son; this is significant as it demonstrates the hierarchy of the ranch. After the death of Curley’s wife, Curley gathers the men together to pursue Lennie and George knows he cannot protect Lennie any longer Lennie is unaware of his own strength as shown when he accidentally crushes the mice. Lennie is also violent when he gets frustrated or frightened, for example when he crushes Curley's hand, which foreshadows his actions later in the novel, culminating in killing his pup and then killing Curley's wife Curley's wife uses vicious language when she threatens Crooks because of her frustration and loneliness at being the only female on the ranch the violence in nature, such as when the heron plucks out the water snake, is symbolic of the human violence at the end of the novel. (AO4) the unsettled lives of itinerant workers contribute to their feelings of violence and unrest characters are intimidated by Curley’s body language and his boxing prowess, but they can do nothing about this as they could be ‘canned’; they are migrant workers in an economically unstable time Lennie reacts defensively to George’s sharp rebuke in the first section when Lennie says that he could ‘go and live in a cave’; there was no social care for people like Lennie who could have been put in the ‘booby hatch’ many characters’ beliefs in the American Dream are destroyed by the violence. Loss (AO1) loss is an important theme in the novel. Many of the characters have experienced some form of loss either physically or emotionally George often talks about his loss of freedom caused by having to look after Lennie: ‘I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail’. Despite having to look after Lennie, George feels a profound sense of loss when he shoots him at the end of the novel and is consoled by Slim: ‘You hadda, George’ Lennie loses the things he likes to pet and find comfort in, such as his piece of soft fabric, given to him by his Aunt Clara: ‘I wisht I had that velvet right now…I lost it’. Lennie kills the mice and his puppy through petting them too hard. Lennie’s lack of awareness of his own strength results in the end of George’s and Lennie’s dream when Lennie accidentally breaks Curley’s wife’s neck Candy has lost his hand in an accident on the ranch and is reduced to being a ‘swamper’. Another great loss for Candy is when his old dog is shot by Carlson. When Candy discovers Curley’s wife’s body, he knows that his dream of a future with George and Lennie is lost. His eyes are ‘blinded with tears’ as he knows that he has very few options Crooks has experienced the loss of family, friends and his family’s chicken ranch. Crooks is segregated from the other ranch workers and lacks company. He loses his confidence and self-respect when Curley’s wife threatens him and he ‘reduced himself to nothing. There was no personality, no ego’ Curley has lost the respect of the ranch workers. He loses the possibility of becoming a boxer when Lennie crushes his hand Curley’s wife has lost her freedom and happiness. Being the only woman on the ranch, she feels lonely and isolated. She tells Lennie how she wanted to become a movie star and how she believed that her mother took her letters. She married Curley to spite her mother, losing her dream and, eventually, her life. (AO4) at the time of the Great Depression, many people experienced loss of money, property and jobs itinerant farm labourers had to travel around the country in search of work. The loss of stability, family and friends led to loneliness and uncertainty for the future. Many people had their own American Dream to help them survive emotionally difficult economic and personal times prejudice and racism led to the loss of dignity and hope. Sexism and ageism made many people feel isolated and desperate. The lack of social care for the elderly or disabled left characters, like Candy or Lennie, at the mercy of the kindness of others. Anger (AO1) anger is a significant theme in the novel. A number of characters demonstrate anger, such as George, Lennie, Curley, Carlson, Crooks, Curley’s wife and Candy George demonstrates his anger when he loses patience with Lennie at the beginning of the novel. George acknowledges that he has ‘been mean’ to Lennie when he takes the mouse from him and loses his temper about Lennie’s desire for ‘ketchup’. George’s anger soon dissipates when he tells Lennie about their dream Lennie demonstrates his anger on a number of occasions. Slim comments: ‘I hate to have you mad at me’. Lennie gets angry with Crooks when Crooks teases him about George not returning. Later when the puppy dies: ‘Suddenly his anger rose, ‘God damn you,’ he cried … and hurled it from him’. Lennie’s fear turns to anger when Curley’s wife panics about him being too rough when he is stroking her hair, resulting in Lennie’s breaking her neck: ‘he shook her then, and he was angry with her’ Carlson shows anger when convincing Candy that his dog must be shot because it ‘stinks’. Carlson shows no compassion for Candy’s feelings about the shooting of his dog, nor for George at the end of the novel Crooks vents his anger when Lennie goes to his harness room. He warns Lennie that he has ‘no right to come’ in his room and scowls at him. Crooks is a bitter, ‘proud, aloof man’ who is segregated because of his colour Curley is probably the angriest character. Whenever he appears, there is tension. Curley is a character who is angry possibly because he is insecure and Candy tells George that Curley picks on big guys. When Curley finds his wife dead, his anger turns to thoughts of revenge when he threatens to shoot Lennie ‘in the guts’ Curley’s wife demonstrates her anger when she threatens Crooks that she will have him ‘strung up on a tree’ and later, when speaking with Lennie in the barn. Curley’s wife tells Lennie her story and feels he is not listening to her: ‘Don’t you think of nothing but rabbits?’ Candy demonstrates anger when he addresses Curley’s wife’s dead body. He blames her for killing the dream: ‘gradually his sorrow and his anger grew into words. ‘You God damn tramp,’ he said viciously’. (AO4) anger is a common theme in Steinbeck’s writing, possibly because he writes mostly about a male world, men who are struggling to survive and make a living in a difficult and hostile environment. Anger produces tension between characters and anger often explodes into violence Crooks is angry because he is lonely and subjected to racist taunts. When Crooks taunts Lennie unnecessarily, Steinbeck shares a needless episode of conflict brought about by Crooks’ personal frustration. Crooks usually hides his anger as he knows that he is not ‘free’ to vent his opinionsthe ‘American Dream’ gave hope for all those whose goal was to gain some form of independence. The many unfulfilled dreams, however, led to disillusionment and anger Love (AO1) different types of love are demonstrated in the novel, such as the brotherly love shared between George and Lennie, Lennie’s love for animals, Candy’s love for his dog and the lack of love and affection between Curley and his wife. Candidates may explore one area in detail or explore a wider range of examples the brotherly love and affection between George and Lennie is apparent throughout the novel. George has cared for Lennie since his Aunt Clara died. They are constant companions and George protects Lennie, such as when they flee from Weed and when Lennie has the fight with Curley. They share the same dream of owning their own place and living ‘off the fatta the lan‘ ‘. Carlson is incredulous about George’s reaction to shooting Lennie at the end of the novel, as he does not understand the love that George and Lennie shared Lennie loves animals and anything soft. Throughout the novel, Lennie loves to pet soft things, such as the mouse and puppy. When talking with Curley’s wife, he fondly remembers the piece of velvet that his Aunt Clara gave him. It is Lennie’s obsession with petting and stroking soft things that leads him first to the trouble in Weed and later accidentally killing his puppy and then Curley’s wife, when he strokes her soft hair Candy loves his old dog and is devastated when Carlson suggests that he should be shot. Candy proudly recalls how he has had the dog since he was a pup and has ‘herded sheep with him‘. Candy is distraught when his dog is shot and tells George that he ‘ought to of shot that dog‘ himself, which foreshadows the ending of the novel the lack of love and affection between Curley and his wife is made clear. Although the couple have only been married for two weeks, Curley’s wife is lonely and seeks the company of the ranch hands. Her flirtatious nature creates tension, such as when Curley believes that she is with Slim in the barn. Curley’s wife is like a trophy wife to him and she confesses to Lennie that she does not even like her husband: ‘I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella‘. The couple always appear to be looking for each other and the only time in the novel we see Curley with her is when she lies dead in the barn other types of love could include Curley’s self-love, Slim’s selfless love and kindness towards the other ranch hands, the love of nature or the love of dreams and ambitions. 14 (AO4) itinerant farm labourers, such as George and Lennie, were often the ‘loneliest guys in the world‘ and, as a result, did not have the opportunity to form friendships or loving relationships. At the time of the Great Depression, many were forced to leave their families and loved ones in search of work Lennie relies on George to care for him. There was little or no provision of social care. Without George, Lennie would most probably have been put in a ‘booby hatch’ and, as Crooks taunts, he would be kept like a dog: ‘They’ll tie ya up with a collar’ the novel gives a backdrop of the lives of itinerant farm labourers and how animals provided comfort and companionship, such as the mice that Lennie petted and Candy’s dog being the only companion he has, combating loneliness women were often objectified and had clear roles in society. It was seen as normal for the men to go into town on a Saturday night and spend time at ‘old Susy’s place’, even the newly-married Curley who shows little respect, love or affection for his new wife. Curley in particular (AO1) Curley is the son of the ranch boss and therefore carries high status. He is described as a ‘thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair’. Candy tells George and Lennie that Curley ‘like a lot of little guys, hates big guys’ Candy provides George with the information that Curley is a boxer, ‘handy with his fists’. He warns him that Curley is ‘cockier’n ever’ since getting married and is always looking for a fight. Candy delights in gossiping and tells George that Curley wears a ‘glove fulla vaseline’ to keep his hand soft for his wife Curley is immediately hostile to Lennie and George upon first meeting them. He ‘glanced coldly’ when he first notices the new men and his ‘hands closed into fists’. He takes the stance of a boxer when he ‘went into a slight crouch’. He is ‘calculating and pugnacious’ in his approach to Lennie, trying to demand that Lennie speaks to him directly rather than letting George do the talking Curley is jealous when he suspects his wife has been speaking with the ranch hands. When he believes that she is in the barn with Slim, he goes to look for them, thinking he will catch them together, only to be proved wrong. Slim enjoys more respect than Curley on the ranch owing to his calm nature and skill at his job. Carlson calls Curley a coward, ‘yella as a frog belly’, when Slim and Curley return from the barn and Curley is apologising for accusing him in anger, Curley attacks Lennie; he thinks Lennie is smiling at him. Curley’s aggression is evident in this part of the novel, but when George tells Lennie to ‘Get him’, Curley’s hand is crushed in Lennie’s grip. To prevent Lennie from being punished, Slim successfully convinces Curley that, to preserve his tough reputation, he should say that he got his hand ‘caught in a machine’ Curley is an inconsiderate husband, visiting the brothel in town even though he has only been married ‘a couple of’ weeks. Curley’s wife tells Lennie that Curley ‘ain’t a nice fella’ and reveals that she met him at the Riverside Dance Palace. Believing her mother had stolen her letter from a ‘guy’ who said she could be ‘in the movies’, she accepts a proposal from Curley in desperation to get away. Curley seems to view his wife as a possession Curley’s response to the death of his wife reflects his lack of affection for her. He is far more interested in getting a posse together and lynching Lennie than he suffers any kind of upset at the loss of his wife 17 Curley shows no empathy or understanding when he discovers that George has shot Lennie. He is confused by George’s and Slim’s sadness at Lennie’s death. (AO4) as the son of the ranch owner Curley’s position on the ranch is secure, unlike the unsettled lives of itinerant workers during the Great Depression Curley is able to intimidate characters with his body language and boxing prowess and the itinerant workers are scared to say anything in case they are ‘canned’ by Curley’s father Curley takes the law into his own hands by getting a posse together to go after Lennie. George and Lennie have been similarly pursued in Weed when they have to hide in an irrigation ditch in order to escape women were often objectified and had clear roles in the family and society. It was seen as normal for the men to go into town on a Saturday night and spend time at ‘old Susy’s place’, even the newly-married Curley Authority (AO1) authority is presented in a number of ways. Lennie largely does as George says as he exerts a fatherly authority over Lennie. For example he chastises Lennie for keeping a dead mouse in his pocket to pet: 'that mouse ain't fresh.' He keeps Lennie out of trouble by carrying his work slip from Murray and Ready's and trying to ensure that Lennie keeps quiet when they meet the boss of the ranch for the first time authority can be seen in the hierarchy of the ranch. The boss is very much in control of the men's futures as there is a surplus in the workforce and he can afford to get rid of anyone he does not like. When George and Lennie arrive and meet him before starting work, the boss is abrupt with them and admonishes them for being late. His whole demeanour is authoritative and he interrogates them about where they have been and what their relationship is as the boss's son, Curley is a figure of authority who throws his weight around at the ranch. He is short in stature which makes him aggressive and punchy and he wears heels to add to his height. He is a boxer and Candy describes him as 'handy'. His authority is not accompanied by respect as the other men mock him for not being able to keep track of the whereabouts of his wife. At the end of the novel, he organises a posse to go after Lennie Slim is the 'prince of the ranch', enjoying an easy authority over the men who work for him. As the jerkline skinner, a very skilled job on the ranch, Slim's authority has deep and firm roots. He is respected by everyone and even Curley will not provoke him. Slim's authority extends beyond the working life of the ranch: he is called upon to adjudicate in the bunkhouse over the fate of Candy's old dog, which Carlson wants to shoot. His tacit agreement that it should be put down is accepted by everyone, including Candy Curley's wife is very low in the hierarchy. She is unable to prevent her husband from going up to town to the ‘cat house’ with the other men, but she does have authority over Crooks. As a black man, Crooks is the lowest person on the ranch and is cowed by her threat to have him lynched should she so choose. He knows that she has the authority to make this happen because of the inequality and prejudice that prevailed at the time. (AO4) the hierarchy of the ranch meant that everyone had a place and most characters were subjected to the authority of someone above them at the time of the Great Depression, itinerant farm workers were forced to travel long distances in search of work. During a time of economic difficulties, these men were fully aware that they could be easily ‘canned’ Curley thinks he can take the law into his own hands when he gathers a posse to lynch Lennie after he has killed Curley’s wife. Earlier in the novel, George tells Slim the story of how he and Lennie had to flee from Weed and how they had to hide in an irrigation ditch. Lynch mobs thought they had authority to execute the law. Dreams (AO1) George’s and Lennie’s dream is central to the novel. Most characters have a dream, but the main focus is on the dream belonging to George and Lennie. dreams offer hope of better things to come. George often repeats the details of their dream: ‘he had said them many times before’. Their dream is to have their own place, to ‘live off the fatta the lan’... An’ have rabbits’. The dream is deeply ingrained in their memory the shifting nature of work as itinerant ranch hands means George and Lennie have no stability, home, possessions or families. Their dream supports them through their most difficult and lonely times, such as when they ‘jungle up’ beside the pool, again just before Lennie’s fight with Curley and finally at the end of the novel Candy and Crooks both become involved in this dream. They become enchanted with its description and what it represents: freedom. When Candy joins the dream, it seems as though, for a short while, the dream might be realised. It is after Curley’s wife is killed that Candy knows that the dream will never become a reality when George shoots Lennie, he makes Lennie picture the dream, so that he dies happy. (AO4) most characters dream of a better and fairer life, the ‘American Dream’. Lennie accidentally mentions the dream in Crooks’s presence. Crooks knows that owning a piece of land is everybody’s dream: ‘Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’ ’. Despite his cynicism, Crooks momentarily hopes that he can join them on the ranch, but is soon reminded of his place in society by Curley’s wife the 1930s was a time when racial and sexual prejudice was not unusual. There was a lack of social care for the elderly and the physically or mentally challenged members of society. By having a dream, vulnerable and segregated members of society could momentarily escape their actual situation despite George’s and Lennie’s best efforts to realise their dream, their dream remains unfulfilled. The death of Curley’s wife ends any hope of the key dream in the story. Some may consider that Lennie is the only one who does realise the dream as it is the last thought in his mind dreams give hope for all those whose goal it is to better themselves and therefore gain independence, but many dreams remain unfulfilled. Animals (AO1) animals are significant throughout the novel. In the first section, wildlife is described to set the scene and to foreshadow the events that follow. The water snake manages to escape the heron, but at the end of the novel the heron catches the water snake  Lennie is often described as an animal, suggesting both his strengths (‘bear’, ‘bull’, ‘horse’) and weaknesses (‘lamb’). Lennie loves to pet soft things and ‘broke’ the mouse by ‘pettin’ it’ too hard. Lennie’s innate physical strength is foreshadowed as he first unintentionally kills his puppy (‘I didn’t bounce you hard’), then ‘breaks’ Curley’s wife’s neck after he strokes her hair too hard Lennie is obsessed with rabbits. His dream is to tend the rabbits and to feed them with alfalfa. Lennie threatens to break the necks of any ‘God damn’ cat that should threaten the lives of the ‘future rabbits’. At the end of the novel, Lennie’s conscience plays havoc when a gigantic rabbit springs out of his mind to scorn him Slim gives Lennie one of Lulu’s nine puppies. Lennie accidentally kills the puppy and it is when he is mourning his puppy and trying to hide its body that Curley’s wife tries to comfort him in the barn Candy’s dog is shot by Carlson, which Candy later regrets as he feels he should have done it himself. Candy is dependent on his dog and is reluctant to have it put down. When he says that he should have ‘shot that dog myself’, it foreshadows later events when George shoots Lennie in the back of the head with Carlson’s Luger pistol at the end of the novel, George indulges Lennie by making him think of their dream. The last thoughts Lennie has before he dies are related to ‘tend[ing] the rabbits’. In this way, Lennie is the only character to fulfil his dream and to die happy. (AO4) the title of the novel comes directly from Robert Burns’ poem: To a Mouse. The poem tells of a mouse having to run from a scythe and ‘The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, / Gang aft agley’. The title links to characters’ dreams and how their American Dream will often go wrong Lennie relies on George to care for him. There was little or no provision of social care. Without George, Lennie would most likely have been put in a ‘booby hatch’ and, as Crooks taunts, he would be kept like a dog: ‘They’ll tie ya up with a collar’ the time the novel is set is during a time of insecurities and survival of the fittest. When Slim’s dog, Lulu, has puppies, Slim ‘drowned four of ‘em right off’. She couldn’t feed that many’ the novel gives a backdrop of the lives of itinerant farm labourers and how animals provided comfort and companionship, such as Lennie petting the mice and Candy’s dog being the only companion he has, thus combating his loneliness. Locations (AO1) the locations of the clearing by the pool and the barn will be referred to by most candidates; however, other settings such as the bunk house, the harness room or Crooks’ room may be considered the natural settings provide a contrast to the harsh realities of life on the ranch. The novella begins with a peaceful setting only disturbed by movements. The setting is idyllic and is likened to the Garden of Eden. Nature is often associated with innocence. However, the calm that is described is contrasted in the final section when the same location becomes restless and violent, such as when the heron catches the water snake, showing the survival of the fittest nature is described at different parts of the day, which affects the mood and atmosphere and often provides a sense of foreboding, such as the ‘dusk’ of the bunk house and the ‘shade’ of the final section. The novel begins and ends at the pool the barn is a significant location as this is where Lennie goes to see his pup and where he accidentally kills it. It is in the barn that Lennie kills Curley’s wife. The horses sense unease as they stamp their feet and rattle ‘their halter chains’ the bunk house is described in detail. The room is basic and lacks any home comforts, except for a ‘black cast-iron stove’ to provide warmth. There is a table ‘littered with playing cards’, showing what the farm labourers do in their spare time Crooks’ room is no more than a shed that ‘leaned off the wall of the barn’. The furniture in the room is even more basic than that provided for the other ranch hands. Crooks’ bed is simply a ‘long box filled with straw’. The room is full of broken pieces of harness and other equipment needed for Crooks’ job as a stable buck. (AO4) the location of Soledad is significant as the name means loneliness, reflecting the lonely lives of itinerant farm labourers the descriptions provided tell us more about the everyday lives of the ranch hands. The freedom described in the outdoor locations is contrasted with the claustrophobic bunk house, Crooks’ room and the barn the descriptions of nature give clues to the itinerant nature of some of the farm workers. We learn that the branch of the sycamore tree is ‘worn smooth by men who have sat on it’. This tells the reader of the repetitive coming and going of farm hands, typical of the 1930s. There is an endless and hopeless cycle of men and the continuous cycle of the seasons the condition of Crooks’ room demonstrates how black people were segregated and lived in poor conditions. The broken harness could reflect the ‘broken’ man that Crooks is the longing for a piece of land and to ‘live off the fatta the lan’,’ reflects the American Dream. The ideal was to work on your own land for your own benefit to provide independence, stability and prosperity.