what is lennie supposed to do if trouble arises

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

Published 1937

Runted Books

New York

A free East-text of the novel Of Mice and Men can be institute at:

 http://www.readanybook.com/ebook/of-mice-and-men-242

Major Characters

George Milton
The protagonist and master grapheme of the book. He is a caring, compassionate, and understanding human beingness who dreams of owning his own piece of country " 'an live offa the fat of the state". Physically, he is a small and intelligent homo with strong features. He is Lennie's cousin. He made a promise to Lennie'due south mother when she died to take of Lennie.

Lennie Small
The obedient friend of George. He has a child'southward mind and a giant'due south body. Ironically, Lennie Small is a big, stiff man. He is mentally retarded, and relies upon George. It is these contrasting qualities and his impulsive nature that cause him problems. Lennie is basically harmless, but he does not understand his own force. He loves to pet soft things, like mice and puppies, only often kills them accidently if they "nip" at him.

Old Candy
One of the lone ranch workers. He is a cripple (missing a paw), working equally a 'Swamper'. Processed was injured working on the ranch years ago. The Boss has taken care of Processed past giving him a chore as a Swamper. He is discriminated against because he is handicapped and now he is getting old. Candy is worried he volition lose his chore and domicile when he gets to old to work.

Crooks
A black ranch hand. He is sensible and neat, with a listen of his ain. He is a lonely character, who is discriminated against, due to his race. However, Crooks has a skill. He is knowledgeable near farm animals. Crooks lives lone because he is Blackness. He does not live witht he other ranch workers.

Slim
A ranch worker with leadership qualities. He commands respect from all on the ranch. He also has skills as the "mule skinner".

Curley
The boss' son who was a boxer. He is brusk, stocky, and thinks he is amend than all the others. He picks fights with everybody on the ranch. Curley is brusque. He has a Napoleonic Complex considering he is short, he is always trying to prove himself by fighting with others.

Curley'due south wife
The simply woman on the ranch. She is very flirtatious. Notice she does NOT take a name other than Curley's married woman. Woman are discriminated against at this time in American history. She has no identity other than Curley'southward Wife.

Carlson
A ranch worker. A vicious man. He objects to Candy keeping his onetime domestic dog.

Whit
A ranch worker. He is sent to town to fetch the Sheriff afterward Curley'due south wife is murdered.

The Boss
A 'nice fella' (in Processed'south words). He is more than concerned about his work on the ranch than anyone else. He is fair. The Boss is respected considering he is rich.

CHAPTER 1 (pages one-eighteen) "Meeting George and Lennie"

The purpose of chapter 1 is to introduce the setting of the novel and the principal char acters George and Lennie.

George and Lennie are on their fashion to a ranch to get jobs. They finish virtually the Salinas River. They will eat dinner and campsite out by the river and go to the ranch the next day.

The readers learn that George "takes care of Lennie" and George is frustrated. Considering George takes care of Lennie, he has sacrificed his ain life, dreams and any chance of success.

Lennie is revealed to be a huge homo, but he is developmentally disabled. Lennie has a habit of carrying a mouse in his pocket to pet it. When the mouse nips at Lennie's fingers, he crushes its skull. George has to make Lennie throw the mouse away.

It is revealed that George and Lennie had to sneak out of the town of Weed because Lennie got in trouble when he tried to "touch" a woman'due south dress. The dress was soft and Lennie wanted to rub fabric in his hands.

George insists that Lennie call up this place by the river in case he gets in trouble over again. As Lennie and George fall asleep they talk well-nigh their version of the American Dream, to own their own ranch some day and live off the fat of the land.

In chapter 1 the setting of the story is revealed to the reader.

• The story takes identify on a ranch in the Salinas River Valley in California.
• The story takes place during the Great Depression.
• Many men are out of work and the farming industry in the Midwestern Usa is suffering.
• Men are working as migrant farm workers, traveling from farm to farm looking for whatever kind of temporary work they tin can become.

George Milton

"was minor and quick, night of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every office of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose" (2).

Lennie Small (he is often described and compared to an animal)

"Behind him walked his reverse, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large pale eyes, with broad sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the fashion a carry drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely...he drank from the surface of the green pool with long gulps, snorting into the h2o like a equus caballus" (ii).

"Lennie dabbled his big paw in the h2o and wiggled his fingers so h2o arose in little splashes (3).

"slowly like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its primary, Lennie approached, drew back, approached again" (9)

Lennie is developmetally disabled.

• Imitates George

"Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly" (4).

"George lay dorsum on the sand and crossed his easily nether his head, and Lennie imitated him, raising his head to see whether he were doing it right" (seven).

• Has a poor retention

"George?...Where we goin', George?'

'So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you lot're a crazy bastard!'

'I forgot . I tried non to forget. Honest to God I did, George...I remember virtually the rabbits, George" (4-5)

• is impulsive
• childlike
• does non know his own strength
• likes to pet soft things (mice, rabbits, puppies, soft fabric)
• does not understand cause and effect (he keeps catching and petting mice, when they bite he kills them, over and over again)
• he does not empathize the consequences of his ain actions

George and Lennie are Unlike from the other Workers

"Guys similar us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't vest no place. They come up to a ranch an' work up a stake and so they become inta a town and accident their stake, and the first thing you know they're pounding their tail on some other ranch. They ain't got nothing to wait alee to . . . With u.s. it own't similar that. We got a time to come. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don't accept to sit in no bar room blowin' in our jack jus' because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. Just not usa" (15).

Lennie and George's American Dream

"Someday--nosotros're gonna get the jack together and we're gonna accept a piffling house and a couple of acres an' a cow and some pigs and-- an' live offa the fatta the lan', Lennie shouted. An' have rabbits. Continue George! Tell most what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that, George...Well, said George, we'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we'll just say the hell with goin' to piece of work, and nosotros'll build upwardly a fire in the stove and fix effectually information technology an' listen to the pelting comin' downward on the roof...When nosotros go the coupla acres I can let yous tend the rabbits all right...Permit'southward take dissimilar color rabbits, George. Sure we will. Red and blue and light-green rabbits, Lennie. Millions of 'em. Furry ones, George, like I seen in the fair in Sacremento. Sure furry ones. " (15-18).

Chapter 2 (pages 19-41) "George and Lennie go far on the ranch"

• The purpose of affiliate ii is to innovate the central characters and conflicts of the story.
• Another purpose in this chapter is to inform the reader that farm animals are non pets.
• Farm animals are a role of the economic system.
• Animals are raised for food or work.
  

George and Lennie arrive at the ranch afterwards the men have left to work the morning shift.

They move into the bunk house and meet the boss, his son and the workers on the ranch

It is revealed to the reader in Affiliate 2 that ranch hands have a very hard and hard life.

• the bunk house has beds with thin, cheap mattresses
• the men accept very few possessions
• the men accept an old apple tree crate to store their little holding they ain
• it is common for the bunkhouse to have lice and roaches

The Dominate

• "a pretty nice fella"
• He gives the men a gallon of whiskey on Christmas
• He is annoyed that George and Lennie are belatedly for work on the ranch
• the boss is suspicious of George and Lennie's friendship
• the dominate thinks that George might be taking advantage of Lennie considering he is "uncomplicated"
• George tells the boss that Lennie got kicked in the head by a horse and he takes care of Lennie considering they are cousins (not true)

Candy

• "the old swamper"--the farm custodian, he cleans up effectually the farm
• old and handicapped--he lost his hand in a farming accident years agone
• best friend is his aboriginal dog, the dog cannot see and can barely walk and smells

Curley

• the dominate' son
• a boxer "Curley'due south pretty handy"
• Curley is brusk
• Curley wears boots with heels to set himself apart from the other ranch manus and to make himself taller
• likes to testify himself by picking fights with bigger men "he hates big guys"
• Information technology is immediately credible that Curley does non like Lennie (considering Lennie is a big man) and there will be trouble
• George and Lennie agree to stay abroad from Curley
• Curley merely got married to " a tart"
• Curley wears a glove on his paw filled with Vaseline. He keeps that hand soft to touch his wife
• Curley is very jealous and insecure

Curley'south married woman

• this character does non have a proper noun
• women are not respected past society
• described every bit "a tart", "a bitch" and "poison"
• She is pretty
• flirts with the ranch hands
• Lennie develops an immediate trounce on her
• George warns Lennie to stay abroad from Curley'south wife

"Don't you lot even take a await at the bitch...I seen poisonous substance earlier, but I never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her. You get out her be" (35-36).

"Well, you proceed away from her, 'crusade she's a rat-trap in I ever seen one" (36).

Slim

• the virtually respected worker on the ranch
• jerkline skinner

"he moved into the room, and he moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and main craftsmen. He was a jerkline skinner, the prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even xx mules with a single line to the leaders. He was capable of killing a fly on the wheeler'south butt with a bull whip without touching the mule. In that location was a gravity in his fashion and a tranquillity and so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his give-and-take was taken on any subject field, be information technology politics or love. This was Slim, the jerkline skinner" (37).

Carlson

• a ranch hand
• wants to shoot Candy's dog because he is quondam, disabled and smells
• asks Slim if he would be willing to give Candy one of the new pups

Farm animals are not Pets

" I been thinkin'. That domestic dog of Candy's is so God damn sometime he can't inappreciably walk. Stinks like hell, too. Ever' fourth dimension he comes into the bunk firm I can smell him for two, 3 days. Why'n't you go Processed to shoot his erstwhile domestic dog and requite him one of the pups to heighten upwards? I tin can smell that dog a mile away. Got no teeth, damn about blind, can't eat. Processed feeds him milk. He can't chew nothing else" (39).

"Meant to ask you, Slim, how's your bowwow? I seen she wasn't under your wagon this morning. "

"She slang her pups terminal night, " said Slim. "Ix of 'em. I drowned 4 of 'em right off. She couldn't feed that many. "

"Got v left, huh?"

"Yeah, five. I kept the biggest" (39).

At the end of chapter 2, Lennie is as excited as a niggling child about Slim's puppies. Lennie wants George to ask Slim if he can have a brown and white puppy.

CHAPTER three (pages 42-72) "Processed'due south Canis familiaris and Curley's Hand"

Chapter iii is about relationships. The author's purpose is to show how unusual George and Lennie'south relationship is for this time menses.

• George and Lennie travel together and George takes care of Lennie.
  
• George and Lennie have a plan for the future to go their ain subcontract.
  
• Processed's only true relationship is with his dog.
  
• Curley'due south human relationship with his wife is troubled.
  
• Whit had a friendship with a ranch mitt named Bill Tenner and no one else can even remember the man.
  
• Men do not have loving relationships with women. They accept sexual relationships with prostitutes.
  

 It is the stop of the work day and the men return to the bunkhouse.

 George and Slim talk about Lennie

• strong
• dumb
• non crazy
• follows orders

"Say, you sure was correct nigh him. Maybe he own't bright, but I never seen such a worker. He damn almost killed his partner buckin' barley. There own't nobody can keep upwards with him. God awmighty I never seen such a stiff guy. " (43).

"George spoke proudly. "Jus' tell Lennie what to do an' he'll do it if it don't take no figuring. He can't think of nothing to do himself, but he sure can take orders... "He ain't no cuckoo, " said George. "He'south dumb as hell, but he ain't crazy" (43).

During the Great Depression it was very unusual for men to be friends, travel together and look out for each other.

• George and Lennie get around together.

• George explains his unusual relationship with Lennie
• George and Lennie grew upward in the aforementioned town. When Lennie's aunt dies, George begins to take intendance of him.

"Funny how you an' him string along together...Hardly none of the guys ever travel together. I inappreciably never seen two guys travel together...Never seem to give a damn most nobody. It jus' seems kinda funny a cuckoo like him and a smart little guy like you travelin' together...

George said at last. "Him and me was both born in Auburn. I knowed his Aunt Clara. She took him when he was a babe and raised him upwardly. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin'. Got kinda used to each other after a little while" (44).

George explains to Slim that he used to brand fun of Lennie's disability just stopped considering he near killed Lennie.

Lennie trusts George completely.

"Funny, " said George. "I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with 'im. Used to play jokes on 'im 'cause he was too dumb to take care of 'imself. Only he was likewise dumb even to know he had a joke played on him. I had fun. Fabricated me seem God damn smart alongside of him...turns to Lennie and says, 'Jump in. ' An' he jumps. Couldn't swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could become him. An' he was then damn nice to me for pullin' him out. Clean forgot I told him to bound in. Well, I ain't done nothing like that no more than. "

Slim makes an ascertainment that smart guys are non always squeamish guys.

"Guy don't demand no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes information technology jus' works the other way around. Take a real smart guy and he own't hardly ever a dainty fella. (45).

George confides in Slim.

• George tells Slim how Lennie got in trouble in Weed because he wanted to touch a woman's soft dress.
• Slim gives Lennie one of his puppies.
• Lennie tries to sneak the i-day old pup into the bunkhouse in his shirt.

Carlson enters the bunkhouse and begins to complain about Candy's dog.

• Carlson wants to kill the dog because he is bedridden.
• Ironically, Candy is as erstwhile and crippled as his dog.
• Slim agrees with Carlson.
• Candy reluctantly agrees to let Carlson shoot his dog.

"I tin't stand up him in hither, " said Carlson. "That stink hangs effectually even after he'due south gone. " He walked over with his heavy- legged stride and looked down at the dog. "Got no teeth, " he said. "He'southward all potent with rheumatism. He ain't no good to you, Candy. An' he ain't no proficient to himself. Why'n't you shoot him, Candy?...

"Look, Candy. This of domestic dog jus' suffers hisself all the time. If you lot was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head-" he leaned over and pointed, "- right there, why he'd never know what hit him...

Tell y'all what. I'll shoot him for you lot. Then it won't be you lot that does it...

That domestic dog own't no expert to himself. I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I get erstwhile an' a cripple. " (49-50).

• Candy lies downward in his bunk and faces the wall.
• It is silent in the bunkhouse equally the men wait for Carlson to kill Processed'south dog and all-time friend.

"Candy looked a long time at Slim to endeavor to find some reversal. And Slim gave him none...Candy lay rigidly on his bed staring at the ceiling...Slim said, 'Candy, y'all tin have any 1 of thme pups you want'...The silence was in the room once again. A shot sounded in the altitude. The men looked quickly at the old human being. Every head turned toward him. For a moment he connected to stare at the ceiling. Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent (54).

During the Bang-up Low, friendships did not last. Men moved on to new jobs frequently.

• One of the ranch hands Whit sees a letter from his friend Bill Tenner in a magazine.
• Whit is very excited to see the letter of the alphabet. He feels "continued" to Bill again.
• The other ranch easily barely retrieve Pecker Tenner.
• This incident shows that migrant farm workers are very lonely.
• This incident shows how unusual George and Lennie's friendship is.

"Don't yous remember Pecker Tenner? Worked here about threee months ago...

Bill and me worked in that patch of field peas. Run cultivators. Bill was a hell of a nice fella" (51).

The men have a word nearly women.

• The men are afraid of Curley.
• They do not understand that Curley's wife is lonely living far from boondocks on a ranch with just men.
• Curley's wife is really just looking for some fiendship.

"Well, ain't she a looloo?

She ain't conealin' nothing. I never seen nobody similar her. She got the eye goin' all the fourth dimension on everybody. I bet she fifty-fifty gives the stable buck the eye. I don't know what the hell she wants...

George said, 'She'due south gonna make a mess. They're gonna be a bad mess about her. She'south a jail bait all set on the trigger" (56-57)

"What'due south eatin' on Curley?" Carlson squinted down the barrel of his gun. "Lookin' for his onetime lady. I seen him going round and round outside. " Whit said sarcastically, "He spends half his time lookin' for her, and the rest of the fourth dimension she'south lookin' for him. " Curley burst into the room excitedly. "Any you guys seen my wife?"

"Curley's just spoilin' or he wouldn't start for Slim. An' Curley'due south handy, God damn handy. Got in the finals for the Gold Gloves. He got newspaper clippings about it. "

• The men talk about the whores in town.
• Women are not respected by men.
• Women are used for sex activity.

George sighed. "Y'all requite me a good whore house every time, " he said. "A guy can go in an' go drunk and become ever'thing outa his organisation all at once, an' no messes. And he knows how much information technology's gonna set him back. These hither jail baits is just set on the trigger of the hoosegow. "

George and Lennie hold to let Candy be a role of their dream

George and Lennie are talking most their dream and Processed overhears them.

Candy who has saved up nearly $350 dollars convinces George and Lennie to let him give them his coin and Candy can go alive with them.

With Candy'southward coin George realizes they volition only need to piece of work another calendar month on the ranch and they will take enough money to buy the subcontract ($600).

"George, how long'due south it gonna be till we get that little place an' live on the fatta the lan-an' rabbits?" "I don' know, " said George. "We gotta get a big stake together. I know a little place nosotros tin get inexpensive, only they ain't givin' it away. " Old Candy turned slowly over. His optics were wide open. He watched George carefully...Processed said, "I ain't much skillful with on'y one hand. I lost my mitt right here on this ranch. That'southward why they give me a job swampin'. An' they give me two hundred an' fifty dollars 'cause I los' my hand An' I got 50 more than saved upwardly right in the banking concern, correct now. Tha's three hunderd, and I got fifty more comin' the end a the month. Tell you what-" He leaned forward eagerly. "S'pose I went in with you guys. Tha'southward three hunderd an' fifty bucks I'd put in...Processed said miserably, "You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no skilful to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody'd shoot me. But they won't practise zero like that. I won't have no identify to go, an' I can't get no more jobs...George stood upwards. "We'll exercise her, " he said. "We'll fix up that little onetime place an' we'll become live there. " He saturday down again. They all saturday still, all bemused by the beauty of the thing, each mind was popped into the future when this lovely thing should come about" (62-67).

Curley fights with Lennie

• Slim leaves the bunkhouse with Crooks, the "Negro stable buck", to fix a mule's foot.

• Curley thinks that his wife and Slim are fooling effectually.
• Curley and Slim get into a exact argument about Curley's wife.
• The men tease Curley.
• Curley is aroused and ready for a fight.
• Curley volition not fight with Slim considering Slim is needed on the ranch and respected by all the ranch hands.
• Curley notices Lennie lying on his bunk grinning (about his puppy and the rabbits)
• Curley picks a fight with Lennie.
• Lennie does not fight back until George tells him to.
• Upon George's order Lennie fights dorsum.
• Lennie crushes all the bones in Curley'due south hand with his fist.
• George and Lennie are afraid they will be fired because Lennie has crushed Curley'due south hand and Curley is the dominate' son.
• Slim threatens Curley.
• Curley agrees to say his hand was crushed in a farm automobile.
• Lennie who does not empathise his own strength is non worried that he injure Curley.
• Lennie is only worried that George volition be mad at him and George will not let him tend the rabbits.

"His eyes slipped on past and lighted on Lennie; and Lennie was however smiling with delight at the memory of the ranch. Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier. "What the hell you laughin' at?" Lennie looked blankly at him. "Huh?" Then Curley's rage exploded. "Come on, ya big bastard. Get upwards on your anxiety. No big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me...

He slashed at Lennie with his left, and so smashed down his nose with a correct. Lennie gave a cry of terror...Lennie covered his face with his huge paws and bleated with terror. He cried, "Make 'um stop, George.'...

George was on his feet yelling, "Get him, Lennie. Don't let him do information technology...

Curley'due south fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it. The next infinitesimal Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie's big hand...Curley saturday down on the floor, looking in wonder at his crushed hand...

George said, "Slim, will we get canned now? We need the pale. Will Curley'due south quondam human being can us now?" Slim smiled wryly...Slim went on. "I think you got your han' caught in a machine. If you don't tell nobody what happened, we ain't going to. But you jus' tell an' try to get this guy canned and we'll tell ever'body, an' then volition you become' the laugh. "

"I won't tell, " said Curley...

"I can even so tend the rabbits, George?"

"Sure. Yous ain't done nix wrong. "

"I di'n't hateful no harm, George. "

(68-72).

CHAPTER 4 (pages 73-91) "The Alone Ones"

• Chapter 4 is nearly discrimination and loneliness.
  
• On the ranch and all of the ranch easily have gone to boondocks to the whore houses to beverage, play cards and take sex.
  
• Lennie, Processed, Crooks and Curley'southward Married woman are not invited to get considering they are discriminated confronting due to their age, inability, race or gender.
  

• Lennie is lone and goes to the barn to pet his puppy.
  
• Lennie sees Crooks' light on inhis room and goes to visit Crooks.
  "the Negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room...his bunk was a long box filled with harbinger...And scattered about the floor were a number of personal possessions; for, beingness alone, Crooks could leave his things most, and existence a stable buck and a cripple, he was more permanent than the other men, and he had accumulated more possessions than he could carry on his dorsum...And he had books, too; a tattered dictionary and a mauled re-create of the California civil lawmaking for 1905...This room was swept and adequately neat, for Crooks was a proud, aloof man. He kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs. His trunk was bent over to the left by his crooked spine...(73-74).
• Crooks does non desire Lennie is his room, but cannot resist Lennie friendliness and allows him in the room.
  "You got no correct to come in my room. This here'south my room. Nobody got any correct in here but me...I ain't wanted in the bunk house, and you lot own't wanted in my room. " "Why ain't you wanted?" Lennie asked. "'Cause I'k blackness. They play cards in there, merely I tin't play because I'chiliad black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, yous all of you lot stink to me...Lennie's disarming smile defeated him..If I say something, why it's just a nigger sayin' it"  (75-76).
  
• Crooks is very solitary, no i on the ranch talks to him considering he is Blackness.
  
• Crooks resents Lennie because even though Lennie is mentally disabled, he is white and has a friend. "Crooks said gently, "Maybe you tin can come across now. You got George. You lot know he'southward goin' to come back. Southward'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't become into the bunk business firm and play rummy 'crusade you was black. How'd you like that? S'pose you had to sit out here an' read books. Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then y'all got to read books. Books own't no expert. A guy needs somebody -to exist near him. " He whined, "A guy goes basics if he own't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, " he cried, "I tell ya a guy gets too solitary an' he gets sick" (fourscore).
• Crooks begins to tease Lennie that George will leave him.
  "George can tell you lot screwy things, and it don't affair. It'southward just the talking. It's just bein' with another guy. That's all. " He paused. His voice grew soft and persuasive. "South'pose George don't come up back no more. Southward'pose he took a pulverisation and just ain't coming back. What'll y'all do then?" (78).
• Because Lennie gets scared that George is hurt and volition non come back to the ranch, Crooks finally stops teasing him.
  
• Candy comes to Crooks' room looking for Lennie.
  
• Even though Candy and Crooks have both lived on the ranch for years, Candy has never been in Crooks' room, because he is Black.
  Processed leaned confronting the wall abreast the cleaved neckband while he scratched the wrist stump. "I been here a long time, " he said. "An' Crooks been here a long time. This'south the get-go fourth dimension I always been in his room. " Crooks said darkly, "Guys don't come into a colored man's room very much" (82).
• Candy and Lennie begin talking nigh their dream of owning their own identify.
  
• At first Crooks tells them that their dream of owning land volition never come truthful. "Y'all're basics. " Crooks was scornful. "I seen hunderds of men come past on the route an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn matter in their heads. Hunderds of them. They come, an' they quit an' keep; an' every damn 1 of 'em'south got a little piece of state in his caput. An' never a God damn 1 of 'em ever gets information technology. Merely similar sky. Everybody wants a little piece of lan'. I read enough of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It'due south just in their caput. They're all the fourth dimension talkin' nearly it, but it's jus' in their caput" (81).
  
• Crooks is eventually convinced that George, Lennie and Candy have plenty money to become their own place, and offers to come piece of work for them for room and board, no wages. "If you . . . . Guys would want a hand to work for nothing-just his go on, why I'd come an' lend a hand. I ain't and so crippled I can't work like a son-of-a-bowwow if I want to" (84).
  
• Curley'due south wife has been left alone at the ranch house, she goes to barn looking for someone to talk to.
  "She regarded them amusedly. "Funny matter, " she said. "If I take hold of any one human being, and he'south alone, I get along fine with him. But simply let two of the guys get together an' yous won't talk. Jus' nothing but mad" She dropped her fingers and put her hands on her hips. "You're all scared of each other, that's what. E'er' one of y'all's scared the residue is goin' to get something on y'all. " After a interruption Crooks said, "Maybe you better get forth to your own house now. We don't want no problem. " "Well, I own't giving you no trouble. Recollect I don't like to talk to somebody ever' once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house afla fourth dimension?" (85).
• The  men are afraid to get in trouble and want Curley's wife to leave the befouled.
  
• Curley'southward Wife is lonely and she gets aroused that the men won't talk to her, she bullies them and threathens to accuse Crooks of rape.
  "Heed, Nigger, " she said. "Yous know what I tin can exercise to you if you lot open. Your trap?" Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and and then he sat downward on his bunk and drew into himself. She closed on him. "You know what I could exercise?" Crooks seemed to abound smaller, and he pressed? himself against the wall. "Yes, ma'am. " "Well, you lot keep your place and so, Nigger. I could get you strung upwards on a tree so easy information technology ain't fifty-fifty funny" (89).
• At the stop of the affiliate, Crooks realizes the dream will never come true because he is Black and he withdraws his offering to join George, Lennie and Processed.
  "Listen, Nigger, " she said. "Y'all know what I can do to you lot if y'all open. Your trap?" Crooks stared hopelessly at her, then he sat downwards on his bunk and drew into himself. She closed on him. "You know what I could do?" Crooks seemed to abound smaller, and he pressed? himself confronting the wall. "Yes, ma'am. " "Well, you go along your place and then, Nigger. I could get yous strung up on a tree so piece of cake information technology ain't even funny" (91).
  

 Chapter 5 (pages 92-108) "Broken Dreams and Broken Necks"

• Chapter 5 is about cleaved dreams.
  
• In this chapter Lennie kills his puppy and Curley'due south Married woman.
  
• Curley's Wife had a dream to be an actress, when her dream is cleaved she married Curley.
  
• Lennie kills his puppy and Curley's Wife. The dream to "live offa' th e fatta' the land" comes to an terminate.

• Sunday afternoon on the ranch and all of the men are playing in a horseshoes tournament, except Lennie.
• Lennie is in the befouled. He is staring at his dead pup, its cervix is cleaved.
  

Only Lennie was in the barn, and Lennie sat in the hay abreast a packing instance under a manger in the end of the barn that had non been filled with hay. Lennie sat in the hay and looked at a little expressionless puppy that lay in front of him. Lennie looked at it for a long time, so he put out his huge hand and stroked it, stroked it clear from ane finish to the other. And Lennie said softly to the puppy, "Why do you got to get killed? Y'all ain't and so lilliputian equally mice. I didn't bounce you hard. " He bent the pup's caput up and looked in its face, and he said to it, "Now perhaps George ain't gonna let me tend no rabbits, if he fin'southward out you got killed" (92).

• Lennie gets very aroused and throws the dead puppy across the befouled
  

"Of a sudden his anger arose. "God damn you, " he cried. "Why practice you got to get killed? Yous ain't so little equally mice. " He picked up the pup and hurled it from him. He turned his back on it. He sat aptitude over his knees and he whispered, "Now I won't get to tend the rabbits. Now he won't permit me. " He rocked himself back and forth in his sorrow" (93).

• Curley's Wife is lonely and looking for someone to talk to and she finds Lennie.
  
• Lennie is scared he will make it problem for talking to her.
  
• Curley's Wife is upset, because no one volition talk to her.
  Why can't I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get atrocious lonely. " Lennie said, "Well, I ain't supposed to talk to you lot or nothing. " "I get lone, " she said. "You can talk to people, merely I tin't talk to nobody merely Curley" (95).
  

• Curley'south wife tries to console Lennie nigh the dedad puppy.
  
• Ironically, she is unconcerned almost the dead dog because it is simply another mutt.
  "She consoled him. "Don't yous worry none. He was jus' a mutt. You can go another one like shooting fish in a barrel. The whole country is fulla mutts" (95).

• She tells Lennie virtually her dream to go to Hollywood.
  
• When her dream was broken, past her female parent, she leaves home and marries Curley.
  Seems like they own't none of them cares how I gotta alive. I tell you lot I ain't used to livin' like this. I coulda made somethin' of myself. " She said darkly, "Maybe I will yet...Well, a show come up through, an' I met one of the actors. He says I could become with that evidence. But my of lady- wouldn' let me. She says considering I was on'y fifteen...I wasn't gonna stay no place where I couldn't get nowhere or make something of myself..."Well, I own't told this to nobody before. Perhaps I ought'due north to. I don'like Curley. He ain't a nice fella" (96-97).

• While Lennie and Curley's wife are talking, she allows Lennie to stroke her soft pilus.
  
• Lennie gets rough, Curley's wife gets scared and asks him to stop, Lennie gets scared and accidentally snaps her neck.
  Curley'southward wife moved away from him a piddling. "I think you're nuts, " she said. "No I ain't, " Lennie explained earnestly. "George says I own't. I similar to pet squeamish things with my fingers, sof' things. " She was a little flake reassured. "Well, who don't?" she said. "Ever'torso likes that...But mine is soft and fine. 'Course I castor it a lot. That makes it fine. Hither-experience right hither. " She took Lennie's hand and put it on her head. "Feel right aroun' there an' meet how soft it is. " Lennie'southward large fingers fell to stroking her hair. "Don't you lot muss it upwardly, " she said. Lennie said, "Oh! That'due south nice, " and he stroked harder...And then she cried angrily, "You lot stop it now, you lot'll mess it all up. " She jerked her head sideways, and Lennie's fingers closed on her hair and hung on. "Let get, " she cried. "Yous let become!" Lennie was in a panic. His confront was contorted. She screamed then, and Lennie's other hand closed over her mouth and olfactory organ. "Please don't, " he begged. "Oh! Delight don't do that. George'll be mad. "He shook her then, and he was angry with her. "Don't you lot go yellin', " he said, and he shook her; and her torso flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had cleaved her cervix" (98-100).
  • After Lennie kills Curley's married woman he is concerned that George will be mad and that he won't get to tend the rabbits.
  • Lennie runs away, and goes to hibernate in the brush until George comes for him.
    "I done a real bad affair, " he said. "I shouldn't of did that. George'll be mad. An' . . . . He said . . . . An' hide in the castor till he come. He'south gonna be mad. In the brush till he come. Tha'southward what he said" (100).
  • Curley's Married woman body lies alone in the barn.
    "Curley's wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sugariness and young" (101).
    
  • Candy discovers her body and goes to get George.
    
  • They realize Lennie must have killed her past accident, only they know Lennie is dangerous none the less.
    
  • George asks Candy to him a few moments to become away from the barn before he tells the other men that Curley's Wife is dead. George doesn't want the other men to think he was involved in curley'due south Wife'southward death. George sneaks into the bunkhouse and comes out with his coat on. "Now you lot heed. The guys might think I was in on information technology. I'yard gonna go in the bunk house. Then in a minute you come out and tell the guys about her, and I'll come along and brand like I never seen her. Will you do that? So the guys won't think I was in on it?...George had put on his blue denim coat and buttoned information technology, and his black hat was pulled down low over his eyes" (105).
    • Processed and George realize their dream of owning their own state has ended.
    At present Candy spoke his greatest fear. "You an' me tin get that little place, can't we, George? You an' me can go there an' live squeamish, can't nosotros, George? Tin can't we?" Before George answered, Candy dropped his caput and looked downwards at the hay. He knew. George said softly, "-I remember I knowed from the very first I think I knowed we'd never do her. He usta similar to hear well-nigh information technology so much I got to thinking mayhap we would. " "Then-it's all off?" Candy said sulkily" (104).
  • As the chapter ends, Curley and the other men are getting together to get wait for Lennie. Curley wants to shoot Lennie and George is trying to convince him to bring him to jail.
    
  • Carlson notices that his gun is missing, the men assume that Lennie has the gun and is dangerous.
    

"There was a rise of voices in question, a pulsate of running feet and the men outburst into the befouled. Slim and Carlson and young Whit and Curley, and Crooks keeping back out of attending range. Candy came afterward them, and last of all came George. George had put on his bluish denim coat and buttoned it, and his black lid was pulled down low over his eyes. The men raced around the terminal stall. Their optics plant Curley's married woman in the gloom, they stopped and stood still and looked...Curley came suddenly to life. "I know who washed it, " he cried. "That large son-of-a-bowwow done it. I know he done information technology...He worked himself into a fury. "I'thou gonna get him. I'm going for my shotgun. I'll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I'll shoot 'im in the guts....Slim sighed. "Well, I guess we got to become him. Where you lot think he might of went?" Information technology seemed to take George some fourth dimension to gratis his words. "He-would of went south, " he said. "We come up from north and then he would of went south. " Carlson came running in, "The bounder's stole my Luger, " he shouted. "It ain't in my bag" (103-107).

Chapter half-dozen (Pages 108-118) "Tell How It's Gonna Be"

The novel Of  Mice and Men has a circular plot line
In Chapter 6 the story has come full circle. Lennie and George take returned to the banks of the Salinas River.

• When Lennie kickoff gets to the river he is proud of himself for remembering George's instructions.
  
• Lennie has 2 hallucinations at the river.
• In the start hallucination he sees his Aunt Clara, who chastises him for not listening to George and getting in trouble.
  
• "And then from out of Lennie's caput at that place came a footling fat old woman. She wore thick bull's-eye glasses and she wore a huge gingham apron with pockets, and she was starched and clean. She stood in front of Lennie and put her hands on her hips, and she frowned disapprovingly at him. And when she spoke, it was in Lennie'due south voice. .. "You never give a thought to George, " she went on in Lennie'southward voice. "He been doin' nice things for you alla time. When he got a piece of pie you always got half or more'due north half. An' if they was whatever ketchup, why he'd give it all to you lot. " "I know, " said Lennie miserably. "I tried, Aunt Clara, ma'am. I tried and tried" (98).
• The the 2nd hallucination, a huge rabbit chastises Lennie and tells  him that George is angry and will beat him.
  
• "Aunt Clara was gone, and from out of Lennie'southward head there came a gigantic rabbit... If you retrieve George gonna let you tend rabbits, you're even crazier'northward usual. He ain't. He'southward gonna deport hell outa you with a stick, that's what he's gonna do" (99).
  
• Both hallucinations bear witness Lennie's childlike level of intelligence.
• He feels bad, considering he was bad, not because he killed Curley's Married woman.
  

• Lennie asks George to tell him the story of their dream again.
• George sits just behind Lennie and "tells how information technology'south gonna exist"
• George makes Lennie happy talking well-nigh their farm and the rabbits.
• Every bit George tells the story, Curley and the other men can be heard getting closer.

"George had been listening to the distant sounds. For a moment he was business-like. "Wait acrost the river, Lennie, an' I'll tell yous so you can virtually run across it. " Lennie turned his head and looked off across the puddle and up the darkening slopes of the Gabilans. "We gonna get a little place, " George began. He reached in his side pocket and brought out Carlson's Luger; he snapped off the safety, and the hand and gun lay on the ground behind Lennie's dorsum. He looked at the dorsum of Lennie's caput, at the place where the spine and skull were joined. A human'due south phonation called from upwardly the river, and an-other man answered. "Go on, " said Lennie. George raised the gun and his hands shook, and he dropped his hand to the ground again" (103).

• George realizes he cannot take care of Lennie anymore. He cannot protect Lennie.
• Curley is planning on shooting Lennie in the gut, and then Lennie will die slowly and painfully.
• If Lennie goes to jail he volition be locked up like an animal and he volition suffer besides.
• George takes Carlson'due south gun out of his pocket and shoots Lennie.
• George feels the only mode he tin can assistance Lennie or protect him is a mercy killing. George kills Lennie quickly and painlessly to prevent suffering.

"Lennie said, "I thought yous was mad at me, George. " "No, " said George. "No, Lennie. I own't mad. I never been mad, an' I ain't now. That'south a affair I want ya to know. " The voices came shut now. George raised the gun and listened to the voices. Lennie begged, "Le's practise it now. Le's become that place now. " "Certain, correct at present. I gotta. We gotta. " And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it shut to the back of Lennie'due south caput. The hand shook violently, merely his face ready and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again" (104).

• The other men arrive at the river.
• Only Slim figures out what George has done. Slim understands that George killed Lennie because he was his friend.

 "Slim came straight to George and sat downward beside him, saturday very close to him. "Never you listen, " said Slim. "A guy got to sometimes" (105).

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Source: https://www.manvilleschools.org/Page/5859

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