Of mice and men - theme quotes

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Loneliness - Curley
"Any you guys seen my wife?"
Never seen with wife - disparity in relationship
physical distance represent emotive distance
1 of 18
Loneliness - Curley's wife
"I get lonely"
without husband has no one on the ranch
links to her being seen as a tart
2 of 18
Loneliness - George
"I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain't no good"
George sympathises with workers without companions and is aware of the loneliness they have.
Suspicions on George and Lennie show how widespread loneliness is - common theme
3 of 18
Loneliness - Lennie (+ George)
"Guys like us that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world."
Shows that if Lennie and George did not have each other they would be like every other temporary worker
emphasizes the importance of friendship
4 of 18
Loneliness - Candy and dog
"A guy on a ranch don't never listen nor he don't ask no questions"
conveys loneliness and isolation - foreshadows future events
double negative portrays the negative undertones
5 of 18
Loneliness - Candy and dog 2
"I been around him so much I never notice how much he stinks"
shows effects of loneliness - attaching to any form of companion
shows how he spend most day with his dog
6 of 18
Loneliness - Crooks
"Had his bunk in the harness room"
sleeping arrangement figuratively reflects the social separation with the rest of the ranch workers.
7 of 18
Loneliness - setting
Novella set in 'Soledad' translates from Spanish solitude to instantly portray theme of loneliness
8 of 18
Power - Between G + L
Introduction of characters:
G = "The first man was small and quick"
L = "A huge man, shapeless face"
g is portrays as smarter and l large and slow
L described like animal - "Dragged his arms like a bear"
9 of 18
Power - Curley
Curley asserts power and hides insecurities through aggression
"his hand closed into fists", "he's alla time picking scraps with big guys"
Shows his authority with clothes that show his status
"He wore high-heeled boots"
He only has power because his fat
10 of 18
Power - Slim
"Prince of the ranch"
"There was gravity in his manner"
Slim has high authority and is respected by the workers doe to the qualities he shows
"His tone was friendly, it invited confidence without demanding it"
He is kinds to workers and is shown respect i
11 of 18
Power - Curley's wife
As a woman she is at a disadvantage of power
Empty marriage bring only power she has, marriage of convenience.
"Wait 'til you see Curley's wife", "She ain't concealing nothing. I never seen nobody like her", "Tramp" "Tart" "*****"
She is objectified and s
12 of 18
Power - Crooks
Despite stereotypes of the time he is educated and can read and is also away of his few rights.
"A tattered dictionary and a mauled
copy of the California civil code for 1905"
He ensures that only he is welcome in his room as the others do not allow him
13 of 18
American dream - G + L
"We'd just live there. We'd belong there"
Talk about their dream like a story which shows strong belief that they will succeed
Dream for something permanent
George is more realistic and knows it is just to comfort Lennie, does not let himself believe it.
14 of 18
American dream - Candy and Crooks joining
They ask to join to escape their loneliness as a worker.
Crooks "If you guys would want a hand to work for nothing, just his keep, why I'd come and lend a hand"
Candy " I wont have no place to go, and I cant get no more jobs"
desperate to be part of the d
15 of 18
American dream - Curley's wife's
Married Curley after dreams of being movie star failed
"I coulda made something of myself...Maybe I will yet"
"As though she hurried before her listener could be taken away"
Passion for dream shows her form of escapism from gender discrimination on the ba
16 of 18
American dream - End of G + L dream
After Lennie dies, George sees that the dream was never possible - shows hopelessness of the dream
"He used to hear about it so much i got to thinking maybe we would"
scornful crooks - "Hundreds of em. They come and they quit and go on; and every damn one
17 of 18
Prejudice and discrimination
Gender - Curley's wife not given name; no power
- Curley's wife objectified when she tries to get attention
Race- Crooks sleeps separately
- workers call him slurs and discriminate
Ableism - Crooks and Candy
-worried about losing jobs due to not bei
18 of 18

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

"I get lonely"
without husband has no one on the ranch
links to her being seen as a tart

Back

Loneliness - Curley's wife

Card 3

Front

"I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain't no good"
George sympathises with workers without companions and is aware of the loneliness they have.
Suspicions on George and Lennie show how widespread loneliness is - common theme

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

"Guys like us that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world."
Shows that if Lennie and George did not have each other they would be like every other temporary worker
emphasizes the importance of friendship

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

"A guy on a ranch don't never listen nor he don't ask no questions"
conveys loneliness and isolation - foreshadows future events
double negative portrays the negative undertones

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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