Of Mice and Men

CHARACTER PROFILES
George Milton
Migrant Laborer Protagonist (1 of 2)

Small Most Complex Good Man

Quick Mouse like Compassionate
Small, strong Hands Has Brains Loyal
Slender Arms A Survivor Pure of Heart
Sharp, strong features Adaptable High Moral Character
Dark of Face Quick-witted Need for Companionship
Restless Eyes Ambition Lennie's Caretaker
Thin & bony nose Short-tempered

He is like a mouse: "small & quick, dark of face, with restless eyes & sharp strong features.
Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin & bony nose."
Most complex of the characters b/c he has not accepted his present lot in life.

DREAM: Has a dream to save money, buy a small farm, & be his own boss
With the destruction of his dream, George loses the chance to become a better man.
George does progress as the story progresses. (Unlike Lennie)
Takes responsibility for not only Lennie's life but also his death.
Weakness: He yells at Lennie from time to time.
Weakness: Needs to feel better about his own ordinariness.

Lennie Small
Migrant Laborer Protagonist (2 of 2)
The source of the novel's conflict
CRIPPLE: Mentally handicapped (lack of adult intelligence)
Static character - throughout, relying on George to fuel is hope & save him from trouble

Huge man (Tall) Least Dynamic Gentle

Wide, rounded Shoulders Flat Character Kind
Large, strong Hands (paws) Mild Mental Disability Simplistic
Heavy Walk Good Worker Totally dependent on George
Drags his feet Enthusiastic Innocent
Shapeless Face Childlike Pure Goodness
Large, pale eyes Last name vs. Stature = OPPOSITE
Arms hang loosely at his sides &
Lennie does NOT progress with the story.
do not swing.

Animal Imagery Associated with Animals

Bear He is often compared to a BEAR with his huge size & strength.
Bear PAWS His hands are described as PAWS.
Horse Snorts like a HORSE at the stream.
Terrier Circles like a TERRIER when he does not want to bring George the dead mouse.
Dogs His loyalty to George is frequently described like that of a DOG (Terrier).
Rabbits Always associated with RABBITS & MICE.
Mice

Does not understand his own strength; Is not violent by nature but has the potential for violence.
His love of petting soft things, such as small animals, dresses, & people's hair, leads to disaster.

DREAM: He & George share a dream
It is his innocence that keeps the dream alive throughout the novel until his death.
His weakness dooms the dream of the farm. 1 of 4
 Of Mice and Men
CHARACTER PROFILES
Slim
MASTER Skinner or Mule Driver of the Ranch
Is the really heroic man in the novel

Tall Respected by all Master of his Trade

Long Black Hair Perceptive Superior workman
"God-like eyes" Quiet "Doer" not a "Dreamer"
35 or 50 years old. Serious Demeanor
Not flashy (BOOTS)
Kind
Insightful

Slim is the only character who seems to be at peace with himself

Slim does not feel the need to wear high-heeled boots! (Unlike Curley)
Slim is the consummate example of understanding & gentleness beneath a wise & experienced exterior.
Emphasis is placed on Slim's skill & craftsmanship;
Slim has moral authority over the other men.
Slim invites confidence by accepting people as they are.
Slim respects Lennie's hard work & consoles George when Lennie dies.
Serves as the fearless, decision-maker
Described as something of a living legend: "he moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty & master
craftsmen".
He alone realizes, at the end of the novel, the reason for George’s decision
"His ear heard more than was to said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but
of understanding beyond thought."

Candy
Ranch Handyman “the swamper”
CRIPPLE: Lost his hand in a ranch accident

Old Fearful Humble

Regretful Weary
Hopeful Passive

Candy, represents a segment of American society because of old age & physical handicap.
Worries about his future on the ranch.
Fears that his age is making him useless,
1st to befriend George & Lennie at Soledad.

DREAM: Offers to contribute his savings of $350 to buy the farm.
DREAM: He is sweetly hopeful of joining Lennie & George on their dream farm.
He lets the secret slip to both Crooks & Curley's wife.
His old sheep dog will become a symbol of Lennie before the novel ends.

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 Of Mice and Men
CHARACTER PROFILES
Crooks
Stable Hand Cares for the horses
CRIPPLE: Has a crooked spine

Negro Wise Aloof

Caustically funny Bitter
Observant Lonely
Proud Despairing
Longs to be apart Negative
Craves someone to talk to Ostracized
Defensive manner Angry
Inferior to Whites Indignant

Represents a segment of American society that is discriminated against because of race.

Steinbeck does not develop Crooks until the 4th chapter.
The only black
Called "Crooks" because of a crooked spine
His spine has been left crooked from a horse's kick, & he rubs liniment on his painful back.
He lives in isolation in the Harness Room.
Keeps his distance & demands other people keep theirs.
Ultimately frustrated by his helplessness as a black man in a racist culture
He is excluded from the other ranch hands, except at Christmas when the boss brings in a gallon of whiskey for
the entire crew.

His only recreations are an occasional game of Horseshoes with other men, but most of the time he spends by
himself READING.

He listens with longing to Lennie tell of his dream ranch & he yearns to be part of it.
Crooks tells them they will never attain their dream.

Carlson
Mechanic at the Ranch Skilled worker
Large man Cold practicality Brutal
Big-bellied Down to earth in his world Violent
Arrogant Fanatical
Insensitive Destructive
Driven Callous

Perfect example of a selfish oaf:

1) Interested only in his creature comforts;
2) Oblivious to any one else’s feelings.

Owns & Provides the Luger that kills both Curly's wife & Lennie.

He focuses on actions & does not notice people's feelings.

He assumes an arrogance forbidden the others.

Carlson orders Candy's dog to be put to death.

Carlson has NO feelings about the animal & NO concept that anyone else might care about the old creature.

His callousness is especially evident at the end of the novel.

Upon seeing Slim & George sadly walk off for a drink after George has shot Lennie, Carlson says, "Now what
the hell y suppose is eatin' them two guys?"
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 Of Mice and Men
CHARACTER PROFILES
Curley
Son of the Ranch Owner ANTAGONIST
CRIPPLE: Acquires a mangled hand during the novel.

Little Man Little Man Syndrome Confrontational

Young Coward Boastful
Brown Face Cocky Volatile Temper
Brown Eyes Aggressive Extremely Insecure
Tightly curled hair Angry Jealous
Mean-spirited Out of Control
Hot-Headed SHOW OFF

The pugnacious Curley is the little guy who loves to flaunt his power & status.
Married within the previous 2 weeks, he spends much of his time looking for his pretty wife.
Wears high-heeled boots to distinguish himself from the field hands. (Unlike Slim)
A small man, his is always looking for a fight, especially with men who are bigger than he.
He prides himself on having been a welterweight boxer.
Rumored to be a champion prizefighter
Eager to fight anyone he perceives as a threat to his self-image
Tendency to provoke conflict,
Insecure of his size
Seeks to compensate for his small stature by picking fights with larger men
Lennie stands up to Curley & crushes his hand in his own grip.
Later Curley organizes the posse to find Lennie after he has killed Curley's wife.

Curley's wife
Curley's wife VICTIM
She represents the temptation of female sexuality in a male-dominated world.
Only female in the novel.
Only character in the novel who is given NO name.
Steinbeck depicts Curley’s wife as a victim not as a villain.

Pretty Flirtatious Craves someone to talk to

Red lips Viewed as a Troublemaker Unhappy
Red Fingernails Full of self-pity
Heavy make-up Pathetically Lonely
Hair hangs in tight sausage curls No Friends
Red shoes w/ Ostrich feathers Craves attention

Married Curley a couple of weeks ago.

She knows her husband Curley is mean & she does not like him.

She is said by the men to give them "the eye,"

The men brand her as a "tramp" ("tart" & a "looloo")
She is stereotyped as a "tart".
Indeed, she plays the vamp, which enrages her husband Curley.
George tells Lennie to avoid her, calling her "poison" & "jailbait".
She wonders around the ranch searching for some human contact.
She taunts & provokes the ranch hands into talking with her.

DREAM: Like the ranch-hands, she is desperately lonely & has broken dreams of a better life.
She once had dreams of being a movie star.
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