By John Steinbeck

Agrees to care for Lennie, finds fun at Lennie’s expense at first Understands his responsibility for Lennie’s life and death Appears noble Tragic flaw – his willingness to hide the wrongs Lennie commits Tries to make his and Lennie’s dream come true, only to see it collapse

Retarded and means no harm; tries hard to obey George Can’t anticipate or understand the consequences of his actions Has great strength; large with shapeless features Has a sense of innocence but is terrified when George is displeased with him Doesn’t understand the harm his strength can bring

Ranch boss’s son, small and quick Hot-tempered and belligerent Jealous and possessive of his new wife, whom he does not love

Never named directly Dresses provocatively, flirts with ranch workers Bored and disappointed with present life, unhappy with new husband She and Curley provide suspense and climax of plot

Old ranch worker who has lost one hand, is helpful and friendly Afraid of being fired when he gets too old to work Plans to help George and Lennie buy a farm

Master skinner (mule driver) at ranch Quiet, grave, dignified, and perceptive Accepts people as they are High moral standards, respected for skill and authority

Powerful ranch worker Practical and down to earth Focuses on actions and things Unaware of others’ feelings

Black stable hand at ranch Proud and aloof Lives by himself in the harness room Endures pain from a crooked spine Yearns to join George, Lennie, Candy as they dream of a small farm Lonely life serves as counterpoint to George’s and Lennie’s life

George Milton – reference to Milton, the poet who is physically blind; George is blind to the importance of his friendship with Lennie Lennie Small – presents irony. He is actually big, but small brained Curley – typical name for a bully “cur” Middle English for “to growl”, an inferior dog, surly or cowardly fellow

Carlson – Old German for “farmer” Crooks – crooked spine Candy – sweet Curley’s nameless wife – it is significant in its absence (the prostitute Susy has a name), called by many other nicknames

Candy’s old dog – represents Candy, old past his use, wants to be spared from future suffering, should have been put out of misery by trusted friend Rabbits – represent Lennie’s dream Curley and his wife – represent evil – both oppress and abuse the workers

Curley’s wife – reaches out for human contact and is killed by it Lennie – peaceful, gentle man, becomes an agent of death for so many creatures Slim – sanctions shooting of Lennie after refusing to be drawn into violence by Curley

All main characters suffer from it, try to flee from it A part of an itinerant ranch worker’s life Fear of loneliness is major reason why George and Lennie stay together Curley’s wife is so lonely she forces her attention on workers; leads to her death

George and Lennie dream of having their own place, central to action of story Dream compels them to stay at the ranch though they sense danger Characters say repeatedly they share the same dream, but none achieve it Curley’s wife dreams of becoming film star, frustrated by marriage and empty life

Dream gives George, Lennie, Candy, and Crooks a sense of dignity because they hope to succeed where others have failed Lennie takes pride in George’s friendship and in his part of the dream Curley has little pride, challenges every man he meets to a fight Crook’s pride cause aloofness; when he reaches out he is reminded of “his place”

George and Lennie’s dream of having their own place, being their own boss, and “living off the fatta the lan” Other ranch workers who want part of the same dream Lennie’s fascination with rabbits, owning them represents his view of the dream Curley’s wife has her own dream – being in films Curley illustrates a dark side of dream – becoming violent

George’s makes him regret pranks played on Lennie; also compels him to defend Lennie from taunts and threats Lennie feels bad when he does “a bad thing”; tries to do right by watching and listening to George Ranch workers will patronize prostitutes, yet condemn Curley’s wife for being flirtatious

Candy’s sense of morality leads him to regret not shooting his own dog Men regard Curley’s aggressiveness as unfair; he expects sympathy George believes he must shoot Lennie rather than have strangers hurt him Slim passes judgment on Lennie’s death saying twice, “you hadda do it” Curley and Carlson shown as morally oblivious to Lennie’s death