What is Slim's appearance in Of Mice and Men?
Slim, the "prince of the ranch," is the master “skinner” or mule driver of the ranch. He is a tall man with "god-like eyes" and long black hair. In fact, he is so tall and confident that he does not wear high-heeled boots like most of the farm hands. He is also described as moving majestically and royally, so he is an elegant man despite the fact that he works on a ranch.
Slim is the best at his trade and can ethically influence the other men since they all respect him and his opinion. "His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought," which means he is a man of few words, serious, and insightful, and people, such as George, often confide in him.
Slim, the jerkline skinner, is...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
tall and strong, yet gentle in his movements and speech, and he is very good at his job. However, even his impressive physical qualities are not his most important attributes.
His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. (chapter 2)
In this introductory description Slim is presented as a man of superior understanding and wisdom. He looks deeply into any situation or problem; he is able to see beyond the immediate and the obvious, and he is an excellent judge of character.
The other men, whether consciously or unconsciously, all look up to Slim. They turn to him for advice and support. George, although just newly arrived, confides everything to him, and even the belligerent Curley never dares to go against his wishes.
Most importantly, it is Slim that helps to decide the conclusion of the story. He counsels George to deal with the fugitive Lennie himself rather than allowing anyone else to hunt him down, or institutionalise him. Slim realises that it is best if George kills Lennie, as he will do it out of compassion, and Lennie will die happy this way.
What is Slim's significance in Of Mice and Men?
Slim plays two important roles in Steinbeck's novella. First, he acts as a sounding board for George as he describes his life with Lennie in chapter three. Second, he is the arbiter of the important decisions on the ranch, and two in particular which have an effect on the plot of the novella. Slim is described as almost godlike in chapter two. To show his importance he is not described by Candy, as with the other main characters on the ranch, but is portrayed in the third person omniscient narration:
He was a jerkline skinner, the prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders. He was capable of killing a fly on the wheeler’s butt with a bull whip without touching the mule. There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love. This was Slim, the jerkline skinner. His hatchet face was ageless. He might have been thirty-five or fifty. His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer.
Since the narration is meant to be objective, the qualities attributed to Slim must be considered factual. His importance and judgment are beyond reproach. Even Curley, the boss's son, defers to Slim, most notably after the bunkhouse fight with Lennie when he agrees to say he got his hand caught in a machine.
In chapter three, Slim is the patient listener as George tells of his background with Lennie. Slim is surprised that the two men travel together. He is also complimentary of George for the way he treats Lennie. Slim is the perfect confidant for George as he reveals the details of the incident with the girl in the red dress in Weed. He is nonjudgemental and understanding of what George has gone through in his relationship with Lennie.
Slim ultimately makes two important decisions during the course of the book. In chapter three he agrees with Carlson that Candy's dog should be put down. The reader may be suspicious of Carlson's motives, but when Slim offers his opinion, Steinbeck says his decision "was law." Later, he offers his opinion to George about Lennie's fate. Slim tells George that it would not be good for Lennie to fall into the hands of Curley or the law. In chapter five, he says,
"But Curley’s gonna want to shoot ‘im. Curley’s still mad about his hand. An’ s’pose they lock him up an’ strap him down and put him in a cage. That ain’t no good, George.”
Slim's words most certainly help George decide to do what he had already been contemplating, the shooting of Lennie. Rather than have him suffer, George heeds Slim's words and kills Lennie.
Finally, Slim is again understanding and nonjudgemental in the book's final lines. He totally understands George's actions and even offers to get him a drink. Despite the tragic ending, Steinbeck gives a nod to a positive future as he has George and Slim leave the clearing by the river together, possibly suggesting that the two may become good friends.
Describe Slim's character and his importance in Of Mice and Men.
- Slim is the "prince of the ranch," highest ranking worker on the ranch, and Steinbeck's working class hero.
- Though Slim ranks lower than Curley, the Boss' son, Curley does not antagonize Slim. Instead, Curley picks on Lennie.
- He is the quintessential Western male: rugged, fair, and a tireless worker.
- Slim is equated with the horse. He drives the horse team. Like a horse, Slim is regal, majestic, and proud--a symbol of rugged individualism and the American work ethic.
- Steinbeck wants all men to be like Slim: to work for the sake of working, not to work according to a hierarchy or greediness or wages.
- George looks to Slim for advice regarding what to do with Curley when they fight and after Lennie kills Curley's wife.
Slim must be a hard-working leader among the guys. He is described as being out with his team and Candy says of him:
Slim's a jerkline skinner. Hell of a nice fella. p. 28
Later, some of the guys note that Curley's wife has the eye for Slim. But Slim keeps her in line and makes sure there is nothing inappropriate going on between them. She comes into the bunkhouse apparently looking for Curley and then Slim enters. The way he deals with her shows his integrity:
"Hi good-lookin."
"I'm trying to find Curley, Slim."
"Well, you ain't trying very hard. I seen him goin' in your house."
Finally, in the end, Slim is the only loyal and encouraging friend George has. We see this when Slim says of Lennie's sacrifice,
You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on, with me.
Slim is the voice of reason and integrity in this book. His purpose is to help show the error of other people's ways and to confirm the right actions of folks as well.
Describe Slim's character and his relationship with George in Of Mice and Men.
Slim is the anchor of the bunkhouse. He holds a position of power as he runs his own team and we are introduced to him as a “big tall skinner.” He has a commanding presence among the men of the bunkhouse. The men revel in his presence and first tell George that Slim is a very nice man and is a continuous target of Curley’s wife. He is even able to banter back with her by saying “Hi, Good-lookin’” because he is just that slick.
When George first met him he noticed:
This was Slim, the jerkline skinner. His hatchet face was ageless. He might have been thirty-five or fifty. His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer.
He was a man’s man, smart, brave, and a strong leader.
As they get to know each other, Slim easily can tell that Lennie is slow. He wants to do what’s right without anyone making a fuss about it and offers one of his puppies to Lennie. George is appreciative and this really solidifies the relationship between George and Slim.
George is a gruff man who violently defends Lennie because he has to--he has a sense of duty. This has caused him to become hard since it is difficult keeping Lennie out of trouble. Slim immediately notices Lennie’s disability and acts as a guide for George and Lennie by showing them the ropes.
At the same time, Slim is a force to be reckoned with that no one really has. When Curley was getting a little excited looking for his wife, Whit said, “But jus’ the same, he better leave Slim alone. Nobody don’t know what Slim can do.” While Slim is fair and calm, if pressed, no one is really sure what he is capable of since he is so calm, but not a pushover. Finally when Curley pushes too far, he is able to get Curley to back down.
I like to think of Slim as the person who calmed George. George is a very severe and uppity man who is constantly on edge. Slim provides a comfort and calm for George as he shows that he understands Lennie and his ways. When Lennie killed Curley’s wife, Slim was the one who started organizing the men, telling Crooks to stay with her while he knew immediately to search for George. He is the one who has been helping George with Lennie and knew that this was the end. While he didn’t help when Candy’s dog was put down, now was the tie for action. He knew that he had to help George through the hardest thing he would have to do--turn in his best friend. But I don’t think Slim was expecting George to actually kill Lennie. He was a man of little words for the most part and when he saw what George had to do, he, in the way that is categorically Slim, said:
Slim twitched George’s elbow. “Come on, George. Me an’ you’ll go in an’ get a drink.” George let himself be helped to his feet. “Yeah, a drink.” Slim said, “You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on with me.” He led George into the entrance of the trail and up toward the highway.
The dynamic of George and Slim is fire and ice, Yin and Yang, etc. It isn’t far-fetched to think Slim had a relationship like that at some point with someone like George and Lennie had because of the amount of empathy he has for the situation. Slim is the only real friend outside of Lennie that George ever knew and is the man that George can become now that he is free of having to run with Lennie.
How is Slim presented in "Of Mice and Men"?
Slim reflects the hard-working ideal that is American exceptionalism. He does not raise his voice, lose his temper, or act mean toward anyone. Instead, he treats other characters with due respect, shows appropriate interest in people, and acts with moral responsibility. He is also considered a thinking man, something that may have been a little uncommon for Depression-era ranch hands.
His character is carefully depicted through a visual description in chapter 2:
When he had finished combing his hair he moved into the room, and he moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsman. He was a jerkline skinner, the prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders. (Chap. 2)
This is a man who is presented as respected by the other characters for his strength, ability, leadership and hard work. Furthermore, he was valued for thought:
There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love. (Chap. 2)
Steinbeck's presentation of Slim seeks to ensure readers understand he is a character worth paying attention to and worth admiring.
In the novella, Slim is an interesting character. He is one of the only men to treat Lennie kindly and considers Lennie a good person. From the beginning, we learn that Slim is "the prince of the ranch" - ie: he is the one everyone looks up to. He shows himself to be a good listener, as seen when George confesses how he met Lennie and how he used to play cruel jokes on him. Slim listens but does not judge.
Steinbeck describes his eyes as "god-like", meaning he is almost omnipotent, seeing clearly everything that goes on and who everyone really is. He is honest and fair and one of the best workers on the ranch.
According to Steinbeck in Chapter 2, "…he moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsman. He was a jerkline skinner, the prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders. He was capable of killing a fly on the wheeler's butt with a bull whip without touching the mule. There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke, His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love. This was Slim, the jerkline skinner".
Slim is quite the character. He is seen here as an extremely capable mule driver (skinner) and skilled with a whip. But he is a quietly intense man who has the final say on what goes on at the ranch, or any topic really, because the other men trust him - as seen with Candy and the killing of his dog.
It is also important to note that Slim is the only character who truly understood why George had to kill Lennie.
What are some significant quotes about Slim in Of Mice and Men that describe him?
Slim is described as "a tall man." When he first appears in the story, he stands in the doorway of the bunk house where the other men are gathered. The author says about his physical appearance,
"He held a crushed Stetson hat under his arm while he combed his long, black, damp hair straight back. Like the others he wore blue jeans and a short denim jacket...His hatchet face was ageless. He might have been thirty-five or fifty."
Slim is an intelligent, thoughtful man who commands respect -
"There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love...His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought."
Slim is "a master craftsman," extremely skillful and adept at what he does -
"He was a jerkline skinner, the prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders. He was capable of killing a fly on the wheeler's butt with a bull whip without touching the mule" (Chapter 2).
What does Slim's description reveal about his character in Of Mice and Men?
Slim is described as "the prince of the ranch," who moves "with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen." He is "capable of killing a fly on the wheeler's butt with a bull whip without touching the mule," and he has "a gravity in his manner...so profound that all talk stop[s] when he [speaks]."
These descriptions of Slim are almost reverential. The allusions to royalty imply that he has an authority on the farm and a natural grace and dignity about his person. The fact that everyone stops speaking when he starts suggests that he is respected, even admired, by everybody on the ranch. Indeed, throughout the rest of the story. we see that the other characters look up to Slim, and they also often look to him for advice or approval.
He is also described as having an "ageless" face and hands that, while "large and lean," are also "as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer." In other words, he is strong and agile, but also graceful. Steinbeck also writes that Slim hears "more than [is] said to him," and he has an "understanding beyond thought." These quotes imply that he is very sensitive and perceptive. He has a deeper understanding than most, and this understanding is instinctive and perhaps innate. He is also kind, as implied by his "friendly" tone, which "invite[s] confidence without demanding it." In this sense, Slim is a confidant. Characters feel comfortable confiding in him, which we see when George confides in him about his relationship with Lennie.
What descriptions of Slim in Of Mice and Men indicate his impact on others?
Probably the best description of Slim's effect on people would be his "god-like eyes". Obviously if he is being compared to a deity, he has a marked impression on the people he meets. The men look up to him and see him on an elevated plain, like a god. When Slim first enters the novel he is described very regally." . . . he moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen . . . the prince of the ranch . . ." He has a way of drawing all the attention in the room without saying a word. He is the hardest worker on the farm, he takes his time when he answers people, which shows the thought he gives to people's questions. He has a silent depth to him that the others don't really understand, but the appreciate it more than they can put into words. "He might have been thirty-five or fifty. His ear heard more than was said to him and his slow speech had overtones of . . . understanding beyond thought."He commands respect every time he enters a room and people listen when he talks. George is especially affected by his presence after he kills Lennie because Slim is the only one who understands why he had to do what he did.
How is Slim important to the ending of Of Mice and Men?
Throughout the novella, Slim serves as a functional or stock character. He represents the wise confidant, someone besides George who seems to have human empathy. All of the other characters are either unable to express empathy (such as Lennie) or have been sucked into the "every man for himself" mentality of the time period (the harsh Great Depression).
Specifically, at the novella's end, Slim is the only one who understands why George shot Lennie and also the only character who tries to comfort George by offering to go into town to get a drink. Through this ending, Steinbeck offers a glimmer of hope that humans can survive extremely difficult situations and still maintain decency and kindness.