curley

Question 1

quote that gives the reader the impression that Curley is a powerful figure on the ranch at first impression?

Answer 1

‘high heeled boots’

Artificial power? - needs to wear boots to demonstrate authority

Question 2

quotes that tell us how Curley treats Lennie (3)

Answer 2

“let the big guy talk”
‘Curley stared levelly at him’
“well. nex’ time you answer when you’re spoke to” - imperative

Question 3

quote to suggest Curley is insecure / cowardly

Answer 3

he picks on the easiest target
“terrier”

Question 4

quote that implies that Curley is pugnacious (2)

Answer 4

“he’s alla time picking scraps with big guys”
‘he glanced coldly at George’’

Question 5

quote that implies that Curley is disliked

Answer 5

“this guy Curley sounds like a son-of-a-bitch to me. I don’t like mean guys.”

Question 6

Curley is privialliged and can afford to cause trouble (unlike George who repeatedly worries about getting into trouble)

Answer 6

“won’t ever get canned”
-His possition isn’t as PRECARIOUS as theirs

Question 7

Landownders of the 1930’s

Answer 7

They were EXPLOITATIVE of their workers. Demand for employment were high so employers felt no need to treat their workers with DIGNITY and kindness because they could be so easily replaced

Question 8

What angred Steinbeck about the the farming system in the 1930’s?

Answer 8

In 1930’s California, farmers were cutting wages and causing workers to live in camps that resembled city dumps

Question 9

Curly is tightly wound
(Feeling on edge, restless, distressed)

Answer 9

“head of tightly curled hair”
-The reader should feel uneasy when he is present

Question 10

Curley is defensive (2)

Answer 10

“his arms gradually bent at the elbows”

‘his hands closed into fists’

Question 11

Curley is agressive

-Further emphasized by Lennie’s initial non-response

Answer 11

“slashed”
“smashed”
“slugging”
“swinging”

-Reinforces our hatred for Curley
(A man in a privileged possition, exploiting the weak)

Question 12

CONTEXT:
He represents the exploitative nature of rich land owners

Answer 12

Highly competative world created a need for power which lead to the oppression of the weak members of society.

Curley symbolises the brutal world created by capitalism and how that lead to oppression

Question 13

Curley is NEGLECTFUL of his wife

Answer 13

“I’m lookin’ for Curley”
- He chooses to go to old Susy’s rather than be at home with his wife

Question 14

Curley and his wife have a loveless marriage

Answer 14

Curley “comes to life” upon seeing his wife’s dead body

• He is filled with exitement as he rounds up the men to chase down Lennie
• The death doesn’t spark sadness, but revenge and a desire to re-establish his authority

Question 15

Curley sees his wife as a possesion

Answer 15

Curley’s wife’s death isn’t viewed as a loss for Curley, but an attack on his personal property which he must avenge

Question 16

Curley is agitated

Answer 16

“his elbows still bent a little”

Question 17

Curley is incapable of pleasing his wife which might be a reason to why his wife craves other men’s attention

Answer 17

“Glove fulla Vaseline” to keep his “hand soft for his wife”
“you seen a girl around here?”
-contrasts to the neglectful husband we read about

Question 18

CONTEXT: Curleys incapability of pleasing his wife and height lead to his violent nature

Answer 18

men in the 1930’s were to be strong and providers

Curley didn’t have the ideal bodytype of a ‘typical man’ so he was inecure

violence was a masculine trait

Question 19

CONTEXT: Curley is afraid he’ll look weak infront of the other ranch members if his wife has an afair with anyone else

Answer 19

Having a wife that was ASTRAY was a bad reflection on the husband, suggesting he was uncapable of controlling the “weaker sex”