Of Mice and Men Quotes

Discrimination and Prejudice

Racial
Crooks – he’s coloured, so automatically he is isolated by the others. He is often
referred in the novella as a “nigger” ”the negro stable buck” ”why it’s just a nigger
sayin’ it” “s’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk… cause you was black” he blocks
himself from the other ranch hands because he is not used to being part of a society.
No one feels pathos for him because no one can sympathise with him.

Sexism
Curley’s wife- she’s the only woman on the ranch, always excluded from activities
such as horse shoes. She seeks for attention. she always goes onto the ranch to seek
for company. “Can’t talk to nobody but Curley”
Cat house also shows how women had low value back then. They were used as items
to please men and is shown without self-respect.

Disability
Lennie- he had learning disability. “”this shows that people did not understand this
kind of illness and is badly treated by others. He is called the “Dum Dum” along with
Candy.
Candy-he lost a limb on the ranch, due to this, he is given simple jobs. He’s also at an
old age which means he cannot do much work. “They’ll can me purty soon. Jus’ as
soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk houses they’ll put me on the county.”
Crooks-he is not given a real name; clearly the character is named after his disability
which is a crooked back.” Busted-back nigger”

Ageism
Candy-he is allowed to stay at the ranch despite his old age. He is described as a
“lousy ol’ sheep” by Curley’s wife.
Slim is treated as a god of the ranch, “Godlike eyes,” “Slim’s opinions were law.” This
shows that people were honoured by his presence and his decisions were
conclusive. They showed Slim a tremendous amount of respect.
Slim is a very calm and collective character, who has a peaceful aura about him.
“Slim’s calm invitation to confidence.” “
"He's got a team" showing Slim is a leader. This quote shows us the different levels
of authority amongst the itinerant workers.
Slim's "authority" means that he gets to decide who deserves justice, and who
deserves a little leniency. He's good at reading character, saying "I can tell a mean
guy from a mile off", this too shows his influence on the rest of the ranch members.
“You hadda, George. I swear you hadda…” Slim seems to agree with George’s
decision about killing Lennie. George’s actions are justified by Slims lawful verdict.

Carlson

1. “ I don’t see no reason for it”

This shows that Carlson has no personal attachments in the matter and does not think
about Candy’s personal emotions for the dog. He would willingly shoot Candy’s dog
showing no compassion and sympathy with him at all.
2. “Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?”
Carlson is unable to place himself in the position of George when he shoots Lennie. He is
different as George and Lennie both had someone who cared about them, each other. He
shows a lack of empathy towards George.

3. ”Ranch workers are the loneliest guys in the word”.

Carlson comes across as aggressive and shows no sympathy towards the characters with
friendships as he might have never experienced it in his life; perhaps it is his jealously
talking.

4. “It won’t hurt him none at all”.

This shows another side to Carlson’s personality where he is thinking about other people’s
feelings showing sympathy. This is an unusual change in his day to day manner.

5. “You come for me, an’ I’ll kick your God damn head off”
Carlson clearly has a disliking towards Curley and he lets his feelings be known to all where
he appears to be hyped up. This is quite surprising considering how Curley is the bosses’
son and so he could easily get Carlson fired. But it seemed Carlson didn’t care.

Candy

‘‘Why’n’t you shoot him, Candy?’ The old man squirmed uncomfortably.’

His dog is his company and his equivalent of a friend. No one else understands the idea of
their friendship and they simply want the dog shot because it is no longer useful and is a
nuisance in the bunkhouse.

‘I had ‘im too long’ ; ‘I had him from a pup.’

Candy has a certain affection for his dog. He knew deep down that it was the best thing, but
he dreaded losing his long-time companion.

‘Maybe tomorra. Le’s wait til tomorra.’

He tries to delay the shooting of his dog as he pleads with them to let the subject drop.

‘They’ll can me purty soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk house they’ll put
me on the county.’

Candy knows that he is useless and cannot do as a good a job as the other workers as he
only has one hand so as soon as he can no longer do his minor job, they will send him on his
way.

‘You seen what they done to me dog tonight? They says he wasn’t no good to himself
nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me.’

He knows that by shooting the dog it was for the best, so he wishes that when he has no
place where he belongs he could just be shot and put out of his misery. His is comparing
himself to the dog.
 ‘I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot
my dog.’

Candy feels that it should have been his responsibility to shoot the dog. He knew it was
best for him and he should have taken it upon himself to do that.

Lennie

1. “So you forget that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you’re a
crazy bastard”

This introduces us to the idea that Lennie is a bit slow, and has a bad memory. We also
learn about the relationship between George and Lennie, and how George approaches
Lennie with new things; he is clearly childlike and is small minded. Although George
doesn’t approach Lennie as a child, for example using swear words, the relationship
between the two is a guardian-to-child relationship.

2. “Why do you got to get killed? You aint so little as mice. I didn’t bounce you hard.”

Lennie’s compassion for the small dog is clear here. We are given a distinct description of
how he thinks, and feels. His understanding of how animals should be treated is small, and
he does not know how or why they die. His understanding is little and his childlike mind
shows frequently throughout the book.

3. “You’re nuts, but you’re a kinda nice fella. Jus’ like a big baby.” (Curley’s Wife)

Curley’s wife has previously said that Curley is not a nice fella, and in this quote you can see
a small reference to what she said; although Lennie does not understand. He thinks that he
is normal, and does not know the difference between a friend, a girlfriend and a pet. It
shows again, that he isn’t the smartest of them all. We also see a spark in Curley’s wife,
towards him.

4. “Let’s do it now, let’s get the place now!”

This is just before he dies, and we can see a small sense of impatience; something that
is often seen in children. In the midst of the drama that is unfolding around him, he is still
in a happy place. This childlike reference gives the effect of George killing a child, and the
reader is inclined to be against George, especially after he lured himself into a false sense of
hope.

5. “George says I gotta stay here and not get in no trouble”

By saying this, Lennie is referring to George as his guardian. Much like a child would refer
back to their parents forbidding them from doing something. George may have
foreshadowed trouble and disallowed Lennie to leave this particular place; this puts
George as ‘alpha male’.

6. “He [Curley] stood crying, his fist lost is Lennie’s paw”

Lennie is rather large and the fact that Curley’s hand is LOST gives the effect that Lennie may
even be twice the size of Curley and is just throwing his weight around as an advantage.
Describing Lennie’s hand as a ‘paw’ gives the illusion, not only that he’s big, but also he’s like
a hopeless dog; a dog who doesn’t understand what’s right and what’s wrong. The metaphor
of a dog makes the reader understand how lost and helpless Lennie really is.
The American Dream + Dreams
George: "'Well, we'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens."

Their perfect world is one of independence. Workers like Lennie and George have no
family, no home, and very little control over their lives. They have to do what the boss tells
them and they have little to show for it. They only own what they can carry. Therefore, this
idea of having such power over their lives is a strong motivation. A little bit of land, their
own crops and animals-this is all they want. It is a simple American dream. They want to be
self-reliant.

George: "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They
got no family. They don't belong no place. "

Whatever the American Dream is, this isn't it: a bunch of lonely, itinerant farmworkers that
George describes as being without family or hope. Steinbeck seems to be saying that you
can't build a nation on these men—and we're inclined to agree.

George: "For two bits I'd shove out of here. If we can get jus' a few dollars in the poke
we'll shove off and go up the American River and pan gold. We can make maybe a
couple of dollars a day there, and we might hit a pocket."

What George fantasizes about here is a Grade A American Dream: heading out West to pan
for gold, and striking it rich. Too bad that's only ever happened to maybe a handful of
people in the entire country. The people who really got rich from the gold rush were the
shopkeepers: it's not as romantic, but everyone needs to buy shovels and boots.

‘This here’s my room…I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse’

Crooks dreams of being seen as equal to everyone else. He knows his civil rights. He
remembers fondly his childhood, when he played with white children who came to his
family's chicken ranch, and longs for a similar relationship with white people again.

‘He says he was gonna put me in the movies’

This is the only reference of Curley’s Wife as an individual. She isn’t property of anyone
when she is talking about her dream to Lennie.

‘Tell you what – S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d
put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden
some. How’s that be?’

His isn’t able to do much work so he volunteers to do anything he can. Candy is excited
about the dream and wants if to become real as soon as possible. He offers all of his
savings for it and gives them as many ideas as he can for his services.

Steinbeck has purposely mad the individual dreams of each simply dreams and makes
them progress no further. This tells us of how Steinbeck knew the unlikeliness of each
happening but conveys to the reader of how many at that time were compelled forward by
their own version of the American dream. (different characters dreams seen above in
other bullet points)
Theme: LONELINESS AND ISOLATION
1. ‘ We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us’

George and Lennie are different from the other ranch hands, they have their own way of life
and they are quite happy as a pair. They work well together; although, it is possible to feel
lonely in a room full of people. As much as Lennie and George have each other, Lennie
doesn’t quite understand George as much as George understands him, this shows when it is
only George giving advice to Lennie and not vice-versa.

2. “ I had him since he was a pup” (CANDY)

His dog is his companion and his equivalent of a friend. He has been stuck at the ranch for
so long, due to injury and he has seen people come and go. He doesn’t understand the idea
of a true friendship and why the other workers don’t like the dog. This gives more sense of
isolation from the other ranch workers because they are isolating him because he has a
dog. They could be jealous that he has a companion and they don’t, causing more isolation
on the ranch.

3. “This here’s my room…I aint wanted in the bunkhouse and you aint wanted in my
room.” (CROOKS)

He is segregated in the barn and this represents racial discrimination. He is so used to this
isolation that he doesn’t know how to react when someone actually wants to talk to him. He
has had to put up with this for so long, and we can see the effect it has had on him; a bitter
lonely man.

4. “I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy” (BOSS)

With the boss’s previous experience of workers travelling individually, it is no surprise that
it comes as a shock to him when George and ‘his cousin’ Lennie, arrive together, after
travelling together. This makes the boss suspicious and gives him an ulterior motive to
keep an eye on Lennie and George for the remainder of their time.

5. “I never get to talk to no-body, I get awful lonely” (CURLEY’S WIFE)

Curley’s wife is perhaps one of the loneliest people on the ranch. She has no girlfriends to
talk to and she isn’t allowed to venture into town. She often confides in the workers and
goes looking for company. Curley has forbidden her from discussing her life with any of the
workers, and has also threatened the workers against speaking to her.

6. “ I don’t like Curley , he aint a nice fella”

Prior to this quote, we have heard the sob story of how she could not leave home at fifteen.
As this conversation goes on she realises that she can confide in Lennie and goes on to
discuss Curley. She only married him to get away from home; there is a bit of sympathy
from the reader and we start to wonder how happy she truly is. She wanted to be an
actress, and claims she was good, so as a reader you don’t know whether she is just putting
on a brave face for the workers and pretending everything is alright. When in reality, it’s
not okay. Her real world in lonely and miserable and being separated with her dream
doesn’t help anything. Being on a ranch, where no one shares your interests can make it
harder for her.