Period 6
Lennie
 Lennie doesn’t understand the racial
boundaries; he’s like an innocent kid.
 Doesn’t notice he’s not welcomed; just wants
to talk to someone.
 He loosens up Crooks
 Lennie doesn’t think George would ever
leave him
 “Ain’t nobody gonna suppose no hurt to
George”—defensive/protective
 Body language shows that Lennie would hurt
Crooks if he kept talking about George being
in danger; he’s not completely harmless.
 Tells Crooks about ranch—forgetting again.
 Worried about getting in trouble
Curley’s Wife
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Changes subject regarding Curely’s location; shows she
is embarrassed.
Her husband is at the “flop house” and she knows it—
that’s a shame
Jealous and looking for attention?
“They left all the weak ones here.” She is judgmental.
Complains about being stuck in the house by herself.
Admits she is lonely. “Well I ain’t giving you no trouble.
Think I don’t like to talk to somebody once in a while”
(72).
She flirts with Lennie: “I like machines” and admires
that he hurt Curely
“Sometimes I’d like to bust him myself” (76).
“Swell guy, ain’t he?” (78). Shows she is unsatisfied with
Curley,
“Well you keep your place n--. I could strung up on a
tree so easy…”—takes advantage of Crooks’ “inferior”
position; shows her meanness
Her dream?
Her analysis of the men’s treatment of her?
Crooks
 Doesn’t want Lennie to come in. Shows he
wants the others to follow same rules he has
to follow.
 Seems that he keeps people out, pushes them
away, to protect himself from being belittled.
Not mad at Lennie, but mad at his own
situation.
 Tries to hide that he likes Lennie’s company
 Calls Lennie nuts
 Teases Lennie about George’s whereabouts
to make Lennie feel a taste of Crooks’
loneliness
 “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody”—
shows his loneliness and envy of George and
Lennie
 Doubt the dream—says it won’t happen
 “Crooks bored in on him” (72). Takes his
anger out on the one white person without
the sense to defend himself
 Doubts men’s ability to achieve dream due to
past examples
 “If you…guys want a hand to work for
nothing” (76).
 Emboldened by the dream to tell Curely’s
wife to leave: “Maybe you better go along…”
 Stands back when CW yells at him; he knows
he is powerless against her.
 Claims he was only joking about joining the
men at their dream place; he was not joking,
though. Curley’s wife just reminded him of
his “place” and it crushed him.
Candy
 “Candy came in, but he was still
embarrassed” (75). He shows caution as he
did earlier when he would not insult Curley
without George doing so first.
 Focuses on the dream—he’s figuring and
making plans.
 Tells Crooks about the “dream” place; again
he can’t keep his mouth shut.
 Tries to stand up to Curley’s wife, his first
show of confidence: “You ain’t wanted
here…” but wimps out eventually (just as he
did with the dog).
 Talks about the dream like he already has it.
 “An we got fren’s, that’s what we got” (79).
 Tries to comfort Lennie after he is upset;
talks to him like a friend
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Period 7
Lennie
Crooks
 Tries to make friends with
 Insensitive to Lennie
Crooks; he seems to think people
 Doubts the dream will happen;
are good; he is sweet and
shows he’s an observant outsider
innocent
 Rubs ointment on his back-only
 Gets scared and angry at thought
when he is alone. Shows selfof George being hurt, NOT at
conscious
thought of being locked up.
 Acts aggravated but he is secretly
Shows child-like love and
happy that Lennie has come in
dependence
(and Candy). Says he tries to
 Shows violent tendency when he
disguise his pleasure
lashes out about Crooks’
 “It was difficult to conceal his
supposin’
pleasure with anger” 75
 Tells Crooks about dream,
 “If a guy don’t have somebody he
forgetting it was a secret
goes nuts”
 Wants George when he gets
 “It’s just about bein with another
scared
guy. That’s all”—just wants
 When asked about his face,
companionship
Lennie says “He got it caught in a
 Torments Lennie for his own
machine”—follows script, can’t
pleasure; he is bitter due to
think on his own
loneliness
Curley’s wife
Candy
 Could have been in the movies,
 Thinking about plan, figuring.
she says. She goes after the men
Very serious about the plan
because it makes her feel special
 First time in Crooks’ bunk. Feels
and wanted just as being famous
embarrassed about entering,
would
knowing he’s not welcome.
 “They left all the weak ones here”
 Tries to be nice to Crooks.
 Threatens Crooks: “You keep
Smooths things over by
your place…I could get you strung
Complimenting Slim
up on a tree” (81). Shows she is
 Lashes out at CW, telling her she
spiteful and calculating
is unwanted.
 Glad Lennie busted up Curley’s
 Has the strength to stand up to
hand-wished she’d have done it
her; feels less self-conscious
herself
around those who are of his
 Crooks (Curley too) take
status (not around “better” men)
advantage of Lennie’s disability,
just as CW abuses Crooks’ color