Of Mice and Men

Question 1

Quotes showing Carlson’s cruelty & insensitivity Candy’s dog

Answer 1

“Why’n’t you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up”

Question 2

Carlson’s Insensitivity / lack of compassion at end of the novel quote

Answer 2

“Now what the hell yu suppose is eatin’ them two guys”

Question 3

Context for Carlson’s cruelty perhaps

Answer 3

• Steinbeck saying own nature cruel / created by cruel world?

-people only afford to focus on surviving

-Carlson reflection of Society’s harshness, mirrors attitude sheepdog & those weakest in society

Question 4

Carlson’s practicality about keeping Candy’s dog

Answer 4

“you ain’t bein’ king to him keepin’ him alive”

Question 5

Carlson’s practicality about shooting candy’s dog

Answer 5

“If you want to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head he’d never know what hit him”

Question 6

Social Darwinism

Answer 6

• gained popularity in 1930s, no room for struggles of weakest, was natural order

-endorsed by President Hoover - “rugged individualism” and

Question 7

Carlson respected by Slim and other members

Answer 7

“Carl’s right Candy”

Question 8

Carlson standing up to Curley

Answer 8

“I’ll kick your God damn head off”

Question 9

Carlson’s respect context

Answer 9

Ranch reflection of patriarchal society - expectations of what “man” was

-Carlson shows masculine trait of threats of violence

Question 10

Carlson being misogynistic

Answer 10

“Why’n’t you tell her to stay the hell at home where she belongs?”

Question 11

Carlson’s misogyny context

Answer 11

Wives expected to be at home and wholly obedient

as wives “weaker sex”, treated like possession and reflected badly if husband couldn’t control

Question 12

Curley being powerful link to boss

Answer 12

is the “boss’s son”

Question 13

Curley’s symbol of artificial power

Answer 13

“high-heeled boots”

Question 14

Curley never getting fired

Answer 14

“won’t ever get canned”

Question 15

Curley’s power context

Answer 15

represents land owners in 1930s - exploiting itinerant workers

as unemployment rates record in GD and dust bowl, workers replacable, so no need to treat respectfully

In California cutting wages and forcing to live in camps that resemble dumps

Worker’s demonstrations crushed brutally

Question 16

Curley physical appearance showing violent

Answer 16

had “head of tightly curled hair”

Question 17

Curley showing how always looking for a fight

Answer 17

“hands curled into fists” and went “into a slight crouch”

-body language very defensive, suggests maybe insecurity

Question 18

Curley violent attacking

Answer 18

“slashed” “smashed” “slugging” “swinging” - when in contrast with Lennie who no initial response shows aggression / violence

Question 19

Curley violent context

Answer 19

• is exploitative of workers to try and fill insecurities
• violence could symbolise brutality of world created by capitalism on weakest members of society

Question 20

Curley neglectful of wife

Answer 20

“I’m lookin’ for Curley”

• wife always looking for him, never with him, shows her loneliness

Question 21

Curley not liked by wife

Answer 21

“Curley ain’t a nice guy”

Question 22

Curley possessive of wife rather than loving

Answer 22

Curley “came to life” upon seeing wife’s body

-when juxtaposed with how should respond = loveless marriage

-almost filled with excitement to be able to hurt Lennie - sparks personal insult and desire to reassert authority

Question 23

Curley Insecure like dog

Answer 23

“terrier” - likened to small dog breed - is pugnacious and aggressive

-maybe anger from small size and needing to prove himself

Question 24

Curley glove insecure

Answer 24

he has a “glove fulla vaseline” to keep his “hand soft for his wife”

-incapable of pleasing his own wife,

-boasts to other worker’s about it - needs to prove masculinity

Question 25

Curley Slim insecure

Answer 25

- unfounded suspicion of Slim going with his wife shows believes that he can't satisfy her -also Slim uses Curley's reputation in order to persuade him not to tell about Lennie

Question 26

Curley insecure Context

Answer 26

-very strong image of masculinity in 103-s -violence seen to try and prove, as didn't have the correct body type of "typical man" - feels like has to prove -also wife straying reflects badly on his control as husband -Curley fears for wife having affair due to blow to his reputation.