Character Appearance Behaviour/personality Function in text

Curley’s Wife ‘purty’ ‘face was heavily made up’ Wears Curley’s wife is unhappy as no one seems to love her- esp Curley. She Plot device: distracts Lennie and leads to his
a lot of make-up and ‘red dress’. Clothes is well aware of the power she holds over men. In some ways she is downfall. Creates a sense of foreboding by echoing
unsuitable for ranch life. Perhaps they are overly confident as seen through her flirtatious behaviour (‘she bridled a the girl in Weed’s ‘red dress’.
a facade for her insecurity. little’) but in other ways, she’s very fragile. She always seems to be
Although she is married, still cares about ‘looking’ for someone but maybe she is just searching for attention and Reflects position of women at this time in 1930s
her appearance. company, therefore demonstrating her loneliness. Desperate to confide America- limited power e.g. she doesn’t even have
Bright colours she wears contrast the in someone (her words tumbled out...before her listener was taken a name. She is just a possession of Curley. Women
dullness/dark colours of workers’ clothes. away’) have lowest position with social hierarchy. Only
She enjoys her limited power over Crooks (‘listen nigga..You know what other women are book mentioned are prostitutes.
I could do...’)
Her dream is to become a ‘movie star’ and this is perhaps reflected in It is also interesting to see how other characters
the aspirational way she dresses. react to her.
Slim ‘A tall man’ ‘There was gravity in his ‘Prince of the ranch’; respected by all. To show that there may be exceptions within
manner’ ‘his hatchet face was ageless’ Often described in royal/ semi-religious tones society. People need to get on with each other and
‘he might have been 35 or 50’ ‘his hands ‘Slim looked approvingly at George’: non-judgemental/ approving which stop hating one another.
were lean’ ‘delicate like a dancer’ is a contrast to other characters Accepts everyone without judgement.
‘Jerkline skinner’; highest position on Genuinely caring’ offers to help Crooks and actually treats him with To set an example to readers on how to treat
ranch. respect others- with dignity and respect.
Wears a Stetson hat which is a typical ‘His tone was friendly. It invited confidence’ : welcoming
symbol of power on the ranch. ‘Slim looked through George and beyond him’: insightful/powerful Described as Steinbeck’s mouthpiece; shows how
Gentle voice, friendly tone. His presence Described as having ‘understanding beyond thought’ He thinks more Steinbeck thought people in society ought to
is powerful and almost god-like. than other ranch workers behave.
Gives compliments (on Lennie ‘he damn near killed his partner bucking
barley;)
Friendly towards George and Lennie: ‘not many guys travel round
together. I don’t know why.’
Takes control in problematic situations.
Not passive though; will defend himself if necessary (e.g. against
Curley’s accusation)
Slim’s word is law; he has final say on Candy’s dog (‘if I was old I wish’t
somebody’d shoot me’)
Behaviour changes after Lennie is shot

Crooks Black stable hand but crippled; he is Cynical- reflects extent of racial prejudice at time. Rejects friendship of Reflects general loneliness and isolation of ranch
victimised and both socially and Lennie and Candy initially, although is quick to confide in him and workers at the time.
physically inferior almost becomes involved in the dream. Victim of racial prejudice/segregation
He is black; victim of racial prejudice ‘proud’ ‘aloof’ Guards his limited rights fiercely. For example, keeps his Shows how loneliness can unite people (e.g. with
Crooked back; reflects his name. He is room very tidy and has copy of Civil Rights act in his room. Fiercely Candy and Lennie)
known by his physical deformity (kicked protective He is literate... perhaps Steinbeck is showing the
and crippled by a horse) Has least power; at bottom of hierarchy power of education
Enjoys his power over Lennie; makes him think George won’t come Emphasises the importance of individual rights
back. Ridicule/ power shows how isolation can make you ‘mean’. Also represents the hopeless side of dreams.
Physically isolated in from the bunkhouse. No family/friends.
The only person who Curley’s wife can exert any power over (threatens
to have him lynched)
Carlson ‘A powerful, big stomached man’ Intellect or emotions not evident; acts on instinct or goes with whoever Represents typical migrant worker in 1930s;
‘thick bodied’; physical presence is has the most power. unsympathetic, self-focused and lacking in
emphasised. Lack of understanding/empathy e.g. cannot understand Candy’s understanding.
attachment to his job or George shooting Lennie (‘what the hell you Shows the brutality of this society; only the
suppose is eating them two guys?’) strongest survive.
Kills Candy’s dog; mean. Throughout the scene, remains focused on
Character Appearance Behaviour/personality Function in text
killing the dog ?(‘he stinks’/ ‘he pointed with his toe’)
Lack of individuality; just attaches himself to most powerful in the group.
Animalistic approach perhaps
Does he feel loneliness? He seems unaware of how to act/behave
around others. Contrast to Slim.
Candy ‘Tall, stoop shouldered’ ‘stick like wrist’ Candy’s relationship with his dog provides a parallel with George and Lennie; Shows the reader what happens to an old, fragile
‘bristly whiskers’; lack of care/attention both rely on each other for survival; physically and emotionally (‘I’m so used to man best by physical disability, loneliness and
Physically weak. ‘im’) George and Lennie are an elevated version of the dog/master relationship rejection
seen here. The dog’s death reveals Candy’s humanity/emotion creating
Old man who lost his hand in a farming Represents the hopelessness of dreams in this
sympathy for reader.
accident. Now has job as a ‘swamper’ (‘I Talkative; desperate for company> society. He has the money to make it happen but
ain’t much good with one hand’) Powerless. Fearful of losing his job. ‘things often go wrong’ and he does not have the
The word ‘old’ is repeated throughout Feels he has found hope when he offers to put forward his stake for George and strength to make it on his own.
Has lots in common with his dog- his only Lennie’s farm. Almost makes the dream become a reality. Represents the fate of the itinerant worker once
companion Initially we see the gossipy/ spiteful side of Candy when he tells about Curley’s they get older. Contrasts the American Dream; he
wife. However, his relationship with George gives him strength/dignity. Once has never achieved it even though he has money.
Curley’s Wife dies, her reverts to ‘meanness’, as he shouts at her dead body.
Lost control of his life; subservient to others. There are only two occasions in
which he stands up for himself; when he joins in on the attack on Curley (‘glova
full Vaseline) and when he tells Curley’s Wife what he thinks of her. Each time,
his defiance is short lived and it arguably only serves to make him seem more
pathetic, in that we are able to see his lost potential and what he might have
been.
Curley Small man who ‘hates big guys’ Violent and aggressive; used to be a professional boxer. Always looking Shows how ‘mean’ some people can become
Wears a ‘glove fulla vaseline’; trying to for his wife, but shows no real affection for her. When she dies he is Perhaps is lonely/insecure because the society
prove his sexual prowess more concerned with catching Lennie. places so much value on physical strength/
Tries to imitate his father’s clothes (e.g. Threatened by Lennie; irony as the reader knows that Lennie can do no economic power.
wearing high heeled boots) Symbolises harm. Has no real dream; just follows his father. Although
his insecurity Gives way to Slim demonstrating his tendency to pick on the weak. He perhaps, his dream was to be a winning fighter. It is
Hands quick to curl into ‘fists’; physically is a bully. hard to have sympathy for him though.
aggressive demeanour emphasised
throughout
George ‘Small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin Due to his mild mental disability, Lennie completely depends upon They are the protagonists in the novel. Steinbeck
and bony nose’’ George, his friend and traveling companion, for guidance and uses them to explore not only their relationship but
protection. The two men share a vision of a farm that they will own also the world they were trying to navigate
together, a vision that Lennie believes in wholeheartedly. Gentle and through. George and Lennie are very much an
kind, Lennie nevertheless does not understand his own strength. His anomaly in this world of itinerant ranch hands. On
love of petting soft things, such as small animals, dresses, and people’s a superficial level, one is clever and smaller while
the other is "dumb" and big. Dig a little and you
hair, leads to disaster.
find a friendship based on unconditional love and
loyalty. We examine this against an aching
loneliness that permeates ranch life. We really
want them to have this dream but their
understanding of each other does not extend to
their ranch society. In the end George and Lennie
are alone which makes the ending that much more
tragic.
Lennie ‘Huge man’ A small, wiry, quick-witted man who travels with, and cares for, Lennie. Although Same as above
‘Shapeless of face with large, pale eyes he frequently speaks of how much better his life would be without his caretaking
with wide, sloping shoulders. ’ responsibilities, George is obviously devoted to Lennie. George’s behaviour is
motivated by the desire to protect Lennie and, eventually, deliver them both to
‘walked heavily, dragging his feet…the
the farm of their dreams. Though George is the source of the often-told story of
way a bear drags his paws.’’ life on their future farm, it is Lennie’s childlike faith that enables George to
actually believe his account of their future.