Of Mice and Men Characters
The main characters in Of Mice and Men are George Milton, Lennie Small, Candy, Curley, and Curley's wife.
- George Milton is Lennie’s friend and protector. He shoots Lennie in the back of the head rather than allow him to be killed by a lynch mob.
- Lennie Small is a physically strong migrant worker with developmental disabilities.
- Candy is an elderly ranch hand who offers to join George and Lennie in their plan to buy their own farm.
- Curley is the boss's son. He foolishly picks a fight with Lennie.
- Curley’s wife is the lonely woman who Lennie accidentally kills.
All Characters
Characters: George Milton
The heart of Of Mice and Men is George’s commitment to Lennie. While George’s character is revealed through how he interacts with Lennie, their relationship accomplishes another purpose. It underscores several themes in the novel, primarily the destructive effects of loneliness on the human spirit that manifest in Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife.
Although George tells Slim that he “ain’t got no people,” with Lennie as his friend and traveling...
(Read more)Characters: Curley's Wife
The only female character in the story, Curley’s wife is frequently referred to as the “tramp” and the “tart.” She wears a velvet red dress and has “full, rouged lips,” “wide-spaced eyes,” red fingernails, and “hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages.” Lonely and unfulfilled, Curley’s wife—who goes unnamed throughout the story—once had dreams of becoming a movie star. Now that she lives on Curley’s ranch, she simply seeks human...
(Read more)Characters: Curley
Curley is the son of the ranch owner. He is characterized by his curled hair, hot temper, and “pugnacious and calculating” glance. Once a Golden Glove finalist and lightweight boxer, Curley vainly and incorrectly believes he can physically defeat men who are larger than he is. He often fights with bigger men to demonstrate his strength. When he wins, he is seen as strong; when he loses, he is seen as a martyr. Despite his machismo, Curley is...
(Read more)Characters: Slim
Slim, a skilled jerkline skinner, or mule driver, is respected as an authority figure on the ranch. Slim is a tall man with “hands, large and lean… as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer.” He moves “with a majesty achieved only by royalty and master craftsmen,” and he has a “gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke.” He has “God-like” eyes that seem to “fasten” on George when he speaks....
(Read more)Characters: Candy
Candy is a one-handed, “stoop-shouldered” elderly ranch hand. His offers to contribute his life savings of $350 to Lennie and George in order to help them achieve their dream of living on their own plot of land. This offer makes their dream seem more realistic, at least at first. Like Candy, his dog is old and disabled. Carlson kills Candy’s dog to put him out of his misery, a moment that mirrors how George eventually kills Lennie in order to...
(Read more)Lennie Small
Lennie Small, George’s companion and fellow migrant laborer, is not “small” at all. Lennie’s ironic last name highlights how the two main protagonists, Lennie and George, represent a study in contrasts. While George is small and shrewd, Lennie is a “huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, and wide, sloping shoulders.” Full Lennie Analysis
Expert Q&A
Lennie Small's Decisions, Desires, and Motivations in Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men, Lennie Small's primary motivations and ambitions revolve around his dream of owning a farm with George, where he can tend rabbits. This dream provides Lennie with comfort and a sense of purpose, reflecting his childlike mentality and love for soft things. His motivations are driven by primal desires for safety, comfort, and companionship. Lennie's actions, such as accidentally killing a puppy and Curley's wife, stem from his inability to control his strength and his relentless pursuit of this dream.
Carlson
Carlson is a mechanic on the ranch. His inability to feel empathy for others exemplifies the general hostility and indifference experienced by migrant laborers. He volunteers to shoot Candy’s dog, using the same gun George later steals in order to kill Lennie. Carlson is unfeeling and callous. After George shoots Lennie, and he and Slim walk away, Carlson wonders, “Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?”
Crooks
The only black stable hand, Crooks is generally ostracized from the other migrant laborers. He lives alone, and only speaks to Lennie and Candy once, telling them that their dream of having their own plot of land is unrealistic. He has a crooked back as a result of being kicked in the back by a horse.
Expert Q&A
Why does Crooks taunt Lennie about George in Of Mice and Men?
In John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," Crooks, the only African American character, taunts Lennie about George to express his own feelings of isolation and resentment. He also wants Lennie to understand the loneliness of not having a friend or companion. Crooks, who is constantly marginalized and discriminated against, uses this opportunity to exert a momentary feeling of power over Lennie, who is mentally handicapped and vulnerable without George.
Crooks' discussion and quotes about dreams in Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men, Crooks discusses dreams with a sense of skepticism and realism. He expresses doubt that dreams can come true, reflecting his own experiences of racial discrimination and isolation. He tells Lennie, "Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land," illustrating his belief that dreams are unattainable for people like him.
Crooks' reactions to George's and Lennie's interactions and plans in Of Mice and Men
In Of Mice and Men, Crooks initially reacts with skepticism to George's and Lennie's dream of owning land, believing it to be an unrealistic fantasy. However, as he listens more, he becomes intrigued and even offers to join them, revealing his deep-seated loneliness and desire for companionship and security.
The Boss
Like his son, Curley, the unnamed boss is hot-tempered and vain. He frequently abuses Crooks, the black stable hand. He wears high-heeled boots to demonstrate that he is not a worker. When George and Lennie arrive at the ranch, the boss is suspicious of the pair. Although he hires them, he questions why George doesn’t let Lennie speak.
Expert Q&A
Why does the boss find George and Lennie's relationship unusual in Section 2?
The boss finds George and Lennie's relationship unusual because George speaks for Lennie, who remains silent, arousing suspicion about George's motives. The boss is curious about why George takes so much trouble for Lennie, suspecting he might exploit him for financial gain. George explains Lennie's mental incapacity, claiming they are cousins, which alleviates the boss's concerns, making the relationship seem less strange.
Character Analysis of the Boss in "Of Mice and Men"
In John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, the boss is a minor yet significant character who embodies authority and distance from the migrant workers. He is portrayed as an angry and sometimes racist figure, evidenced by his frustration over George and Lennie's delayed arrival and his treatment of Crooks. Despite this, he shows occasional generosity, such as giving whiskey at Christmas. His suspicion of George's intentions towards Lennie highlights his skeptical nature and detachment from the workers' struggles during the Great Depression.
Whit
A friendly young laborer on the ranch, Whit enjoys playing cards and talking with the other workers.
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