Curley Quotes

Question 1

How others react to him:
Lennie is easily intimidated by Curley.

Answer 1

“Lennie squirmed under the look and shifted his feet nervously.”

Question 2

How others react to him:
Candy suggests that Curley is always able to cunningly manipulate a situation so he is presented as the victor or the victim. Either way, he always wins.

Answer 2

“S’pose Curley jumps a big guy an’ licks him. Ever’body says what a game guy Curley is.”

“…s’pose he does the same thing and gets licked. Then ever’body says the big guy oughtta pick somebody his own size”

“Seems like Curley ain’t givin’ nobody a chance.”

Question 3

How others react to him:
Candy is afraid to face the consequences of gossiping about Curley.

Answer 3

“Don’t tell Curley I said none of this. He’d slough me.”

“You won’t tell Curley nothing I said?”

Question 4

How others react to him:
Slim is unaffected by Curley’s intimidation or power - he aggressively challenges Curley about his wife and how he treated Slim.

Answer 4

“Well, you been askin’ me too often. I’m gettin’ God damn sick of it. If you can’t look after your own God damn wife, what you expect me to do about it? You lay offa me.”

Question 5

How others react to him:
After he is physically crippled by Lennie, there is no sympathy from anyone (including his wife).

Answer 5

“This punk sure had it comin’ to him.”

“I’m glad you bust up Curley a little bit. He got it comin’ to him. Sometimes I’d like to bust him myself.”

Question 6

Power:
He dresses like his father to set himself apart from the other men and create an air of superiority.

Answer 6

“like the boss, he wore high-heeled boots.”

Question 7

Power:
His complexion suggests that he is outside labouring like the other workers. His age is highlighted, suggesting that his power and privileged position doesn’t come from experience.

Answer 7

“a young man came into the bunk house; a thin young man with a brown face”

Question 8

Power:
He expects to be obeyed and respected and is confrontational with anyone who challenges him.

Answer 8

“Let the big guy talk.”

‘Curley lashed his body around. “By Christ, he’s gotta talk when he’s spoke to. What the hell are you gettin’ into it for?”’

‘Curley stared levelly at him. “Well, nex’ time you answer when you’re spoke to.”’

Question 9

Power:
He is physically powerful due to his experience as a boxer.

Answer 9

“Curley’s pretty handy. He done quite a bit in the ring…and he’s handy.”

Question 10

Power:
He has no deterrent to moderate his behaviour to others - he can do anything without consequence.

Answer 10

”He just don’t give a damn. Won’t ever get canned ‘cause his old man’s the boss.”

Question 11

Power:
He is egotistical when it comes to his position and his achievements.

Answer 11

“Got in the finals for the Golden Gloves. He got newspaper clippings about it.”

Question 12

Power:
He initially feels powerful enough and secure in his position to target Slim, despite the respect people have for Slim.

Answer 12

‘Curley looked threateningly about the room. “Where the hell’s Slim?”’

“Curley’s just spoilin’ or he wouldn’t start for Slim.”

Question 13

Power:
Slim is unaffected by Curley’s intimidation or power - he aggressively challenges Curley about his wife and how he treated Slim.

Answer 13

“Well, you been askin’ me too often. I’m gettin’ God damn sick of it. If you can’t look after your own God damn wife, what you expect me to do about it? You lay offa me.”

“You tried to throw a scare into Slim, an’ you couldn’t make it stick. Slim throwed a scare into you.”

Question 14

Power:
Curley’s perceived sense of power and his reputation are challenged when Carlson threatens him and Candy mocks him without consequence.

Answer 14

‘Curley whirled on Carlson. “You keep outa this les’ you wanta step outside.” Carlson laughed. “You God damn punk…come for me, an’ I’ll kick your God damn head off.”’

‘Candy joined the attack with joy. “Glove fulla vaseline,” he said disgustedly.”’

Question 15

Power:
In the face of humiliation, Curley violently attempts to recover his reputation.

Answer 15

‘Then Curley’s rage exploded. “Come on, ya big bastard. Get up on your feet. No big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me. I’ll show ya who’s yella.”’

Question 16

Power:
He is physically crippled and over-powered by Lennie and his unnatural strength.

Answer 16

“Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand.”

“Curley was white and shrunken by now, and his struggling had become weak. He stood crying, his fist lost in Lennie’s paw.”

Question 17

Power:
George fears losing he and Lennie’s jobs in the aftermath of the fight due to Curley’s connection to the Boss.

Answer 17

‘George said, “Slim, will we get canned now? We need the stake. Will Curley’s old man can us now?”’

Question 18

Power:
Curley’s power and influence is nullified by Slim, who uses Curley’s inferiority complex and obsession with his reputation against him in order to protect George and Lennie’s jobs.

Answer 18

“If you don’t tell nobody what happened, we ain’t going to. But you jus’ tell an’ try to get this guy canned and we’ll tell ever’body, an’ then will you get the laugh.”

‘“I won’t tell,” said Curley.’

Question 19

Physical description:
He dresses like his father to set himself apart from the other men and create an air of superiority.

Answer 19

“like the boss, he wore high-heeled boots.”

Question 20

Physical description:
His complexion suggests that he is outside labouring like the other workers. His age is highlighted, suggesting that his power and privileged position doesn’t come from experience.

Answer 20

“a young man came into the bunk house; a thin young man with a brown face”

Question 21

Physical description:
His first instinct is to resort to violence and intimidation - this is revealed in his movements.

Answer 21

“His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch.”

“Curley lashed his body around.”

Question 22

Physical description:
He has an inferiority complex due to his height and he often overcompensates with violence to make him feel validated.

Answer 22

”Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. He’s alla time picking scraps with big guys. Kind of like he’s mad at ‘em because he ain’t a big guy.”

Question 23

Relationship with his wife:
Curley sexually objectifies his wife, boastfully alluding to his sexual relationship with her.

Answer 23

“Well, that glove’s fulla vaseline…Curley says he’s keepin’ that hand soft for his wife.”

Question 24

Relationship with his wife:
He uses the fact that he has a wife to feel superior to the comparatively lonelier men.

Answer 24

“Seems to me like he’s worse lately…Seems like Curley is cockier’n ever since he got married.”

Question 25

Relationship with his wife:
His wife’s reaction to Curley being at home suggests that she is afraid of him.

Answer 25

“She was suddenly apprehensive…she hurried away”

Question 26

Relationship with his wife:
Apart from her death scene, they are never seen together in the novella.

Answer 26

“He spends half his time lookin’ for her, and the rest of the time she’s lookin’ for him.”

Question 27

Relationship with his wife:
Curley doesn’t appear to trust his wife.

Answer 27

“Lookin’ for his old lady. I seen him going round and round outside.”

‘“You seen a girl around here?” he demanded angrily… “Well what the hell was she doin’?”’

Question 28

Relationship with his wife:
Curley joins the men at the whore house in town, showing a disregard for his wife’s feelings.

Answer 28

“Think I don’t know where they all went? Even Curley. I know where they all went.”

Question 29

Relationship with his wife:
Curley’s Wife sarcastically reveals her contempt for her husband.

Answer 29

“Sure I gotta husban’. You all seen him. Swell guy, ain’t he?”

Question 30

Relationship with his wife:
There is no care or love in their marriage - his wife seems to revel in his pain and suffering.

Answer 30

“I’m glad you bust up Curley a little bit. He got it comin’ to him. Sometimes I’d like to bust him myself.”

Question 31

Relationship with his wife:
His marriage is meaningless and without love.

Answer 31

”I don’ like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella.”

Question 32

Treatment of others:
He is unfriendly, judgemental and unwelcoming to George and Lennie when they first arrive.

Answer 32

“His eyes passed over the new men and he stopped. He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie.”

Question 33

Treatment of others:
He feels the need to intimidate others - he wants people to fear and respect him.

Answer 33

“His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch.”

Question 34

Treatment of others:
He attempts to determine how to use George and Lennie’s arrival as a new opportunity to feel validated and powerful.

Answer 34

“His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious.”

“His eyes flashed over George, took in his height, measured his reach, looked at his trim middle.“

Question 35

Treatment of others:
He mocks George and Lennie’s friendship.

Answer 35

‘“We travel together,” said George coldly.’

“Oh, so it’s that way.”

Question 36

Treatment of others:
Curley treats Slim with some reverence and is apologetic to him.

Answer 36

“Curley hung close to his elbow.”

“I didn’t mean nothing, Slim. I just ast you…I didn’t mean nothing…I jus’ thought you might of saw her.”

Question 37

Treatment of others:
He wants to cause Lennie as much physical pain as possible during their fight.

Answer 37

“He slashed at Lennie with his left, and then smashed down his nose with a right.”

“…Curley attacked his stomach and cut off his wind.”

Question 38

Treatment of others:
He intends to make Lennie’s death as painful as possible.

Answer 38

“I’ll shoot ‘im in the guts…Shoot for his guts. That’ll double ‘im over.”

Question 39

Treatment of others:
Curley is more concerned with revenge against Lennie than mourning his wife’s death.

Answer 39

“Curley—maybe you better stay here with your wife.”

‘Curley’s face reddened. “I’m goin’,” he said. “I’m gonna shoot the guts outa that big bastard myself…”’