Of Mice & Men Themes

Question 0

What are the themes linked to Lennie

Answer 0

Destiny - his violence increases=gives reader impression destined be seriously hurt person one day

Question 1

What are the themes linked to George

Answer 1

Loneliness - tells slim lonely men “get mean”, want to “fight all time”
Destiny - for him, dream about in charge of own destiny. Tried drifting through life.
Woman - he looks after Lennie = aunt Clara said so , respects her wishes.

Question 2

What are the themes linked to slim

Answer 2

Prejudice - first person call crooks by name, not “nigger”
- more respectful than others
Women - not scared by Curley’s wife = gives her attention she wants
- shows not afraid of Curley
Destiny - weak stop important things = killing Lennie = “well,got get him”

Question 3

What are the themes linked to crooks

Answer 3

Loneliness - tries show doesn’t affect him = Steinbeck shows reader it does
Prejudice - Steinbeck shows black people treated in America 1930s

Question 4

What are the themes linked to Candy

Answer 4

Prejudice - suffers prejudice because of his age & disability
- right hand lost = machine, get “gut ache”
Destiny - is example of depressing destiny all young ranch hands face
- e.g. Not respected by others = no saves dog from death

Question 5

What are the themes linked to whit

Answer 5

Destiny - no ambitions, already wasting money on girls & drink
- links to what George can become with no Lennie & their dream farm
Women - Suzy’s brothel, men go Saturday night
- says best because clean, she’s funny, not pressure men

Question 6

What are the themes linked to Curley

Answer 6

Destiny - strong position, fit, strong, boss’s son, married attractive woman
- boss’s son, destined run ranch one day - life trapped like others
Loneliness - lonely,isolated as others, wife/bunk house men hate him
Women - not understand what wife needs from him - company/attention

Question 7

What are the themes linked to Curley’s wife

Answer 7

Women - dreamt being movie star = never made it Hollywood
- escaped from control of her mother = ended controlled by husband
- was life for some women in 1930s
Prejudice - looks down on candy - dismisses him “lousy ol sheep”
Destiny - couldn’t control destiny and become movie star.
Death - means dream of being movie star is over