Ending of OMAM - Lennie killed by his best friend

George kills Lennie! Then again, this shows a great example of how everyone ended up being lonely in some way at the time. George always had Lennie as someone to talk to, and therefore, he was never lonely. He was consistently there for Lennie, even with his mental disability. After Lennie accidentally killed Curley’s wife by not knowing his own strength, Curley immediately went after him to get 'revenge'. George, knowing that the worst was yet to come, did the job for Curley. But George was gentle, which I am very happy about. He started talking to Lennie about how they were going to have a ranch and Lennie could tend the rabbits. Soon enough he started moving slowly from the ranch to the afterlife. “Ever'body gonna be nice to you.  Ain't gonna be no more trouble.  Nobody gonna hurt nobody nor steal from you” (Steinbeck 103). He was making Lennie happy before his death, but at the same time, he was reassuring himself that he was going to go to a better place. Finally, George shoots Lennie. He gets rid of his best friend, and no longer has anyone to talk to or be with. He understands the true feeling that is loneliness. He learns that loneliness can be one of the worst feelings in the world and that this lonesomeness is what everybody else had been feeling since who knows when. This gave me the feels and I am honestly very happy with the ending of Of Mice And Men.

Loneliness - Curley's wife

Being a women, Curley's wife is one of the loneliest characters in Of Mice and Men and shows it a lot throughout Section 4. Simply being named Curley's wife shows a lot of how women were treated at the time. She very rarely is with others and is normally in the house doing chores. After Crooks explains his own loneliness to Lennie, Curley's wife walks into their conversation and asks them, "Any you boy seen Curley?" (Steinbeck 76) but soon enough admits that "I know where they all went" (Steinbeck 77). Although she claims that she was looking for Curley, she still admits she knows where he is. This shows that Curley’s wife didn’t come in ‘looking for Curley’, she came in looking for company most likely. Clearly, this shows how lonely Curley’s wife really is because at the time talking to colored people was against some laws and yet she still talked to Crooks. Although I am not a huge fan of Curley's wife, I still feel truly sorry for her because of this specific scene in Section 4.

Candy's Dog

In Of Mice And Men we are showed the symbolization of the death of Candy's best friend, his dog. Candy and the dog spent so much time together and grew very old in enough time. Because pretty much everyone was lonely at this time, Candy's dog symbolizes how rare it really was to have a friend and how nobody understood the meaning of friendship unless they had one themselves. The death of Candy's dog shows just how much people didn't 'care' about others. Carlson clearly showed that he didn't care about the dog or Candy's feeling much. Although it would have been great to see the dog live, I think that this death was a good thing in some ways. The simple reason is because the dog was suffering already and it was put out of its 'misery'. The MAIN reason why I am happy for the dog's death is because it shows just what it was like for the few people who lost friends, moving into a life of loneliness. This could also be foreshadowing in some way, maybe there could be another death or somebody could become more lonely than ever. I don't know yet, but I'm eager to find out!

Affable and approachable Lennie

In  parts 5/6 and really all through the book we see lonely people speak to Lennie about their life and daily struggles. For example in part 4 we see Crooks tell Lennie the struggles of a colored man which is a very sensitive and debatable issue back then.'' Well I have a right to have a light'' said Crooks on page (68). This particular statement shows how many blacks did not have the same right as whites so that one light had more meaning that it should have. In parts 5 and 6 we see Curley' s Wife chat with Lennie about how she had dreams and aspirations to be an actress but somehow lost her way by meeting the wrong men and marrying the wrong man. I believe Steinbeck included these characters to show the struggles of women and black men at the time. When Crooks finished talking to Lennie he said ''You don't understand nothin''. Crooks basically said that lennie doesn't understand and that he does not care about anything else besides the rabbits. I believe that Steinback used lennie as a symbol of society at the time in this case because he doesn't understand anything except what he wants or in this case the rabbits. The killing of Curley wife in my opinion is symbolizing how women did not matter at the time and were not needed for much. I believe also that the killing of Lennie was representing how society was frowned upon and bad or pretty much ''dead'' back then. Women did not get names and black men were not wanted. Ultimately Crooks and Curleys wife were extremely lonely and sad as were most colored men and women with and without pigment.

Lennie's Hallucination- Part 6

     After accidentally killing Curley's Wife, Lennie went to the bush to wait for George. George always told Lennie to go to the bush if he ever did anything wrong to wait for him, and Lennie actually remembered. While Lennie was waiting, he had hallucinations talking to him in his voice. First, Lennie's Aunt Clara came to talk to him. She said to him in his voice, "'You never give a thought to George. He been doin' nice things for you alla time"' (101). Aunt Clara kept telling Lennie of how he never appreciated George. She said George spent his time caring for Lennie, but Lennie never cared enough to not get in trouble. Lennie also had another hallucination in his voice in the form of a giant rabbit. The rabbit said to him, "'You'd forget 'em and let 'em go hungry. That's what you'd do. An' then what would George think?'" (102) after Lennie starting talking about "tending the rabbits". I personally think that Lennie's Aunt Clara and the gigantic rabbit represent Lennie's mind telling him everything he has done wrong. Lennie kept telling the visions that he was sorry and how he really tried. Lennie never does anything wrong on purpose for the most part, but he usually always thinks of what George will do afterward. In this situation, Lennie kept telling himself how mad George will be. Eventually, George showed up and shot Lennie, so Curley wouldn't hurt him first. Before he shot Lennie, George told Lennie to imagine the place they were going to get and the rabbits Lennie was going to tend. Even though it wasn't true George wanted Lennie to be happy before he died.

-Paige

Curley's Wife is Dead

In Part 5 of Of Mice and Men, Lennie accidentally snaps Curley's wife's neck. He was stroking her hair and then we she started yelling at him to let go, he froze and just kept a grip on her hair. He wouldn't let go even though, " And she continued to struggle, and her eyes were wild with terror. He shook her then, and he was angry with her. 'Don't you go yellin,' he said, and he shook her; and her body flooped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck" (91). After Lennie accidentally kills her, we hear a description of what she looks like. The description is slightly ironic because it states," Curley's wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. Now her rouged cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly" (92 - 93). She was always previously described about being extremely made up, and now that she was dead she look very pretty and simple. She was always trying to look beautiful and she was usually described as someone very heavily made up, with too much make-up that didn't make her look beautiful. But, when she died she looked a very naturally beautiful woman. Also, only when she died, did she lose the ache for attention and all the discontent she had felt. She always wanted to be content and beautiful and only when she was dead did that happen. Steinbeck used irony with her character by giving her everything that she wanted once she was dead.

The Double Meaning of George's Statement In Section 6

At the end of Section 6, the reader must witness the tragic death of Lennie by George's hand for the accidental murder of Curley's wife.  Before Lennie is shot, George consents to tell him one last time how they were going to have their own place.  "'Guys like us got no fambly.  They make a little stake an' then they blow it in. They ain't got nobody in the worl' that gives a hoot in hell about 'em... but not us... because - because I got you an' -' 'An' I got you.  We got each other, that's what, that gives a hoot in hell about us...' 'We'll have a cow.' said George. 'An' we'll have maybe a pig an' chickens... an' down the flat we'll have a... little piece alfalfa'- 'for the rabbits,' Lennie shouted... 'Ever'body gonna be nice to you.  Ain't gonna be no more trouble.  Nobody gonna hurt nobody nor steal from you'" (Steinbeck 103).  It seems like George wanted Lennie to die thinking of something that made him happy, rather than continuing to worry that George was going to "give him hell" for killing Curley's wife.  However, if we dig deeper, another meaning can be obtained from George's last statement.
As George fantasized about their ranch with Lennie for the last time, he begins to get upset, as exemplified by the many breaks in his sentences.  But, as he spoke, George began to speak less about the ranch and more about the paradise of the afterlife.  The last sentence was not only George feeding Lennie lies so he could have a peaceful death, but also a way to reassure himself Lennie would have a happier life in heaven.
Even though Lennie's death was tragic, I feel it was essential to the story.  Because of his disabilities, Lennie never could have led a normal life, even on a new ranch.   He could never truly be happy in life, as he would still be persecuted by society for his differences.  He wouldn't even get to tend to his rabbits, as he would most likely kill them like his mice or puppy. Lennie felt he would finally be happy on a new ranch, his paradise.  But, in actuality, he could only be accepted in heaven/ the afterlife.  So, in a way, Lennie got what he wanted.  He made it to paradise and would finally get to tend to the rabbits.    😌

Connecting Curley's Wife's Murder To Lennie's Murder

I found some connections to the murder of Curley's wife and Lennie. The first connection is how Lennie doesn't want to kill Curley's wife, but because he doesn't know his own strength, he does. So, in Lennie's case, the death of Curley's wife is accidental. George on the other hand, is intentional in his murdering of Lennie. But neither George nor Lennie want to hurt or kill anyone (except maybe Curley). I think that both of the killings are forced because Lennie doesn't know how to control himself, and I think George feels pressured to kill Lennie for two reasons. One reason might be because if he doesn't kill Lennie, then Curley may be more suspicious and think that George also played a part in killing Curley's wife. Here, George was worried they would blame him, so he asked Curley to, "...come out and tell the guys about her, and then I'll come along and make like I never seen her. Will you do that? So the guys won't think I was in on it?" (95). Another reason could be because Curley would kill Lennie for him if George didn't. Curley would, "...get 'im lynched. Curley'll get 'im killed" (94). Which he would do to seek his revenge on Lennie for ruining his hand and killing his wife. I think that then maybe George would want to kill Lennie himself instead of having someone whom he despises kill Lennie, kind of like how Candy now regrets not killing his own dog to put him out of his misery. George could have also thought that it be good for the both of them. Lennie could be in a happier place, and he would be free of constantly acting as a guardian. 

Curley's Wife and Lennie

During part 5, Curley's wife came into the barn and began talking to Lennie. She chose Lennie to confide in. Curley's wife said, "Well, I ain't told this to nobody before. Maybe I ought'n to. I don' like Curley. He ain't a nice fella" (89). I feel like she told Lennie this because I think she views Lennie as kind of a friend. She, Lennie, and Crooks are the odd ones out on the farm and I feel as though she wouldn't have the courage to show Crooks her true feelings. Curley's wife views Lennie as "a big baby" (90). For most people, it is easy to confess to a baby because they don't understand what is being said as well as adults do and they most likely will forget what is spoken. Another reason why I think she talked openly to Lennie is because although she may view him as a friend, I think she feels like she is better than Lennie, therefor Lennie couldn't say or think anything negatively about her. He is also a generally happy person and happy people are normally easier to talk to. Saying that she doesn't like Curley, to me means a lot more than saying she doesn't love him. It is clear that she doesn't like the person that Curley is and she married him on a whim. Curley's wife most likely regrets her decision to marry Curley. Ultimately, this discussion between Lennie and Curley's wife brought them a lot closer which tragically brought her to her death when Lennie grabbed on to her hair and wouldn't let go. Lennie, being the strong and confused young man that he is, panicked and broke her neck, killing her instantly.

Curley's Motivation

In of Mice and Men, parts five and six had a lot of important and meaningful events occurring, but the most interesting part was Curley's motivation to go after Lennie after he killed his wife. Curley had several reasons why he wanted to go after Lennie. I think they were that Lennie was bigger than him, Lennie broke his hand, and over all revenge over everything. In earlier chapters Candy told George and Lennie that Curley never like big guys. "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" (26). I understand that being short in a crowd of big, tall people can sometimes be frustrating, but that doesn't mean he has to pick fights with bigger people. Curley also wanted revenge on Lennie because Lennie broke his hand, and is stronger than him. Curley decided to pick a fight with Lennie because he knew Lennie was not very smart and he did not think Lennie was capable of hurting him. Lennie is so much stronger than Curley because Lennie broke Curley's hand. Curley wants overall revenge because of many moments in the story. For example the first day Lennie and Curley met, Curley talked to Lennie, but George had told Lennie not to speak before then so Curley was getting annoyed that Lennie was not answering. Also Curley was really mad because Lennie killed his wife. Even though Lennie accidentally killed her, Curley was still angry. I do not blame Curley for being mad at Lennie for killing his wife, but he still seemed like a jerk to go try to find Lennie to kill him. Curley was a very interesting character throughout the book.

Connection between Candy's dog and Lennie

In part 5, of Mice of Men by John Steinbeck a traumatic scene happened. First off I would like to point  out that the reason John Steinbeck may have chosen to have Lennie to get killed was because he was most people's favorite character, which made the scene way more dramatic. I have noticed throughout the book that Lennie has been symbolized as an animal, not a human. My connection to this is that Lennie really symbolizes Candy's dog (minus the old age) in the sense that he is useless and has no point of life. I also believe in this connection because George wanted to be the one to kill him, just like how Candy wishes that he is the one that killed his own dog. I realized that even though George actually was the one to kill Lennie, he was really looking out for him. He wanted to make sure that Curly was not going to kill him, and make him all scared. I also feel that Lennie trusted George, "I've knew George since-I forget when-and he ain't never raised his han' to me with a stick" (102.) This shows that Lennie put all his trust in George and would never do anything that would put him in more danger, so I feel that George killed him to protect him from more pain than he gave him.

Curly's wife...DEAD!

   "...the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her rouged cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem more alive and sleeping very lightly. The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips parted" (92,93)

This is how Steinbeck described Curly's wife, after she was killed. This is incredibly ironic because whenever we see Curly's wife she is full of energy and is always moving.  She is a loud and wild force of nature. As Steinbeck also describes Curly's wife as "A girl [stood] there...'she was purty'...'standin' in the doorway showin' her legs...'" (32).  It shows that Curly's wife is always try to look for attention because she is they only women on the ranch.  So when Stein beck says that she is always showing off a little more that needed, it's weird to think that she is at peace and calm, even when she is dead.

Curley's Wife's Interesting Backround

In part five, we learn all about the dreams and aspirations of Curley's Wife. We also learn how she got stuck with Curley on this ranch. While Lennie sits in the barn with the dead puppies, she confides in Lennie and tells him about her dream of becoming an actress. She tells him how she "'coulda been in the movies, an' had nice clothes...'" (89) but her mother ruined it for her. She did not want her fifteen-year-old child running away to be a movie star, so she prevented her from going to the shows. Curley's Wife is still bitter about that and wishes she was away from the ranch and not married to Curley. She even says to Lennie, "'I don' like Curley. He ain't a nice fella'" (89). Here we see why she has continuously been going out of the house to talk to the guys: she wants to get away from Curley. 

Another thing I noticed that happened in both part four and part five is the fact that everybody is trusting Lennie with their secrets. In chapter four, Crooks told Lennie all about the place he grew up in and how lonely it gets to be the only black person on the ranch. In chapter five (like I said above) Curley's Wife confides in Lennie and tells him how much she hates Curley and how she wishes she could get away from the ranch and become an actress. Now the question is: why do they tell him all these things? Crooks says it best when he talks to Lennie in his quarters, "'A guy can talk to you an' be sure you won't go blabbin'... Jus' talks an' you don't understand nothing,'" (70-71). Curley's Wife, George, and Crooks all know of Lennie's simple mindedness. They know that even if he understood what they were saying, he would forget it later. 

Lennie - Curley's Motivation to Kill Him (Part 6)

In part 5 in the book of Mice and Men, Curley finds his wife dead. He gets very mad, and instantly knew who did it. When he knew it was Lennie who killed his wife. I think when Curley figured it was he felt Lennie is a violent man. Curley wanted to get back at him for killing his wife, so in anger he says, "I'll kill the son-of-a-bitch myself. I'll shoot 'im in the guts" (96). Carlson agreed and went to go get his Luger but Lennie took the Luger, which made Curley even more motivated to kill Lennie. When George told Curly, "The poor bastard's nuts. Don't shoot 'im. He di'n't know what he was doin"' (98), Curley responded in , "Course we'll shoot 'im" (98). This shows how much Curley wants to get back at Lennie. I feel that every mistake Lennie makes is an accident. He never means to do them. I think that Curley mostly wants to kill Lennie because Lennie is very big and if Curley kills him he will feel he has the most power over everyone.

The Question Candy asks George

At the end of part five, Candy realized they could never own their little acre of land because of what Lennie had done. “Now Candy spoke his greatest fear. ‘You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George…Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew” (94).

I believe Candy, and George’s worst fear is to stay and work at the ranch forever. They were both believing that it would happen, even George got his hopes up, who said, “He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would”’ (94). But in the back of his head, I think George knew they would never have this plot of land and something like this would happen, because Lennie doesn't know his own strength. George was just using it as his getaway place. 

While talking to Candy, George says "'I’ll work my month an’ I’ll take my fifty bucks an’ I’ll stay all night in some lousy cat house. Or I’ll set in some poolroom tell ever’body goes home. An; then I’ll come back an’ work another month an’ I’ll have fifty bucks more’” (95). George is just going to waste his money away because he doesn’t want to continue the dream with Candy; it wouldn’t be the same without Lennie. It wouldn’t be like their dream they had talked about all the time together, Lennie wouldn't be there to tend and feed the rabbits that he had always talked about.

Lennie and George always talked about their little plot of land that they could call their own, and I think that’s why George had a hard time letting other people come into the dream, he was starting to wish it would happen so much, he was afraid someone would ruin it. It was always the two of them, and they both needed each other. Like they said “’Because------‘  ‘Because I got you an’---------‘ ‘An’ I got you. We got each other, that’s what, that gives a hoot in hell about us,’” (104). George helped Lennie get through life, and Lennie helped George have hope for a dream, though it didn’t work out in the end, and also to respect people like Lennie. Because at the very beginning, George said he used to make fun of Lennie, but then he helped him.

Part 6: Why George Killed Lennie with Foreshadowing and the Last Sentence

Of Mice and Men has ended with Lennie's death by George's hand. We can only wonder, "How did it suddenly get to this?" There were several examples of foreshadowing that I noticed throughout the book --- the first being the similarities in Candy's situation (when he was forced to allow his dog to be killed) and George's situation in dealing with Lennie's mistake (when they find Curley's wife's body).

In Part 3, Carlson finally persuades Candy to let go of his dog and let him be put down. Later when Candy and George talk about their dream ranch, Candy says to George, "'I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't outta of let no stranger shoot my dog'" (61). In George's case, "...Curley's gonna want to shoot 'im'" (97). George was probably thinking along the lines of, "I'm the only one who can do it," or something similar. He knew that Lennie's death was inevitable, with Curley there, and knew that only he could make Lennie have a painless and peaceful death.

However, not only did George kill Lennie because Curley would've killed him anyway, but I also think that George thought he had no choice. Every time Lennie panicked, the consequences got worse and worse. Lennie had a record of killing small mice because of not knowing his strength (and eventually a young puppy). The first time Lennie had panicked was in Weed, where he refused to let go of the girl's dress, forcing him and George to go on the run. Next was his fight with Curley, in which he crushed Curley's hand after being unable to let go. His final panic-driven act was suffocating and breaking Curley's wife's neck, resulting in her death. If George and Lennie had gone on like this, visiting ranch after ranch, Lennie would've continued hurting people around him. George knew that at this point, Lennie had crossed the line, though it wasn't his fault.

Something else I was thinking about, was the last sentence of the book: "Curley and Carlson looked after them. And Carlson said, "Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?'" (107). I know some people who were mad at this last sentence; Lennie had just died, and they knew that! Who wouldn't be mad by these people, who didn't value Lennie's life at all? But I don't think that Carlson should be thought of badly. Yes, he didn't value Lennie's life, but then again, all he knew was that Lennie killed Curley's wife and must be punished --- killed. He had no emotional ties to Lennie at all. I believe John Steinbeck made this the last sentence to depict the cruelty of society. In the end, society doesn't care if they have nothing to do with you. Society continues on, without any regard to your feelings. Think about it, would you care about the death of a stranger? Probably not. The death of a random person you don't know doesn't hurt you, hence, you continue on, indifferent to their passing. That is the reality of society --- they never care until they experience it, themselves. 

~ Kate_ChromtheChrommander

Part 5/6 (OPTIONAL prompts)

Part 5:

(REMEMBER: These questions are OPTIONAL; you can respond to them in a post, or just used them as direction for what to focus on while you read)

1. Lennie and Curley’s wife both confided in each other. What did she tell Lennie and why do you think she chose him to confess this too? What did he tell her and what event did this lead to? Elaborate on the significance of these confessions.

2. Describe what Curley’s wife looked like once she died (p. 92-93). What is ironic about this description?

3. What question does Candy ask George, and what is his response? (address two important quotes here… one on p. 94 and the other on p. 95) WHY do you think George plans to become just like every other rancher, rather than live out the dream with Candy?

4. What is Curley’s motivation for going after Lennie? Use quotes to support your answer and elaborate on the significance of this.

5. What lie does George tell Slim? Before reading part 6, what did this lie make you think about George’s plan? After reading part 6… what was his actual plan? Elaborate on the significance of the lie and the reality.

Part 6:

1. Analyze Lennie’s hallucination. Use some quotes to support what you think it all means.

2. WHY DID GEORGE DO WHAT HE DID (to Lennie) IN THE END????

(Use previous events, info, quotes to prove the foreshadowing AND the explanation for WHY he did it.)

3. Why did Steinbeck choose to have Carlson, of all characters, be the last one to speak in the novel? What significance do his words have? OR What theme do his words support? à “Now what the hell do ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?”

The Meaning Behind Crooks' Mannerisms

In part 4 of Of Mice and Men, significant information is revealed about Crooks' personality.  Crooks is very possessive about his room and belongings, so when Lennie attempts to enter his bunkhouse to pet his pup "on raising his eyes [Crooks] stiffened and a scowl came in his face" (68).  Eventually succumbing to Lennie's caring nature, Crooks allows him to stay, but continuously demeans him for being slow, calling him "nuts."  Later, as Lennie explains how George went into town, Crooks teases him, saying "'S'pose George don't come back no mor. S'pose he tok a powder and just ain't coming back...' Crooks face lighted with pleaser in his torture... 'Le's say he wants to come back and can't..  S'pose he gets killed or hurt so he can't come back... They'll take ya to the booby hatch.  They'll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog" (Steinbeck 69-70).  After Lennie becomes angry with Crooks for even considering George could be injured, Crooks becomes intimidated and assures Lennie George would come back.
There are several reasons why Crooks acts so harshly towards Lennie, who only wanted to make friends from the beginning.  One reason is that Crooks, who normally has little social power, recognized Lennie as being mentally disabled and took advantage of him to feel more powerful.  Given the time period and setting of the story, Crooks was likely discriminated against throughout his life due to his skin color.  Lennie is too ignorant to comprehend racial tension, so Crooks could bully him without receiving any backlash.  Another reason he could have bullied Lennie was that he resented society for years of discrimination and abandonment.  Crooks described how he was never allowed to shoot horseshoes or play cards with the white laborers.  He just sat in his separate bunkhouse all day reading and alone with his thoughts, his hatred and resentment towards white people growing everyday they left him alone.  "You got George.  You know he goin' to come back.  S'pose you couldn't go into the bunk house and play rummy 'cause you was black.  How'd you like that? S'pose you had to sit out here an' read books.  Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got to read books.  Books ain't no good.  A guy needs sombody–to be near him" (Steinbeck 71).  So, when Lennie came around acting like Crooks was his friend, Crooks exacted revenge for years of discrimination and abandonment by treating him harshly.  One last reason Crooks could have been so cruel to Lennie is his ineptitude in social situations.  Due to years of abandonment by his coworkers, Crooks may have experienced some social anxiety, which would explain his aggressive interaction with Lennie.
All three of these examples connect to the idea of the predatory nature of man, signifying that even men who have little social power have the primitive desire to dominate their peers without considering the feelings of others.  Although Crooks received much discrimination and harsh language for his differences similar to Lennie, he did not consider Lennie's feelings until AFTER he had upset him.  Crooks would do whatever it took to get on top.

Curley's Wife's Loneliness

     Throughout Chapter 4 in Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, Curley's wife continues to demonstrate her loneliness and sadness in her marriage. I personally think that Curley's wife did not want to marry Curley. Maybe her forced her into marriage, maybe she needed his financial support in her life, or maybe her family forced her into marrying him. We may never know. Curley's wife is always looking for Curley, but she isn't really trying to find him. I think she is actually hiding from him. Throughout the book we've seen no interaction between them at all which we can guess means they may be avoiding each other. Curley's wife even goes into Crooks's room looking for Curley, but admits she knows where he is. She said, "'Think I don't know where they all went? Even Curley. I know where they all went "'(77), even though she just came in looking for Curley. Curley's wife obviously wanted some company with anybody she could find, even Crooks, Candy, and Lenny. She used her old excuse of looking for her husband in order to get want she wanted. Curley's wife wanting to spend time with other people shows how she isn't happy with her marriage. I predict that we finally will get to see Curley and his wife interact, but they probably won't bet the happy couple they want people to see them as. I have a feeling they will argue or fight about something reinforcing the idea that they probably don't want to be married to each other.

-Paige

Part 4 - Two Sides of Lennie

In part four, the readers get a good view of Lennie making a somewhat new friend with Crooks. Crooks is a black man. Lennie walks into Crooks' bedroom wanting to pet the puppies, George said he could tend to. Crooks got very mad at Lennie for just walking into his own private area because back in the time that the book takes place in, blacks and whites usually aren't ever in the same room. Because Lennie is much like a child, I think that Lennie doesn't understand much about how black and whites shouldn't be together.

When Crooks got mad at Lennie, I noticed that every time a character is either mad or is yelling at Lennie, like when George, or when Slim got mad at Lennie, he always does a small action and feels helplessly. In the book it doesn't always say he feels helplessly, but sometimes is shows that he will drop his head in shame, or lose his smile. For example, "Lennie smiled helplessly in an attempt to make friends" (68), when Crooks was mad. He also, "flapped his big hands helplessly" (68). 

After, Crooks supposes that George would never come back. Lennie got very defensive because he didn't get what Crooks meant. Lennie started to get very worried, and he was thinking, "He won't do it,' Lennie cried. 'George wouldn't do nothing like that. I been with George a long time. He'll come back tonight-----'… 'Don’t you think he will?"' (71). When Crooks was trying to explain that he didn't mean what he said Lennie said, "Ain't nobody goin' to suppose no hurt to George... Lennie growled back to his seat on the nail keg." (72) This shows how Lennie has a "lion" inside of him, like Isabel did, from the book Chains. Lennie was standing up for George, when usually George stands up for Lennie. This relates because Isabel from Chains, "became a "lion inside" and confronted Madam about selling Ruth; called her a "cow"; approached her in an intimidating manner (134). 

Referring back to how Lennie feels helpless at times when being confronted or yelled at, he will look for someone to have his back and speak up for him. On page 80, Lennie is looking for someone to have his back so he doesn't cause any problems. Most times when this happens he has George by his side to talk for him, but George was down in town. Because George isn't there, "Lennie looked to Candy for help, and then he looked at his lap again" (80). I feel that Lennie was trying to look for someone to help him, but knew Candy wasn't going to help him, so he felt helpless. 

Crooks

In part 4 of  the book Of Mice and Men the character Crooks was further elaborated on. Crooks was a black stable buck and the only black person that was on the settlement. His room was very tidy indicating that he was a proud and aloof man because no one was around to see his room, therefore there was no need for it to be clean. Crooks was usually recluse and wanted people to keep their distance from him. Crooks was crippled by his bad back making him bent over to the left. His eyes lay deep in his head with great depth. His slender face was lined with deep black wrinkles. He had thin, pain-tightened lips which were lighter than is face. When Lennie had come into his room at first he had his guards up because he wasn't used to people being kind to him. Since he was black he was't welcomed in he bunkhouse, which made him very lonely. He came to the conclusion that the only reason that George is still traveling with Lennie is because Lennie is someone that can listen and help him. Crooks started to let Lennie into his comfort zone because needed and wanted someone to talk to about what has happened in his life. The reason why he wanted to talk to George because it makes him feel better when he is talking to a person. I feel that I am a lot like crooks because I also feel that talking to people make my problems seem smaller.

Lennie and Crooks

      In part 4 of OMAM George has gone into town with others while Lennie is left at the ranch. When  Lennie goes to look for his pup he discovers Crooks, a negro in charge of talking care of the horses. Whether lennie knows it or not whites and Negroes were not allowed to associate with each other. Since Lennie is mentally disabled and acts like  a child he believes he just met a new friend but crooks a wise man who knows the dangers of blacks during his time is reluctant to talk to lennie. ''Lennie smiled helplessly in an attempt to make a friend''(68). Crooks denies his friend request by saying ''You get out of my room. I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse and you not wanted in my room.''

      Eventually Crooks tells Lennie his struggles because he realizes Lennie is disabled and won't remember it anyway. '' A guy can talk to you and make sure you don't go blabbin''. just talk an you don't understand nothing''(70). I think this particular quote also foreshadows what Lennie is about to tell crooks about the land they want to own. Even though Lennie is white and Crooks is black they break a rule of society o law during this special moment. 

Abandonment Haunts - blog #4

Abandonment Haunts Crooks to the Point Where He Uses His Pain to Hurt Others

     In Of Mice and Men, Crooks has finally shown his true colors in part four. Crooks is an African-American who works on the same farm as George and Lennie; his childhood and adulthood made him put up his walls to make sure others don't get to him. Crooks tells Lennie of his "happy" childhood when Lennie, a man who lives off of the words of George, is in Crook's only place.  At the start Crooks was irritated, when he started describing his childhood his hostile tone changed to a sweet one "the stable buck went on dreamily, 'I remember when I was a little kid on my old man's chicken ranch. Had two brothers. They was always near me, always there. Used to sleep right in the same room, right in the same bed-all three. Had a strawberry patch. Had an alfalfa patch. Used to turn the chickens out in the alfalfa on a sunny morning. My brothers'd set on a fence rail an' watch 'em-white chickens they was'"(73). Crooks, our stable buck, seemingly had a nice childhood; I am here to tell you differently. Only paragraphs earlier, Crooks was emphasizing on his loneliness and blaming it on the fact of his skin color. The stable buck has a right to be bitter because of how he's treated based on the color of his skin, "'s'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and play rummy 'cause you was black. How'd you like that? S'pose you had to sit out here an' read books'"(72). If you read both of these quotes together, it shows how Crooks once had people near him, and now he's all alone. From how Crooks turned on Lennie, we can guess that Crooks was once susceptible to the loss of a loved one. When Lennie first entered Crook's home, Crooks turns of him and starts saying things to hurt Lennie "his voice grew soft and persuasive. 'S'pose George don't come back no more. S'pose he took a powder and just ain't coming back. What'll you do then?'"(71). Crooks is trying to rattle Lennie, suggesting that George would never come back. From the way Crooks is talking to Lennie, we can assume he is jealous of the fact that Lennie has somebody to care for him. During this entire discussion, Lennie was scared, that's how our stable buck wanted it to be; he wanted Lennie to see his loneliness "Crooks said gently, 'Maybe you can see now. You got George. You know he's goin' to come back'"(72). The now gentle American now realized that this is all about himself. Crooks even admits to talking about himself after he persuades Lennie that George won't come back "'I didn't mean to scare you. He'll come back. I was talkin' about myself"'(73). This whole time, Crooks was only torturing Lennie to make Lennie feel how he feels everyday of his life. 

Curley's Wife Feels Lonely

In part 4 in Of Mice and Men, Curley's wife shows how she feels being on the ranch for the first time. We can clearly see that Curley's wife feels lonely, with the following evidence and thoughts, "'Any you boys seen Curley?'...'Think I don't know where they all went? Even Curley. I know where they all went.'...'Then if you know, why you want to ast us where Curley is at?'" (77). These quotes show that Curley's wife didn't really need to come into the barn because she already knew where Curley was. She was lonely and wanted some company, so she decided to use her same old excuse for the attention. She was then rude to Candy, Crooks, and Lennie by calling them weak and calling Candy's, George's, and Lennie's dream of having their own land baloney. She also called them bindle bums and bindle stiffs, along with other names. I think she may be rude to them and try to act tough because she doesn't want to believe that she feels the same loneliness that these "bindle stiffs" feel. She wants to think that she is in a higher place than they are, but deep inside, she knows that because she is a woman (and we know that women weren't thought as important and useful as men in this time period) who is not very respected. What she doesn't realize is that she could at least be thought of as classy or have a respectable trait, rather than have all of the guys on the ranch thinking that she is overly flirtatious (which is even worse when a person like her is married). She could try to just have a normal, friendly (not flirty) conversation with the others on the ranch without calling them rude names or showing herself off to the others. She might also flirt with others for attention too, because she feels lonely. Here, she proves my point that she feels lonely when she asks them, "'Think I don't like to talk to somebody ever' once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?'" (77). She is trying to explain to them that she is always in the house all of the time, most likely by herself because Curley is always working, and there are no other girls on the ranch to spend all of her free time with.

Prompt #4

In Part 4 of Of Mice and Men we see Curley's Wife revealing that she's lonely like other men. Crooks is often pressured into not hanging out with the men because he was the only black man on the ranch and society said that white men and black men can't hang out together. He's the only man besides Curley and the boss that doesn't live with the rest of the men, instead he lives in a house near the barn. This is because back then, white men and black men weren't supposed to be equals or live with each other or even really hang out with each other. Curley's wife doesn't like that she doesn't  really get to leave the house," After a pause Crooks said,' Maybe you better go along to your own house now. We don't want no trouble.' 'Well, I ain't giving you no trouble. Think I don't like to talk to ever' once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?' (77) Curley's wife doesn't have any other women on the ranch to talk to and the other men on the ranch don't want to talk to her because she'll try and flirt with them, then Curley will try and pick a fight with them.

Crooks has come into the picture

On part four, of Mice and Men Crooks finally came into the picture. John Steinbeck described him by saying, "his body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine, and his eyes lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with intensity. His lean face was lined with deep black wrinkles, and he had thin, pain-tightened lips which were lighter than his face" (67). While most of the men were out, Lennie stayed "home" to play with the pups. While Lennie was on his way to the barn, he noticed a light on in crooks room. Being the curious fellow he is, he decided to go up and see what's going on. This is when he finds Crooks "Noiselessly Lennie appeared in the doorway . . . For a moment Crooks did not see him, but on raising his eyes he stiffened and a scowl came in his face" (68). Right after Crooks saw Lennie he was furious. I noticed that Crooks was very defensive about Lennie being in his room, and I wonder if it's because he doesn't want to get in trouble, hasn't had many interactions with people which made him nervous, or because he holds a grudge gained Lennie for playing with the pups? After Crooks got more comfortable with Lennie I noticed that he really opened up to him about his child hood, which reminds me a lot about George really opened up to slim. I really see a potential friendship between Lennie and Crooks, which could possibly lead to a lot of trouble for Lennie. Throughout the time Lennie and Crooks are talking, Lennie keeps bringing up the rabbits. "'We're gonna have rabbits an' a berry patch" . . . "You'er nuts." Crooks was scornful"' (73-74) I believe that Crooks got very irritated when Lennie was explaining how he's going to tend the rabbits and have all this land, because Crooks knew that he was not allowed to have any land, no matter what because of his race. Later when Candy joins, Crooks offers to work on their land when they finally get it, but moments later takes back what he said. I think that he changed his mind because he either didn't believe that George, Lennie, and Candy would actually get the land, or he was to embraced that he would not be allowed to live there as well; and be friends with all of them.

Is Candy missing his dog again?

During part 4 one scene particularly stood out to me. When, "Candy cried, 'sure they all want it. Everybody wants a little bit of land, not much. Ju's somethin'' that was his. Somethin'he could live on and there couldn't nobody throw him off of it. I never had that..." I think that is part of the reason why Candy wants in on the ranch so badly. I believe that he wants something that is his. Something that he can look at at the end of the day and know that it is his and no one can take it away from him. I think part of these feelings are because of his dog. His dog was the one thing he had that no one could take away, but he succumbed to the peer pressure and let Carlson shoot it. In my opinion, Candy wants to move to the ranch with Lennie and George as soon as possible. I think he views the ranch as a happy and carefree place with no reminders off his dog, his best friend.

Can the "weak" be powerful??

   The answer is yes.  For example; in section four of Of Mice and Men, in the middle of a conversation between Crooks, Candy, and Lennie, Curly's wife walks into Crooks's stable house.  When she walks in she says "They left the weak ones here." (77).  When Curly's wife said "weak ones", what she means is crippled.  In this book, all three of these men are crippled.  Crooks has to hunch over because of his crooked spine, Candy is missing a hand due to a machinery incident, and Lennie is mentally handicapped.

   What is so ironic about this statement is that all of these men are actually strong, mentally and physically.  Even though Crooks and Candy are both physically crippled, they are as strong as bulls.  they have to work day in and day out shoveling, and taking care of horses (Crooks), and bailing hay and harvesting wheat (Candy).  Lennie is also mentally crippled, but he is stronger than anyone on the farm.  So when Curly's wife says that they are weak, she is wrong!

Crooks and Lennie's Discussion

In part four, we learn a lot more about the character Crooks. In the middle the chapter, Crooks scared Lennie into thinking that George was never coming back. Crooks tries to make Lennie understand how lonely he is by saying,"'S'pose George don't come back no more" (71). This made Lennie very mad and scared something happened to him, and becomes very protective of George, though George usually protects Lennie. "Suddenly Lennie's eyes centered and grew quiet, and mad" (72). Once he saw Lennie get mad, Crooks immediately says George will come back, and he starts talking about his past.

I think Crooks did this because he was lonely, and he wanted to share his pain with Lennie. And he wants someone like George. He doesn't have anyone with him just because is a different colored skin, and no one wants to share a room with him. While he was talking about himself, he says how he "Had two brothers. They was always near me, always there. Used to sleep right in the same room, right in the same bed----all three" (73). I believe he wants Lennie to be his friend, because he tells him all about his past and his problems, he tells him, "'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black" (68), he also lets him in his room, which he hasn't done with anyone else, even Candy says he has never been in here, "'I been here a long time,' he said. 'An' Crooks been here a long time. This's the first time I ever been in his room" (75). But when Lennie asked to come in because no one else is at the ranch, "Crooks scowled, but Lennie's disarming smile defeated him. 'Come on in and set a while,' Crooks said" (69). Maybe Crooks wants some company himself. Crooks also tells Lennie about how lonely he is, "A guy sets alone out here at night...Maybe if he sees somethin', he don't know whether it's right or not. He can't turn to some other guy and ast him if he sees it too" (73). Crooks wants any person to be his friend.
 
Even though Crooks and Curley's wife don't seem to be alike, they are. Crooks is lonely, just like Curly's wife. Crooks wants a friend, and Curley's wife wants someone to talk to. She says "'Well, I ain't giving you no trouble. Think I don't like to talk to somebody ever' once in a while? Think I like to  stick in that house alla time?"' (77). I believe Crooks thinks the same thing, but won't admit it to anyone, and that's why he let Lennie and Candy in his house. Both African Americans and women were treated unfairly during those times.

When Candy comes in and tells Lennie that he has an idea for the rabbits, and he actually finds out they have money stored away for a piece of land, he says "'I never seen a guy really do it,' he said. 'I seen guys nearly crazy with loneliness for land...He hesitated '...If you...guys would want a hand to work for nothing---just his keep, why I'd come an' lend a hand" (76). I think Crooks, just like Candy, is excited to get out of this ranch.

But at the very end, he tells Candy "'Well, jus' forget it,' said Crooks. 'I didn' mean it. Jus' foolin'. I wouldn' want to go no place like that"' (83). I think Crooks doesn't think they will really be able to get the land because it has never been done before, or maybe he thinks because he has a different colored skin, they won't let him come. He's never been treated fairly, or let in on anything, so why this time.

Irony of Curley's Wife's Statement

In of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck there is irony in the statement made by Curley's wife. “They left all the weak ones here” (77). Curley went to town with George, Slim and several other men. Meanwhile Candy, Lennie and Crooks stayed on the ranch. The ironic part of the statement is that Curley's wife knew that Lennie beat up Curley in the fight scene, but she still called him weak. I think that Curley's wife was trying to get in their heads and tell the men that they are worthless. Also I think that she meant Lennie is weak because he is weak minded, Candy is old and had lost a hand, and Crooks is black. I am not sure why Curley's wife came into the barn in the first place but she definitely was not looking for friendship. I hope to find out!

Curley's Wife and Crook's Loneliness

In part four, we get to know Crooks, an African American stable buck. Back in the 1930's, many people believed in Jim Crow Laws, which were laws that segregated African Americans from Whites. Crooks has to live in a little stable room all by himself because back then it was unheard of that black people would sleep with whites. Most people would probably say that he is lucky because he gets a whole room to himself, but I don't think they realize how lonely it is. When Crooks talks to Lennie he says "S'pose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and play rummy 'cause you was black... A guy needs somebody--to be near him" (72). Crooks has no one to talk to or hang out with. His situation is almost the same as Curley's Wife's except for the reasons they are isolated. Curley's Wife is a woman. Women were not very respected in the 1930's and were thought of as lesser than men. Curley's Wife doesn't even have a name for pete's sake! Back then, women were expected to keep to the house and do the chores. Curley's Wife is the only woman on the ranch, so while the men go to work, she is left alone in the house. She wants to talk to the workers but either her husbands beats them up because he gets jealous, or she gets them angry because she flirts with them. When she goes to Crook's quarters and talks to the boys, Crooks says, "Maybe you better go along to your own house now. We don't want no trouble" (77). They are all worried and angry at her because she is sweet-talking them and Curley could hear and get mad. But Curley's Wife does not want to go back to her house. She replies to Crooks's statement and says, "Think I don't like to talk to somebody ever' once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?" (77). This shows how both Crooks and Curley's Wife are figuratively shackled 😉 by segregation and are tired of being stuck all alone in their houses.

The Characters of Part 4

We've finally reached Part Four of Of Mice and Men, a chapter in which we encountered so many new experiences and ideas. In this blog, I'll be talking about the interactions between Lennie, Crooks, and Curley's wife.

Firstly, Crooks repeatedly talked to Lennie of how George may not come back that night. As he was conversing with Lennie, "Crook's face lighted with pleasure in his torture" (71). At first, I thought that he was tired of always being targeted because of being an African American, so now he wants to bully someone else. However, on the next page, "Crooks said gently, ... S'pose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and ply rummy 'cause you was black. How'd you like that? S'pose you had to sit out here an' read books... I tell ya,' he cried, 'I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick'" (73). Here, he is describing his own experiences. This has lead me to believe that Crooks may not have just did that out of the pleasure of tormenting others, but also because he wants to make Lennie feel what he experiences every day. He just wants someone to understand him and what he goes through.

I also noticed throughout the chapter that despite how Crooks acts, he actually enjoys the company of others. The reason why he acts gruff to others when they enter his room is not because he doesn't want them there, but more so that he's afraid of what they could do or say. He knows that being an African American means more discrimination and unfair treatment, so he tries to distance himself from others (in particular white people) in order to stay safe. I think Lennie opened Crooks up a little, so much that Crooks even let Candy into the room, and he was actually happy as "It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger" (75).

Shortly after this interaction, Curley's wife appears, asking if "'Any of you boys seen Curley?'" (76). Crooks then proceeds to tell her that, "'Maybe you better go along to your own house now. We don't want no trouble'" (77). Curley's wife angrily replies that, "'Well, I ain't giving you no trouble. Think I don't like to talk to somebody every' once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?'" (77). This supports my idea in a previous blog, Curley's Wife: Her Identity and the Reasons Behind Her Actions, where I talked about how she feels lonely because of several reasons. One of the possible reasons I gave was that her and Curley's marriage could've been an unhappy one; this was brought up when, "The girl flared up. 'Sure I gotta husban'. You all seen him. Swell guy, ain't he? Spends all his time sayin' what he gonna do to guys he don't like, and he don't like nobody. Think I'm gonna stay in that two-by-four house and listen how Curley's gonna lead with his left twict, and then bring in the ol' right cross?...'" Obviously, Curley's wife does not like her husband at all, making her want to find someone else. Another reason I gave was that she was forced to give up something special. Though it didn't explicitly say she was forced to give anything up, it's a possibility when Curley's wife states: "'...I tell ya I could of went with shows. Not jus' one, neither. An' a guy tol' me he could put me in pitchers. . . ." She was breathless with indignation. "---Sat'day night. Ever'body out doin' som'pin. Ever'body! An' what am I doin'? Standin' here talkin' to a bunch of bindle stiffs --- a nigger an' a dum-dum and a lousy ol' sheep --- an' likin' it because they ain't nobody else'" (78). She says she had talent, so why isn't she out there, in the "shows"? Why is she married to Curley, on a ranch, when she could be somewhere where her talents are appreciated? However, whatever reasoning that's behind this is lost, as Candy interrupts with angry words.

After Crooks asks Curley's wife to leave, "She turned on him in scorn. 'Listen, nigger,' she said. 'You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?' Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself. She closed on him. 'You know what I could do?' Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall. 'Yes, ma'am.' 'Well, you keep your place then, nigger. I could get up you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny'" (81). It's horrible what she said, that is unquestionable. But going deeper, I think she said these words because she was frustrated that these people weren't offering any sympathies, no pity. Because of this, she wanted to feel power over these people, and chose Crooks, since he was an African American.

I also noticed how similar Crooks and Curley's wife are, even if they are different in many ways. The first thing that stood out to me was how they were both so lonely, though they dealt with these feelings in different ways. They both want people whom they can talk to, but they are both isolated from others. They also reacted in the same way when Candy and Lennie talk about their piece of land and their plans. "'You're nuts.' Crooks was scornful. 'I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn thing in their heads. Hundreds of them...'" (74). "Curley's wife laughed at him. 'Baloney,' she said. 'I seen too many you guys. If you had two bits in the worl', why you'd be in gettin' two shots of corn with it and suckin' the bottom of the glass. I know you guys'" (79).

I want to get to know more about Curley's wife's past. Though she may seem like a bad character, I don't think she deserves all the hate she receives. In my opinion, she does strange things, but all for an different reasons. It's not her fault she's in the position she's in right now, and I think she deserves some happiness later on in her life.

~ Kate_ChromtheChrommander