The Boss

Question 1

Financial

Answer 1

• The hierarchal structure in ‘Of Mice and Men’ places the most power in a character referred to as simply ‘the boss’.
• He is introduced and given the most authority as the boss.
• This is shown when the boss enters the room. “He wore blue jean trousers, a flannel shirt, a black, unbuttoned vest and a black coat.”
• This suggest he is a fairly wealthy man who has authority throughout the ranch.
• We can make this conclusion by analysing the setting in which the book was written.
• If he had a lot of money still, after the Wall Street crash, he would be considered to be living in a financial utopia.
• It would mean a lot if he would be able to buy costly clothes.
• In not being given a name, he is shown to be separated from the workers. This suggests he is to an extent untouchable and is beyond being categorised by social class.

Question 2

At the top of the hierarchy

Answer 2

• its normalised for Crooks to be used as a scape goat due to his race, ‘boss gives him hell when he’s mad’
• immediately shows normalisation through boss being ‘pretty nice fella’
• Crooks’ immediate reputation shows he isn’t respected due to his race
• The Boss is, even for his bad behaviour

Question 3

The boss doesn’t work

Answer 3

“he wore high-heeled boots and spurs to prove he was not a laboring man”
- He has a materialistic power on the ranch
- we only get introduced to him once, although he is talked about before and after
- “Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy.”
- when we do see him, he is there to remind us about the how hard other people’s lives are, and how great his is because of his material power