Curley Quotes Flashcards
(39 cards)
How others react to him:
Lennie is easily intimidated by Curley.
“Lennie squirmed under the look and shifted his feet nervously.”
How others react to him:
Candy suggests that Curley is always able to cunningly manipulate a situation so he is presented as the victor or the victim. Either way, he always wins.
“S’pose Curley jumps a big guy an’ licks him. Ever’body says what a game guy Curley is.”
“…s’pose he does the same thing and gets licked. Then ever’body says the big guy oughtta pick somebody his own size”
“Seems like Curley ain’t givin’ nobody a chance.”
How others react to him:
Candy is afraid to face the consequences of gossiping about Curley.
“Don’t tell Curley I said none of this. He’d slough me.”
“You won’t tell Curley nothing I said?”
How others react to him:
Slim is unaffected by Curley’s intimidation or power - he aggressively challenges Curley about his wife and how he treated Slim.
“Well, you been askin’ me too often. I’m gettin’ God damn sick of it. If you can’t look after your own God damn wife, what you expect me to do about it? You lay offa me.”
How others react to him:
After he is physically crippled by Lennie, there is no sympathy from anyone (including his wife).
“This punk sure had it comin’ to him.”
“I’m glad you bust up Curley a little bit. He got it comin’ to him. Sometimes I’d like to bust him myself.”
Power:
He dresses like his father to set himself apart from the other men and create an air of superiority.
“like the boss, he wore high-heeled boots.”
Power:
His complexion suggests that he is outside labouring like the other workers. His age is highlighted, suggesting that his power and privileged position doesn’t come from experience.
“a young man came into the bunk house; a thin young man with a brown face”
Power:
He expects to be obeyed and respected and is confrontational with anyone who challenges him.
“Let the big guy talk.”
‘Curley lashed his body around. “By Christ, he’s gotta talk when he’s spoke to. What the hell are you gettin’ into it for?”’
‘Curley stared levelly at him. “Well, nex’ time you answer when you’re spoke to.”’
Power:
He is physically powerful due to his experience as a boxer.
“Curley’s pretty handy. He done quite a bit in the ring…and he’s handy.”
Power:
He has no deterrent to moderate his behaviour to others - he can do anything without consequence.
”He just don’t give a damn. Won’t ever get canned ‘cause his old man’s the boss.”
Power:
He is egotistical when it comes to his position and his achievements.
“Got in the finals for the Golden Gloves. He got newspaper clippings about it.”
Power:
He initially feels powerful enough and secure in his position to target Slim, despite the respect people have for Slim.
‘Curley looked threateningly about the room. “Where the hell’s Slim?”’
“Curley’s just spoilin’ or he wouldn’t start for Slim.”
Power:
Slim is unaffected by Curley’s intimidation or power - he aggressively challenges Curley about his wife and how he treated Slim.
“Well, you been askin’ me too often. I’m gettin’ God damn sick of it. If you can’t look after your own God damn wife, what you expect me to do about it? You lay offa me.”
“You tried to throw a scare into Slim, an’ you couldn’t make it stick. Slim throwed a scare into you.”
Power:
Curley’s perceived sense of power and his reputation are challenged when Carlson threatens him and Candy mocks him without consequence.
‘Curley whirled on Carlson. “You keep outa this les’ you wanta step outside.” Carlson laughed. “You God damn punk…come for me, an’ I’ll kick your God damn head off.”’
‘Candy joined the attack with joy. “Glove fulla vaseline,” he said disgustedly.”’
Power:
In the face of humiliation, Curley violently attempts to recover his reputation.
‘Then Curley’s rage exploded. “Come on, ya big bastard. Get up on your feet. No big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me. I’ll show ya who’s yella.”’
Power:
He is physically crippled and over-powered by Lennie and his unnatural strength.
“Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand.”
“Curley was white and shrunken by now, and his struggling had become weak. He stood crying, his fist lost in Lennie’s paw.”
Power:
George fears losing he and Lennie’s jobs in the aftermath of the fight due to Curley’s connection to the Boss.
‘George said, “Slim, will we get canned now? We need the stake. Will Curley’s old man can us now?”’
Power:
Curley’s power and influence is nullified by Slim, who uses Curley’s inferiority complex and obsession with his reputation against him in order to protect George and Lennie’s jobs.
“If you don’t tell nobody what happened, we ain’t going to. But you jus’ tell an’ try to get this guy canned and we’ll tell ever’body, an’ then will you get the laugh.”
‘“I won’t tell,” said Curley.’
Physical description:
He dresses like his father to set himself apart from the other men and create an air of superiority.
“like the boss, he wore high-heeled boots.”
Physical description:
His complexion suggests that he is outside labouring like the other workers. His age is highlighted, suggesting that his power and privileged position doesn’t come from experience.
“a young man came into the bunk house; a thin young man with a brown face”
Physical description:
His first instinct is to resort to violence and intimidation - this is revealed in his movements.
“His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch.”
“Curley lashed his body around.”
Physical description:
He has an inferiority complex due to his height and he often overcompensates with violence to make him feel validated.
”Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. He’s alla time picking scraps with big guys. Kind of like he’s mad at ‘em because he ain’t a big guy.”
Relationship with his wife:
Curley sexually objectifies his wife, boastfully alluding to his sexual relationship with her.
“Well, that glove’s fulla vaseline…Curley says he’s keepin’ that hand soft for his wife.”
Relationship with his wife:
He uses the fact that he has a wife to feel superior to the comparatively lonelier men.
“Seems to me like he’s worse lately…Seems like Curley is cockier’n ever since he got married.”
