by Marijane Suttor

Created on: November 05, 2011   Last Updated: November 09, 2011

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is set in a 1930’s ranch in California and introduces the two main characters of Lennie Small and George Milton. The novel begins on the banks of the Salinas River where George and Lennie are dropped off near the Tyler ranch by the bus driver. George is described as being small and quick like a terrier, while Lennie is described as a huge man with paws for hands.  Steinbeck allows the reader to understand the Lennie has lower intelligence through his dialogue and his childlike mannerisms and behaviors. Lennie likes to stroke soft things much like a child would. He is carrying a dead mouse in his pocket, stroking it as he walks along. George takes away the mouse because it’s not fresh.

Lennie, saddened by the loss of the dead mouse, threatens to go live in a cave. George has been helping Lennie ever since his Aunt Clara died.  George is frustrated with the life he has, pushing all over the country because Lennie does “bad things” and George has to get him out of it. In frustration George yells and Lennie, wishing for an easier life and longing for settling down somewhere.

While the George decides that they will sleep near the bank of the river, George repeats a favorite story at Lennie’s request.  He repeats the story of how the two will get a little place and live off the “fatta the land”.  Lennie will get to tend the rabbits. 

Upon arrival at the Tyler Ranch, George and Lennie are questioned by the boss about why they are late and George does the talking for Lennie. The old swamper Candy shows them the bunks. Candy is a ranch hand who lost his hand. Candy knows that he is in a vulnerable condition with his handicap. Candy’s companion is a very old sheep dog, who in its prime was a valuable working dog.

Soon, Lennie and George are introduced to some other farm workers including Slim the skinner who is the prince of the ranch and whose word is the gospel, along with Carlson, who wants Candy to put his dog down because it smells and is suffering.

Curley is the boss’s son who married only a couple weeks earlier. Curley didn’t know the girl for long and this was not a marriage out of love. She appears to be only a trophy for Curley, because he isn’t kind to the young woman. He is however, extremely jealous and is constantly worried that his wife is stepping out on him with one of the men on the ranch. Curley

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