Of Mice and Men Group
Question:
jbrook09
Student
In "Of Mice and Men," what happened to Curly as a result of picking on Lennie?
Answers:
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sullymonster Teacher
Community / Jr. CollegePosted by sullymonster on Wednesday April 23, 2008 at 4:14 PMThe guys in the bunk are teasing Curley, who can not stand it. Curley wants to always feel superior to the men around him, and gets rattled at any comment that makes him seem less of a man. Because the guys are picking on him, Curley looks for someone to "attack", in order to turn the tables. Lennie, though the biggest man there, seems small because of his fear, and Curley tries to fight him. After getting permission from George, who had warned him previously to behave, Lennie grabs Curley's fist and squeezes. Being such a large and strong man, Lennie easily crushes Curley's fist.
The story is spread that Curley hurt his hand in a machine, a story that Curley won't contradict. Curley is too obsessed with perception, and has an inferiority complex - he wouldn't want anyone to know that he was beat by another man.