Of Mice and Men and George Essay example

Submitted By thatcherjoes
Words: 1927
Pages: 8
Open Document
How does Steinbeck make the reader dislike the character of Curley in ‘Of Mice and Men’? Right from the moment of meeting Curley, whether it’s through his dialogue or physical appearance, Steinbeck portrays him as a spiteful character with a negative attitude towards everyone on the ranch. This gives us the impression that he is a cold and mean character, and so helps to create a sudden dislike for him and ensures we feel no sympathy for him. The fact that Curley comes charging into the scene in Chapter Two, interrupting George and Candy’s conversation and disrupting the normality of the scene suggests to the reader that he is difficult and can cause trouble wherever he goes for no reason. This also suggests that Steinbeck is foreshadowing future troublesome events in the novel when Curley disrupts the scene.
H opening physical description of Curley’s appearance, when he is first introduced. Steinbeck firstly describes Curley as ‘a thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair.’. This immediately suggests to the reader that Curley is a nasty and harsh character. The word ‘thin’ is often associated with being harsh and stern and the word ‘tightly’ not only describes Curley’s physical appearance, but also connects to his uptight personality as well, as he is very judgemental and doesn’t give anyone a chance. Curley walks into the bunkhouse wearing ‘high-heeled boots’, this aspect of his appearance reinforces his superiority on the ranch as the boss’ son, which shows that he is different to everyone else, and doesn’t fit in. Curley is at once presented as an aggressive character, which Steinbeck immediately portrays through his unfriendly and hostile behaviour towards George and Lennie in the bunkhouse, ‘His eyes passed over the new men and then he stopped.’. This quotation shows Curley acknowledging both George and Lennie as he rudely passes his eyes over them and also shows his hostility as he doesn’t introduce himself or make them feel welcome. Curley then makes Lennie feel uneasy and threatened by him as he tries to make Lennie feel uncomfortable by making him speak but at the same time makes it clear he is not to be argued with as he is the boss’ son.
Another technique Steinbeck uses which makes the reader dislike Curley is through his dialogue. We are first introduced to Curley as he aggressively charges into the bunkhouse, saying whatever he has to say, regardless of George and Candy’s conversation. The first thing Curley says as he comes into the bunkhouse is ‘Seen my old man?’ which immediately presents Curley as a rude and ignorant character as he makes no phatic talk, instead just asks a closed question. This makes us dislike Curley as he makes no effort in starting a friendly conversation which we expect as he has just met George and Lennie. Rather than introducing himself, Curley makes George and Lennie feel guilty about being late by saying: ‘’You the new guys the old man was waitin’ for?’’, this makes George and Lennie feel uneasy as he is not making any effort to make them feel welcome, and doesn’t create a very good first impression of himself. Curley then picks on Lennie and forces him to answer him, and gets quite angry when Lennie doesn’t reply. All of this shows how Curley doesn’t give anybody a chance, and causes trouble before he even gets to know them.
Steinbeck makes us dislike Curley by the way other people on the ranch talk about him. As soon as George and Lennie meet Curley they dislike him, and by their speech about him it makes us dislike Curley too. When Curley leaves the bunkhouse George says, ‘’Say, what the hell’s he got on his shoulder? Lennie didn’t do nothing to him.’’, this implies that George doesn’t like Curley’s attitude, noticing that Curley is rude and demanding. When Candy talks about Curley to George and Lennie he makes sure Curley has left and no one is listening before he starts talking, ‘The old man looked
Show More

Related Documents: Of Mice and Men and George Essay example

Is George Justified In Of Mice And Men

important moral to humans is to not commit murder. This moral was broken in the novel, Of Mice Of Men. George killed Lennie after Curley launched a wild hunt to kill Lennie for murdering his wife. I believe that George’s actions weren’t justified. There are various alternatives, such as running away with Lennie to a place where they could both live safely under the radar. In the beginning of the novel, George and Lennie escape from the Weed after another hunting is made after Lennie for touching…

Words 520 - Pages 3

George And Lennie's Relationship In Of Mice And Men

George and Lennie’s relationship in Of Mice and Men By: Margarett Oller In the book, Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie have a special relationship. They string along together to several different ranches, causing positive and negative outcomes. Here is an explanation on the nature of George and Lennie, their motivations as to why they are traveling together, and those positive and negative outcomes. First of all, the nature of George and Lennie’s relationship in Of Mice and Men, is a symbiotic relationship…

Words 476 - Pages 2

How Is George Justified In Of Mice And Men

Shooting in Of Mice and Men How would you justify shooting a best friend? In the novella, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, George shoots Lennie and kills him. George only seemed to have the best for Lennie in mind. But how is it justified? George shooting Lennie dead can be justified as a mercy killing for Lennie and keeps Lennie from living the rest of his life locked up in an insane asylum. There is also the account that these two men have a lot of history together, and George has a sense of…

Words 504 - Pages 3

George In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Throughout the book Of Mice And Men George is portrayed as an emotional person who has no filter. During each chapter George loses his temper and snaps at Lennie because he has done something wrong and also how George acts as a parental figure towards Lennie. While they are traveling parallel to the river they stop to grab a drink “Lennie, for God’ sakes don’t drink so much” as he continues to drink, George takes care of Lennie because Lennie doesn’t understand what is right and what is wrong, he…

Words 295 - Pages 2

Of Mice And Men George And Lennie's Relationship

George and Lennie’s Relationship in Of Mice and Men Although relationships may be rewarding, they can bring many difficulties to the table. In the novel Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie, a pair of long-time friends who work on a farm together, suffer through many obstacles. Their relationship has several different aspects to it. Whether it be friendship, sibling-like fighting, or George taking on a parental role, George and Lennie’s relationship is full of complexity…

Words 344 - Pages 2

Of Mice And Men George And Lennie Friendship

shows mercy, care, and a friend defends their friend. In the novella “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck there are two friends, George and Lennie. They may be an unlikely pair, but they consider each other best friends. Some believe George was a bad friend to Lennie, but despite the debate I’ve found that George is actually an overall good friend to Lennie. He possessed the qualities of a friend. One of the various qualities George possessed was the trait of being caring. He cared for Lennie’s well-being…

Words 671 - Pages 3

George And Lennie In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Throughout the novel “Of Mice and Men” there have been many plans made by the two main characters George and Lennie. Throughout of the book these plans always seem to go wrong for them mainly at the end of the novel and not at the start, like “Romeo and Juliet”. Plans by George and Lennie in the book are there idea to own a bit of land. Another plan was how George decides that it was best for if they didn't talk to Curley’s Wife. The last plan was for Lennie to go back to where they slept on the…

Words 530 - Pages 3

Role Of George In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

George in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men In Steinbeck's, Of Mice and Men, demonstrates the roles of two men trying to find work to fulfill their dream. One man -Lennie- is always getting into bad situations for his mental disability and his pal -George- has to keep him in check to not get into the bad situations. George shows kindness, can be protective, smart, strong willed and a hard worker. George is a kind and strong character all through Steinbeck’s novel. He says anything he can to his…

Words 278 - Pages 2

George And Lennie In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

in central California, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men tells of two migrant workers, George and Lennie. The story opens with the duo beginning a new job on a ranch. They want to earn enough money to achieve their dream of owning their own land; however, Lennie’s disability repeatedly gets the two into serious trouble. George and Lennie's personalities complement each other perfectly and form a pair that could only be separated by one force--death. George is a loyal man who leads Lennie and exercises…

Words 524 - Pages 3

Of Mice Of Men Relationship Between George And Lennie

“Mice of Men” by John Steinbeck a story about a friendship between two people George and lennie, but George has a struggle trying to deal with lennie’s disabilities. “To a mouse” by Robert burns, a poem that express how one mouse got thrown out of his home in the winter, by a farmer doing crop work. The two stories end up corresponding the word. Mouse or mice. They relate in away if you read both you can understand the relationship. What is the poem relating to the reference of a mouse in the story…

Words 529 - Pages 3