Chapter 2 – Notes and Analysis

‘Of Mice and Men’

‘Of Mice and Men’The first time we meet Curley p27‘brown face’ – ‘brown eyes’ ‘glanced coldly’ ‘hands

closed into fists’ ‘glance was calculating’ – even the way he looks at George and Lennie is menacing.

‘We just come in’ – said George‘Let the big guy talk’This is the 2nd confrontation caused by George – he

keeps advising Lennie to say nothing. It seems at this point Lennie’s behaviour in remaining silent is going to attract interest and cause trouble.

‘Of Mice and Men’‘Curley lashed his body around’ p28– even

the viciousness of Curley extends to the way he moves.

‘Say what the hell’s he got on his shoulder? Lennie didn’t do nothing to him’. – The safety of Lennie is threatened by this. Curley is known to be always picking scraps with big guys. It is certain Curley will provoke him in a violent assault.

‘Of Mice and Men’‘Lennie don’t know no rules’p29 – makes Lennie

potentially very dangerous.‘glove fulla vaseline’ ‘keepin’ that hand soft’– so he

can ‘pet’ his wife. This petting is also a primary feature in Lennie’s character.

‘married two weeks and got the eye?’ p30– if his wife is not satisfied with their relationship and marriage – looking at other men – Curley’s self esteem and confidence will have been undermined. He may feel the need to establish his manliness with the workers. He sees manliness as physically terrorizing others. We find out the ranch hands despise him because of his aggressiveness.

‘Of Mice and Men’‘a tart’ p31 – this is not particularly good when we

consider the vulnerability of Lennie to such a woman.

‘George stared at his solitaire lay’ – p32 George has read the situation correctly and with intelligence. He is frightened for Lennie safety not only because of Curley fighting disposition, but also the way Curley’s wife likes to flaunt her attractiveness.

The solitaire card game acts as a premonition of the future – one of the novels themes is loneliness.

‘Of Mice and Men’‘Lennie’s eyes were frightened’ – despite his

immense strength and size Lennie is clearly terrified of violence. He is not conscious of his own capabilities.

‘The sound of the approaching grain team grew louder..’ - the unfriendliness of this environment is echoed by the harsh and abrasive noises.

‘Of Mice and Men’P34 ‘rouged lips’Fingernails were red’Hair hung in rolled clusters like sausages’Her general appearance is unsuitable for life

on a ranch. The dominating colour of red is the symbolic colour of ladies with loose morals, common expression is ‘scarlet woman’.

‘Of Mice and Men’Bridled’ – even the posture against the door is

designed to provoke sexual posture.‘bridled’ – Lennie is clearly impressed with her

animal like display.P35 ‘She was suddenly apprehensive. “Bye

boys” she called’. – On learning that Curley has gone home looking for her, she becomes nervous. Tension is shown between them – an implication that her behaviour during the 2 weeks of marriage and her over familiar contact with the ranch hands could be the cause.

‘Of Mice and Men’‘She’s purty’ p35 – disaster!!! He seems to

see her appropriately given that she is wearing so much red as an animal in heat/season.

‘Listen to me you crazy bastard’ – George senses imminent danger and tries to warn Lennie about the type of woman Curley’s wife represents.

‘Of Mice and Men’‘Lennie tried to disengage his ear’ p35-

Lennie intuitively senses trouble and wants to escape. Despite his slow witted nature, he seems able to see through the truth of the matter and seems to have an innate good sense.

Perhaps he has an animal’s gift for perceiving trouble.

For George the desire is to escape is outweighed by financial gain.

‘Of Mice and Men’- SlimIntro to Slim – ‘A tall man stood in the doorway’ –

This points Slim out as a character of strong moral principles whose role will be to act as mediator and counsellor in the events to come.

He is the calm voice of reason.‘He smoothed out his crushed hat’ p37 – his tone is a

big contrast to the harshness of the rest of the ranch and its brutality.

Unlike many others in the novel, he is not suspicious of the relationship between George and Lennie and he gives total approval to their relationship compared to the Boss and Curley.

‘Of Mice and Men’- SlimP38 ‘We kinda look after each other’ – a

further example of the mutual support which George and Lennie offer each other.

Slim illustrates you command respect through natural authority rather than through bullying and violence.

‘how’s your bitch?’ – this ? About Slim’s dog reminds us of George promise to Lennie of a pup.

Candy’s Dog p39Carlson is unsentimental in the way he

suggests the dog should be destroyed, he sees that it has no further use.

P40 ‘Lennie was watching George excitedly’ – Lennie is overjoyed at the possibility of owning a pup and George sensing a kind of solution to the tensions he has observed.

Curley p40P40 ‘You seen a girl around?’ – From his

behaviour it is obvious Curley is spoiling for a fight. He sizes George up during the conversation.

He is always angry and appears to spend quite a bit of time checking on his wife’s movements.

Conclusion of ChapterIn this novel Steinbeck does not allow any

sense of security to last for long and this threatening episode interrupts Lennie’s delight at the prospect of owning a pup.

Curley’s appearance and his mean conduct, remind us that trouble is not far away.