Of Mice and Men assignment

Question Number One Response:


In the story of “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck, the story takes place the era of The Great Depression. As stated in the book, “No mess at all, and when he end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want,” (Steinbeck, 12). People can tell that this is in the Great Depression because working for a month will get you more than fifty dollars. The character, George, was saying this as like it was a lot of money also. In this book, mental retardation plays a major role. The other main character, Lennie, has symptoms of a mental disability, making it hard for him to do what generally people did at this time. “George broke in loudly. ‘Oh! I ain’t saying he’s bright. He ain’t. But I say he's a God damn good worker. He can put up four a hundred pound bale,’” (Steinbeck, 22). George is obviously developed because of his friend’s disability. Making it harder for be both of them to get jobs. Because of Lennie’s disability he doesn’t really know what is wrong and right. In a sense, he just does what he’s told and will do it anyway he can. Which is another big factor, of how the mental disability is progressed in the story. In conclusion, there are big roles that take effect through the story and develop characters throughout “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck.




Question Number Two Response:

In the story, “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck, the main antagonist, Curly, is a very developed character. As shown in the quote, “The swamper considered … ‘Well… Tell you what. 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,’” (Steinbeck, 26). Curley is supposedly a short guy with an attitude, but in reality, Curley is a guy with self conscious issues. He wants to tell everyone that he is better than him, just because he’s small, doesn’t mean he can’t get it done. Curley doesn’t anyone to have higher power than him, he doesn’t want to look weak, just because he’s short. “‘The swamper warmed up to his gossip. ‘You seen that glove on his left hand?’ ‘Yeah. I seen it.’ ‘Well, that glove’s fulla vaseline.’ ‘Vaseline? What the hell for?’ ‘Well, I tell ya what - Curley says he’s keeping that hand soft for his wife.’” With that glove full of vaseline, Curley is telling everyone that he is better than anyone, making him full of himself. That he’s cocky. He wants to show everyone that he has a wife and that they don’t. In those days, it was hard for men who worked in one place to another, to get wives. But the glove of vaseline, also says that no one should mess with his wife. In the end, Curley is a well developed character with different kind of traits that define him.


In addition to Curley has more features that make him a unique character. “‘Thinks Slim's with his wife, don’t he?’ said George,” (Steinbeck, 54). Curley doesn’t really trust anyone. He doesn’t trust anyone well and will accuse anyone who is not there at the right time. Like when his wife was missing, he taught Silm went to go sleep with her. But in reality, he was to quick to judge and didn’t trust that Slim was doing nothing to his wife. “Curley was balanced and poised. He slashed at Lennie with his left, and then smashed down his nose with a right,” (Steinbeck, 63). Curley is very persistent and won’t take no as an answer, which usually turns into violence. He’s obviously quick to judge and will take no disrespect, making him to attack Lennie, because he was smiling. He hates it when people make fun of him because he’s really insecure and rather have everyone be afraid of him, because he feels like it’s the only way to have people respect him, because he’s short. In conclusion, Curley in the book, “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck is a very developed antagonist.