In dubious battle 1936, of mice and men 1937, and the book considered by many his finest, the grapes of wrath 1939. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. The grapes of wrath won both the national book award and the pulitzer prize in 1939. What page in of mice and men do lennie and curley fight. Speaking of the vaselinefilled glove, pay attention to how often and how variedly steinbeck references hands in this chapter and throughout the book. Short in stature, nervous, and yet obsessed with proving his strength and masculinity, curley is constantly being undermined by his flirtatious wife even as he tries harder and harder over the course of the novel to make himself seem. Why does steinbeck dismiss women in this book, and how does he do this. On the most basic level, hands are crucial to the work of the farm these men, after all, live by their labor. Shes halfafraid of lennie, but she also wants his attention and praise. Curley has a napoleonic complex and tries to compensate for his small size by fighting with people who are larger than him. Published in 1937, it tells the story of george milton and lennie small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in california in search of new job opportunities during the great depression in the united states. George and lennie, candy, crooks, slim and curleys wife.
This book is about the adventures of two men, george milton and the mentally disabled lennie small. Of mice and men by john steinbeck tells about the lives of american workers during the great depression. Curleys wife, who walks the ranch as a temptress, seems to be a prime example of this destructive tendencycurleys. How does curleys wife appear to be weak in of mice and men. The character of slim in of mice and men from litcharts the. Quotes from and about curley from of mice and men learn with flashcards, games, and more for free.
Of mice and men events timeline timetoast timelines. If george and lennie are protagonists in of mice and men, curley would have to be seen as an antagonist in steinbecks work curley is the son of the boss of the ranch. In john steinbecks book, of mice and men, lennie isnt lonely, but is actually more afraid of becoming lonely if george leaves him. In of mice and men, candy is not particularly fond of his boss son, curley. In of mice and men john steinbeck makes each situation have as less details as possible as if to leave the reader to decide whats really happening. Candy secretively tells george that curley has been in rare form latelyhe got married a couple weeks ago. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. During the great depression, steinbeck encountered many migrant workers and learnt of the daily hardships ranch workers had to face. Slim and curley were characters that portray the best kind and worst kind of.
The character of slim in of mice and men from litcharts. Mostly the victims of curleys cruelty were people he didnt like. The first quote is a question curley often repeats. The tragic death of curleys wife was foreshadowed by lennies prior actions grabbing the girl in weeds dress, killing the mice, and killing the puppy. Even lennie feels the sense of menace when curley first comes into the bunkhouse. Curley, the boss son, is an evil character in steinbeck s world.
Curleys wife, a minor, but significant character in the story, contributes to. What does this show us about race relations in the 20s and 30s. Curleys wife how does steinbeck present curleys wifes desires in the book of mice and men. Of mice and men, john steinbeck of mice and men is a novella written by author john steinbeck. Curley, the son of the ranchs boss, is a mean and powerhungry individual obsessed with securing the respect and submission of the individuals beneath him. But in the book of mice and men by john steinbeck illustrates how in the 1930s workers george and lennie two guys desperate for work and poor come upon the ranch soledad, california. George milton is the somewhat unlikeable protagonist of of mice and men. Curleys wifes obsession with herself ultimately leads to her death. According to candy, curley is an amateur boxer and is always picking fights, especially with guys who are bigger than he is. Of mice and men 1992 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Curley is the son of the ranch boss, so hes got a big headwhich doesnt quite match up with his body. Like his father, curley wears highheeled boots to mark his wealth and status, and most likely to lessen the smallness of his stature. Sources of mice and men book of mice and men gcse guide. He used to be a lightweight fighter, and he just cant let go of the life.
Discrimination in the book of mice and men by john. However, she is able to exert her power over a select group of people namely crooks and all black people because of her role in society a white female. Curley is a thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair. However there are some other characters who are not main characters, but theyre still important because they represent some of the the themes in the novel, and the tell you a lot about what life was like at the time and in the place that of mice and men is set. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is. Oct 29, 2015 of mice and men chapter 2 summary by john steinbeck this chapter starts out with george and lennie being brought to the ranch bunk house and sort of just meeting everyone this chapter.
Of mice and men is not kind in its portrayal of women. He is a small man who likes to pick fights with big men. Of mice and men how does curleys wife threaten crooks on page 81. Examples of loneliness in of mice and men 936 words 4 pages.
Of mice and mencharacters wikibooks, open books for an. Curley s wife, who walks the ranch as a temptress, seems to be a prime example of this destructive tendency curley s. Steinbeck generally depicts women as troublemakers who bring ruin on men and drive them mad. He lies and says he and lennie and cousins and they left their last job because it was done. Slim comments on lennies ability to work hard and mentions that it is obvious lennie is not too bright. In the novel, women are portrayed either as possessions, seductresses, or caretakers of men. Of mice and men band quotes agressive curley of mice and men quotes curleys wife quotes of mice and men book quotes curley quotes omam abraham lincoln quotes albert einstein quotes bill gates quotes bob marley quotes bruce. He is one of those little guys who does not like bigger men, simply because they are bigger than he is. She wears too much makeup and dresses like a whore with red fingernails and red shoes with ostrich feathers.
Its not a coincidence that that she ends up dying because she didnt want lennie to mess up her hair. Candy says that like a lot of little guys, curley wants. This foreshadowing emphasizes how george and lennies sad fate is unavoidable, and also contributes to the novellas broader argument that the lives of workingclass people are cruelly limited by their circumstances. Each one of these characters experience discrimination in the book and it can be related to our lives today. In the book of mice and men it says that curley doesnt like big guys. Curley is the antagonist, or the character who stands in opposition to the protagonist usually the main character, in of mice and men.
Curleys wife of mice and men in of mice and men, character symbolism lets the reader see what life was like in the 1930s. Subtle in its characterization, the book addresses the real hopes and dreams of workingclass america. Of mice and men simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In the novel, of mice and men, the author, john steinbeck bases the book on personal experiences of his own. Of mice and men chapter 2 quotes flashcards quizlet. This book is about the adventures of two men, george milton and.
This essay shall attempt to portray the inequality of women in steinbecks novel. Curley is the son of the ranch boss in steinbecks of mice and men asked in of mice and men. Curley is the bosss son, and because his father only appears once, curley is the main representative in the novella of the landowning class. Steinbeck grew up and worked on a ranch in soledad close to where the book is set. Alone in the bunkhouse, george thanks slim for giving lennie a pup. Although a variety of characters in the story are presented as the out casts of society, curleys wife is perhaps the character in which readers feel. Of mice and men chapter two summary and analysis gradesaver. The son of the ranch owner, curley is a thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair. Curleys wife comes in the barn and tells lennie all. How is curley presented by steinbeck in of mice and men.
Of mice and men is a novella written by john steinbeck. Curleys wife in the novel of mice and men, john steinbeck creates characters that play important roles throughout the story that contribute to themes and connect readers to an overall focus. The story is a tragedy about two ranch workers called george milton and lennie small. Of mice and men chapter 2 summary by john steinbeck this chapter starts out with george and lennie being brought to the ranch bunk house and sort of just meeting everyone this chapter. The novella is a reference to the great depression in california and is set in the 1930s and portrays the way in which despite the consequences of depressed circumstances, human spirit still survives. Jan 02, 2012 the obvious point is that her and curley obviously dont live harmoniously together as a married couple. The only female character is curleys wife, who is not even give a name. The character of curley in of mice and men from litcharts. In the book, of mice and men, curley is the antagonist who creates problems for george and lennie. Curley s wife has a lot of names, but we cant repeat any of them in mixed company. Curley s wife, like the other players in the drama, is simply a character type and the only woman in the plot. Many of the characters portray a certain person that could have been living in the 1930s.
Of mice and men curleys wife warning spoilers so i recently read of mice and men for school and though i thought it was a really good book the way they talked about curleys wife really bothered me. According to candy, curley is an amateur boxer and is always picking fights, especially with guys. Curley click the character infographic to download. Two quotes from curley in of mice and men are any of you guys seen my wife. Subscribe nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Of mice and men s tragic conclusion is heavily foreshadowed from the very beginning of the novella. A stain covers your heart, and tears you apart just like a sleeping cancer i think is about curley s wife, and how she didnt. A stain covers your heart, and tears you apart just like a sleeping cancer i think is about curleys wife, and how she didnt. Curleys wife is speaking in crooks shed about her husband. While lennie small, georges companion, is simpleminded and friendly, george is sharp in every way. Discrimination is demonstrated in of mice and men many times throughout the book with lennie, curleys wife, and crooks. He travels with george who tells people they are related. George and candy call her by other names such as jailbait or tart. The of mice and men quotes below are all either spoken by slim or refer to slim. John steinbecks of mice and men is a touching tale of the friendship between two men set against the backdrop of the united states during the depression of the 1930s. But though the scope is narrow, the theme is universal.
I felt like at the end of the book the only person who seemed to give a crap she was dead was slim. Terms in this set 16 guys he dont like, and he dont like nobody. He says curley has a case of little mans syndrome, that causes him to dislike big men because he is short. Curleys wife, like the other players in the drama, is simply a character type and the only woman in the plot. Of mice and men is a novella short novel written by john steinbeck. Lennie is tall and powerful, but he has the mind of a child. There are several characters that you will study as youre reading the book. Three powerful novels of the late 1930s focused on the california laboring class. John steinbecks novella, of mice and men depicts the struggle of two wayward men during the great depression of the 1930s.
Of mice and men comparison between slim and curley. Slim then asks why lennie and george go around together because most of the ranch hands hes seen are always alone and never seem to give. Consequently, always having things your way can turn you into a bad person. In fact, women are treated with contempt throughout the course of the book. The book is based on steinbecks experiences of being a ranch worker. Apr 12, 2019 in which lennie kills his puppy accidentally and worries george wont let him tend the rabbits.
Curley didnt even know if lennie was actually laughing at him or at something else. Published in 1937, it tells the story of george milton and lennie small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in california in search of new job opportunities during the great depression in the united states steinbeck based the novella on his own experiences working alongside migrant farm workers as a. Out of all the characters introduced to the reader in of mice and men curleys wife appears to be one of the weak ones, because of the social hierarchy that existed in 1920s america. Maybe using a picture of soft hair for this event is a bit morbid. While the powerlessness of the laboring class is a recurring theme in steinbecks work of the late 1930s, he narrowed his focus when composing of mice and men 1937, creating an intimate portrait of two men facing a world marked by petty tyranny, misunderstanding, jealousy, and callousness. How is curley presented by steinbeck in of mice and men essay. Curley s wife comes in the barn and tells lennie all about who she could have been famous movie. Curleys wife, a minor, but significant character in the story, contributes to the theme and is partly responsible for lennies death. The obvious point is that her and curley obviously dont live harmoniously together as a married couple. Like his father, curley wears highheeled boots to mark his wealth and status, and most likely to lessen the smallness of his. In which lennie kills his puppy accidentally and worries george wont let him tend the rabbits. A classic 1937 novella by nobel prizewinning author john steinbeck, of mice and men tells the story of migrant ranch workers george milton and lennie small and their struggles to make a life for. Georges take on curley is that fighting big men makes curley feel more macho and controlling.
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