| This book actually has two main characters, ranchhands who are looking for work in Depression-era California. George is a small, quick man with big dreams, not of ever getting rich but of one day owning his own piece of land. Lennie is a huge dope (he is in fact mentally disabled). He likes little furry creatures. When the story opens, they're on their way to a new job on a ranch. Steinbeck slowly lets us find out about their relationship. Although George sometimes picks on Lennie, he also watches out for him. They are in fact true friends.
When they get to the ranch, George and Lennie meet a variety of characters, including Slim, who will head their crew and who wonders why the two of them go around together. (This is one of the most interesting aspects of this book - the interest in, even the hankering after, other loners have in their friendship). They make friends with the old man Candy and Crooks, the only black man who lives apart from the rest of the ranchhands. Crooks is in fact the only black man in the area. They also encounter Curley, a lout, who's the boss's son, and his wife, Candy, a looker, who makes trouble. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's Life of a profession: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Job/Profession/Status story Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes Eccentric: How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - below average Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 8 () United States Yes The US: - California Farm/Ranch? Yes Farm/Ranch: - ranch Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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