Of MICE AND MEN

1. Of MICE AND MEN ACT 1 SCENE 2

2. Plot overview • Scene ii. The interior of a bunk house • Notice how impersonal and cold the setting is. Each man gets a bunk and an apple crate to store his personal belongings. • Notice how George forces Lennie to try to fit into the hierarchy of the place. • George gets the lowdown on how things work here. Notice Whitey and the irony that he embodies. He desires to stay clean and be respectable in a situation where no one stays clean and is respected. • We learn about the boss, Crooks and their idea of having fun. We see the racist actions, and meet Curley who is going to be trouble. Notice how Curley goes straight to the big guy which is typical little man syndrome. • We meet Curley’s wife who remains nameless, but causes quite a stir. George instructs Lennie to let Curley have it if he is challenged; notice Lennie’s response. The meeting place is set and becomes significant later on in the story.

3. SOCIAL ISSUES • INTOLERANCE • RACISM

4. Intolerance • When the boss and Curley meet George and Lennie they assume these men are involved a homosexual relationship or some sort of fraud is taking place, this is indicative of the intolerance and paranoia of the day. • It also reveals the attitude of men of the day. A man must be strong and independent. • It is a sad commentary when two friends who take care of one another are automatically suspected to be involved in other ways.

5. Racism • Crooks is a smart man. He is probably the smartest man on the ranch. • He is well read. • He is a permanent hand on the ranch, and his job is secure. He is trusted to his job and do his job well. • But because he is a black man, he becomes the target for all of the anger and resentment that these men harbor. • They are angry because by some random twist of fate they are the ranch hands who make men like Curley rich.

6. Disrespect • Candy’s dog is old and has lived passed his usefulness. • Notice how everyone is oh so eager to put this dog out of its misery as if it were a noble thing to do, and yes there is a time when it is necessary. • Steinbeck is sharing his society’s attitude toward the elderly and the things of the past.

7. Curley • He is an interesting study of the awesome need for men to live up to the stereotype of what it means to be a man. • He is a man of small stature who needs to feel bigger. • What does Curley do to feel like a big man?

8. Slim • Is the voice of reason and wisdom on the ranch. • He speaks of George and Lennie’s relationship with admiration. • He feels everyone should have the kind of relationship these two have. • What reason does Slim give as to why George and Lennie are the exception and not the rule?

9. The four pups • The drowning of the four pups is symbolic of the random nature of fate. • That fate that made Slim and George poor ranch hands and made men like the boss and Curley rich land ranch owners.