Characters (Of Mice and Men)

This section explores the key characters in John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men covering: Lennie, George, Curley, Curleys Wife, Slim, Crooks, and Candy.

Lennie

  • Lennie - A huge man, he acts is like a child.
  • Lennie has tremendous strength.
  • He is also very simple and lacks intelligence.
  • He often survives on instinct and he depends on George for guidance and help, only speaking to Curley when George gives him permission.
  • He quickly forgets things and needs George to remind him.
  • Lennie keeps a dead mouse, a chilling foreshadowing of what is to come.
  • He is animal-like and often described this way, likened to a dog with paws.
  • He dreams of having rabbits, a way of escaping the harsh realities and also showing his simple nature.
  • He doesn’t intend to hurt the mouse, the pup, Curley or Curley’s wife, but he is too rough.

George

  • George is intelligent and keeps Lennie alive.
  • He looks after Lennie and they work as a team.
  • He constantly says he could do better without Lennie, but never leaves him.
  • He has a dream and does not want it to be shattered.
  • He can be cruel to Lennie, but this is due to frustration and he wants the best for Lennie and for him to stay out of trouble.
  • George dreams of having a house, pigs and luxuries in life.
  • The others get caught up in his dreams, especially Lennie.
  • At the end he takes responsibility for killing Lennie, as he has taken responsibility for him all along.

Curley

  • Curley A small man, both physically and in the way he behaves.
  • Violent, he was once a boxer.
  • He uses his fists to get what he wants.
  • He takes his anger out on Lennie, thinking he is picking on some one weaker.
  • He is hurt badly by Lennie, who crushes his hand.
  • He is incredibly jealous and rightly suspects his wife is being unfaithful.

Curleys Wife

  • Curley's wife isn’t given a name to show her low status.
  • She is a flirtatious character and has no love for Curley.
  • She is presented as being glamorous and seen as a whore by the men.
  • Pretty, but dangerous for the men to get to know, so they try to avoid her.
  • Fascinating to Lennie, she is another outsider in a world of men.

Crooks

  • Crooks is black and abused by the other men as racism was rife in America at this time (1920s)
  • Physically handicapped with a crooked back as a result of an injury when a horse kicked him this further adds to his disadvantages and isolation.
  • Crooks is intelligent and reads a lot.
  • He is protective of his room which is tidy and shows his pride.
  • He is very defensive when Lennie comes in as he is used to being attacked by the white men.
  • He feels superior to Lennie (intellectually) and Curley’s wife (morally).
  • He has no one to love or support him.
  • Very much a realist, he has no great dream.

Candy

  • Candy is an old man.
  • His dog is old too and when he becomes useless the others urge him to have it put down (there is a similarity here between the dog and Lennie being ‘put down’ by George at the end)
  • The death of the dog is a tense and sad moment in the novel.

Slim

  • Slim is a figure of authority on the ranch.
  • Curley thinks his wife is having an affair with Slim.
  • Knowledgeable.
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