Ever' one of you’s scared the rest is goin' to get something on you (85).Īnalysis: Curley’s wife’s declaration regarding the men on the ranch highlight the survival of the fittest theme in the novel. You’re all scared of each other, that’s what. But just let two of the guys get together an' you won’t talk. Quote: If I catch any one man, and he’s alone, I get along fine with him. Although true, these things that George extols as the good life are not as valuable as his friendship with Lennie otherwise, he would have left him long ago. He talks about all the things he could have if Lennie weren’t around. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want (11-12).Īnalysis: George chastises Lennie for asking for ketchup. I could go get a job an' work, an no trouble. Quote: Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want… if I was alone I could live so easy. George chooses to kill Lennie at the novel’s end, realizing that Lennie could not stand the loneliness of being locked up in a prison or an asylum. Lennie, because of the color of his skin and his friendship with George, cannot possibly understand Crooks' plight. Although most of the men have no true friends, they at least get to play cards and associate with others. This passage highlights the need for companionship and the oppressive nature of Crooks' society. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick (80).Īnalysis: Crooks explains to Lennie the effects of loneliness. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you. Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got to read books. How’d you like that? S’pose you had to sit out here an’ read books. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk house and play rummy ‘cause you was black. This passage highlights the bond between George and Lennie in addition to the rarity of such a bond, so rare that it causes the boss to suspect wrong-doing on George’s part.

I just like to know what your interest is (25).Īnalysis: The boss observes George’s care of Lennie and suspects George of chicanery. Quote: Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy.

It is also apparent that anyone attempting to harm George would receive injury at the hands of Lennie, exemplified by the conversation between Lennie and Crooks in chapter 4. George holds true to his description of friendship, despite the occasional outburst, by continually getting Lennie out of trouble. But not us (15).Īnalysis: George explains to Lennie why their life is so good in comparison to others and proclaims the virtue of friendship. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin' in our jack jus' because we got no place else to go. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.

I got you nobody wanna see us together