Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck

1. Of Mice and MenByJohn Steinbeck Presentation By Alex Gary, Melissa Cartwright, Christina Conley, Nicole Gough, Erich Zeigler, Chris Gilbert, and Seth Barton

2. Character List • Lennie - • Undergoes no significant changes, development, or growth throughout the novel. • Least dynamic • Flat character • A protagonist who earns the readers sympathy because of his utter helplessness in the face of the events that unfold • Migrant worker • Due to his mild mental disability he completely depends on George • Does not understand his own strength • He loves petting soft things; this usually leads to disaster

3. George • Travels with and cares for Lennie • Frequently speaks of how much better his life would be without his caretaking responsibilities; he is obviously devoted to Lennie • He is motivated by the desire to protect Lennie

4. Curley • The boss's son • A confrontational, mean spirited, and aggressive young man • Seeks compensation for his small stature by picking fights with large men • Is extremely possessive and has jealous suspicions of his flirtatious wife

5. Curley's Wife • The only female character in the novel • She is never given a name, and is only referred to in reference to her husband • The men on the farm refer to her as a tramp, "a tart", and a ”loo loo" • Represents the temptation of female sexuality in a male dominated world • She is depicted not as a villain, but as a victim • Like the ranch-hands, she is desperately lonely and has broken dreams of a better life

6. Slim • Highly skilled meal driver • Other characters look to him for advice • A quiet insightful man • Slim alone understands the nature of the bond between Lennie and George, and comforts George at the novels tragic ending

7. Carlson • Ranch-hand • George uses Carlson's gun to shoot Lennie

8. Candy • Ranch handyman • Lost his hand in an accident and worries about his future with the ranch • Offers up his life's savings to join George and Lennie in owning a piece of land • The killing of his dog, which Carlson shoots in the back of the head in an allege act of mercy, foreshadows the manner of Lennie's death

9. Aunt Clara • Lennie's aunt • She cared for him until her death • Doesn't appear in the novel except in the end as a vision chastising Lennie for causing trouble for George

10. Big Boss • Incharge of the ranch • Curley's father • Is never named and appears only once in the novel • Seems to be a fair-minded man

11. Historical Context • During this time, almost half of America’s grain was harvested by huge combines. • Now, five men could do what would have taken 350 men to normally do. • George and Lennie were some of the last of the migrant farm workers. They traveled the countryside harvesting wheat like many other ranch hands from 1880’s to early 1930’s. Their wages were $2.50 or $3.00 a day, and they received food and basic accommodations. • During the 1930s, unemployment was high in the United States and agencies were set up under the New Deal. These agencies helped send farm workers to places where they were needed. George and Lennie got their work cards from an agency called Murray and Ready’s.

12. The American Dream • Immigrants in America dreamed of a better life like making fortunes in the goldfields. But for many, this dream became a nightmare. Many of their hopes were shattered by slavery, the American Civil War, growing towns with slums like those in Europe, and corruption in the American political system. • The Wall Street Crash of 1929 ended the dreams of many Americans. From this came the Great Depression, which affected the whole world during the 1930’s. • Some individuals survived this time though. Thousands headed to California to escape their mid-West farmlands. • George and Lennie dreamt of their “little house and a couple of acres”.

13. Why Of Mice and Men? • The title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 - 96): The best laid schemes a' mice and men Gang aft agley [often go wrong] And leave us nought but grief and pain For promised joy!