Post 4 of 7- Julianna

Julianna Hale
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
Read by Oct. 6
Post by Oct. 6

Hi Griselda, I somewhat agree with you that Curley's wife is trouble. She seems to be kind of a flirt but I don't think she is going to do anything that ruins her relationship with Curley. I don't think she is going to try anything with Lennie, George, Slim, etc. I do agree with you that a theme in the book is hope. George and escpecially Lennie have very high hopes for making enough money to live offa the fatta the lan' (57). I think it is actually very sweet that Lennie really wants to have the rabbits because he loves to pet small, furry animals. Something that I was wondering while reading this section was why does everybody care that Lennie is in the barn petting the new puppies? Are they just afraid that he might actually crush them like he did with the mice he had? Everybody knows that he isn't going to purposefully hurt them. However, I do feel like Lennie is strong enough to fend for himself and others. Like you mentioned, he crushed Curley's hand when he was laughing at him. They had to take him to the doctor and everything. I actually like that they use blackmail against him. They say that if Curley tells what Lennie did to him then they would tell why Lennie did it. Slim said, "If you don't tell nobody what happened, we ain't going to. But you jus' tell an' try to get this guy canned and we'll tell ever'body, an' then will you get the laugh" (64). Finally, I think it is very funny how Curley and his wife are always coming in and saying if they had seen each other. They never seem to be in the same place at the same time and everybody is getting mad. George and Slim are tired of saying no, they haven't seen them and they are getting tired of looking for each other. I just thought that was a funny little side note that Steinbeck added.

Post 3 of 7- Julianna

Julianna Hale
Of Mice and Men
John Steineck
Read by Oct. 6
Post by Oct. 6

Hi Griselda, as I was reading section 3 (pgs. 38-48) I think that you are very right about the growing friendship of Slim and George. They are opening up to each other and talking about the life that George and Lennie had before they came to work on the ranch. George was telling Slim about the time in Weed when Lennie "reach[ed] out to feel this red dress an' the girl let out a squawk, and that gets Lennie all mixed up, and he holds on" (41). That is why they had to run away from Weed and that's why there are in the knew town looking for a job. George feels like he can open up to Slim which is a really good thing. Another thing I saw in this section, which you also mentioned in your post, was when they killed Candy's dog because he was stinking so much; do you think that was too big a punishment or way both for Candy and the dog. Candy just had to lay there in bed and listen to the gunshot while they killed the dog. For the dog, he was so old and sick, I don't even know if killing him was the right choice. I would have just let him die peacefully on his own and left him outside if he smelled that bad. What would you have done? I think it was really nice for Slim to tell Carlson to silently follow with a shovel so that the dog could be properly buried, it would have been nice though if they had asked Candy if he wanted to go for the buriel and say a few words because Candy "had him so long. Had him since he was a pup" (44).  

Post 2 of 7- Julianna

Julianna Hale
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
Read book one by Oct. 6
Post by Oct. 6

Hi Griselda,

As I was reading section 2 (pgs. 17-37) I agreed with you that another them in the book was anger. George stands up for who and what he believes in. He says to the boss, "No, he ain't [much of a talker], but he's sure as hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull (22). George doesn't want Lennie to talk to anyone in fear of him saying something wrong and getting them into trouble. He cares for Lennie. I was also wondering, what do you think are some possible reasons why Lennie might act the way he does. When they were at the brush, he was carrying around the dead mouse because he wanted to pet it, but why? Do you think he could just be mentally retarded, Down Syndrome and they didn't know about it back in the 1920s, or autism which they also didn't know about. They understood the symptoms and signs of autism back in the 1900s but the term wasn't actually used until the 1940s; 20 years after the book took place (http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/history-of-autism). I think that you are right when you mentioned that intimidation was a theme in the novel but I think that a bigger theme was race. The "nigger" had his own living quarters. Also the old swamper said, "give the stable buck hell, too...Sure. Ya see the stable buck's a nigger" (19-20). If this were to take place in our era, the African-American wouldn't have his own room and it wouldn't matter what race he was. Also, people wouldn't "give each other hell" if they were black or not.

post 5 of 7 (pgs. 65-81) -Griselda

Griselda Casillas
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
Read book one by Oct. 6
Post by Oct. 6

Hey Julianna, 

          While reading section 5 (pgs. 65-81) I noticed that a theme that described Crooks was loneliness. He pretended that he doesn’t like being in the presence of people because he knows he would get in trouble by Curley or the boss. But Crook prefers to be treated like a normal person, and not a disrespected African American who doesn’t have many rights. Crook, Candy and Lennie seemed to be having a great time. Lennie and Candy told Crook’s about the plan George and them had. But Crook explained, “You guys Is just kiddin’ yourself. You’ll talk about is a hell of a lot, but you won’t get no land…” (74). Candy angrily replied, “You God dam right we’re gonna do it. George says we are. We got the money right now” (74). After a while, Crooks was getting into the conversation and stated, “…If you… guys would want a hand to work for nothing---just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand…” (75).

          But they didn’t have such a good time when Curley’s wife showed up. All of them didn’t feel comfortable with her there. Another theme I saw Crook portray was confidence because when Curley’s wife came in and she said, “Funny thing, If I catch any one man… I get along fine with him. But just let two of the guys get together an’ you won’t talk”. “…You’re all scared of each other, that’s what… Ever’ one of you’s scared the rest is goin’ to get something on you” (75). Crook responded, “Maybe you better go along to your own house now. We don’t want no trouble” (76). Curley’s wife just kept talking and Crook stated, “I had enough, You got no rights comin’ in a colored man’s room… Now you jus’ get out, an’ get out quick. If you don’t, I’m gonna ast the boss not to ever let you come in the barn no more” (78).

On the other hand, Crook was scared when Curley’s wife said, “Listen, Nigger. You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (78). Curley’s wife specified, “You know what I could do?” (78). A theme I found in this section that Crooks represented was intimidation because he was scared of what Curley’s wife would do, if he spoke because he was an African American. “Crooks had reduced himself to nothing. There was no personality, no ego--- nothing to arouse either like or dislike” (79). Crooks responded in a toneless voice, “Yes, ma’am” (79). George and the others came in and left Crooks in his room again.

Post 4 of 7 (pgs. 49-64) -Griselda

Griselda Casillas

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck
Read book one by Oct. 6
Post by Oct. 6

Hey Julianna,

         As I was reading section 4 (pgs. 49-64) I noticed that Curley’s wife seems to be the trouble as Whit said, “Ever’time the guys is around she shows up. …Seems like she can’t keep away from guys” (51). George responded, “She’s gonna make a mess. They’s gonna be a bad mess about her. She’s a jail bait all set on the trigger” (51). I wonder if Curley’s wife will do something that will prove them right? When George and Whit are talking, Whit says, “If you got idears, you ought ta come in town with us guys tomorra night” (51). Whit was inviting George to Sucy’s place because the guys in the barn had a really good time there.

A theme I noticed in this section was hope because without noticing that Candy was in the bedroom with them, George and Lennie started talking about the dream again.  Lennie explained, “We could live offa the fatta the lan’ ” (56). George replied, “…An’ it be our own, an’ nobody could can us…” (57). Candy interrupted them and told them, “S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some. How’d that be?” (58). George agreed and they all started talking about how amazing It would be like. George told them, “Don’ tell nobody about it. Jus’ us three an’ nobody else” (60). They promised each other to keep it a secret.

Curley, Slim, Carlson, and Whit entered. Curley was furious and asked Lennie, “What the hell you laughin’ at’ " (61). Lennie was smiling at the great memory of the ranch. Curley was super angry and punched Lennie. Lennie kept repeating, “Make ‘um stop, George” (62). George said, “Get ‘im, Lennie!” (62). Lennie grabbed Curley’s hand so hard that they were going to take him to the doctor. But before they went, Slim told Curley, “I think you got your han’ caught in a machine. If you don’t tell nobody what happened, we ain’t going to. But you jus’ tell an’ try to get this guy canned and we’ll tell ever’body, an’ then will you get the laugh” (63). Curley agreed and they took him to the doctor.

George told Lennie that it wasn’t his fault because Lennie did what he told him to do. Lennie asked, “I can still tend the rabbits, George?” (64). George said, “Sure. You ain’t done nothing wrong” (64). Another theme I saw was loyalty because Lennie did what George asked him to do.

post 3 of 7 (pgs. 38-48) -Griselda

Griselda Casillas

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck
Read book one by Oct. 6
Post by Oct. 6

Hey Julianna,

          As I read section 3 (pgs. 38-48) I noticed that one of the themes was friendship between George and Slim. Slim had given one of the pups to Lennie because George had asked him. George had thanked Slim, but Slim said, “It wasn’t nothing, I would have had to drowned most of ‘em anyways. No need to thank me about that” (38). George told Slim why Lennie and him  traveled together. George said, “It ain’t so funny, him an’ me goin’ aroun’ together. Him and me was both born in Auburn. I knowed his Aunt Clara. She took him when he was a baby and raised him up. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while” (39). Slim said, “ He ain’t mean, I can see Lennie ain’t a bit mean” (41). George replied, “ Course he ain’t mean. But he gets in trouble alla time because he’s so God damn dumb. Like what happened in Weed…” (41).
          George shared his most intimate secret with Slim. George explained to Slim that they had to leave Weed because Lennie had touched a women’s dress and didn’t let go. So the women said she had been raped and the men in the town were looking for them. Carlson proposed again that they should kill Candy’s old dog and if Candy didn’t want to, then he would. When Slim didn’t oppose, Candy said, “Awright--take him” (47). Whit and George were playing cards, but Candy just stared at the ceiling on his bed.

Post 2 of 7 (pgs. 17-37) -Griselda

Griselda Casillas

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck
Read book one by Oct. 6
Post by Oct. 6

Hey Julianna,

          In section 2 (pgs. 17-37) I read that George and Lennie had arrived at the farm that they would work at. We met a few new characters here. George and Lennie met Candy. George and Lennie met the boss who asked them a few questions. The boss noticed that George didn’t let Lennie speak and asked George, “Say--- what you selling’? Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. I just like to know what your interest is” (23). George told him that he promised his "aunt” that he would take care of his “cousin”, Lennie. The boss told him that he would watch out for George. The boss told George that he would keep an eye on him . Also,the boss told them, “Go on out with the grain teams after dinner…”.  George got mad at Lennie because he said, “You was gonna leave your big flapper shut and leave me do the talkin’. Damn near lost us the job” (23-24). Lennie responded that he forgot and asked George if he had been hit on the head by the horse as George had said to the boss. George said, “Be a damn good thing if you was, save ever’body a hell of a lot of trouble” (24). George was just angry that Lennie had disobeyed him. 

          One theme I saw that George portrayed was anger towards Curley because he said, “This guy Curley sounds like a son-of-a-bitch to me. I don’t like mean little guys” (27). Curley’s wife came in looking for Curley, but they told her they hadn’t seen her. George told Lennie, “Listen to me, you crazy bastard. Don’t you even take a look at that bitch. I don’t care what she says and what she does. I seen ‘em poison before, but I never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her. You leaver her be” (32). 

          After that George and Lennie met Slim. They also met Carlson who proposed to Slim, “why’n’t you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up?” (35). Lennie heard Slim say that he had five pups left and told George, “You ask him right away, George, so he won’t kill no more of ‘em” (36). Curley came in and asked George if he had seen his wife. George said he had about an hour ago, but didn’t know where she went. George was really frustrated and explained to Lennie, “Ya know, Lennie, I’m scared I’m gonna tangle with that bastard myself. I hate his guts. Jesus Christ! Come on. They won’t be a damn thing left to eat” (37). It seems like George isn’t going to get along with Curley. 

Post 1 of 7 (pgs. 1-16) -Griselda

Griselda Casillas
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
Read book one by Oct. 6
Post by Oct. 6

Hey Julianna,

As I was reading your first post I definitely agree with you that the most important theme in pgs.1-16 is friendship between George and Lennie. I also agree with the fact that George is the one with the brains and good ideas. George feels that it is his responsibility to take care of Lennie because Lennie is not so smart. For example, when George and Lennie had stopped to rest beside the pool, Lennie took great gulps of water. George said, “Lennie, for God’s sakes don’t drink so much”. “Lennie you gonna be sick like you was last night”. Lennie told George to drink some water. But George replied, “I ain’t sure It’s good water, looks kinda scrummy” (5). As a result, George told Lennie, “…You never oughta drink water when it ain’t running”. You’d drink out of a gutter if you was thirsty” (5). This shows that George really cares about Lennie and doesn’t want anything bad to happen to him.

George told Lennie that they were going to go to a farm just like the one in Weed. George told Lennie, “That ranch we’re goin’ to is right down there about a quarter mile. We’re gonna go in an’ see the boss. Now, look --- I’ll give him the work tickets, but you ain’t gonna say a word. You jus’ stand there and don’t say nothing. If he find out what a crazy bastard you are, we won’t get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we’re set” (8). It seems to me that George doesn’t really want Lennie to screw things up this time, and politely asks Lennie to let him do all the talking. George and Lennie are determined to get enough money to make their dream come true. Of having their own place, owning some land, and animals.

Section 1 of 7- Julianna

Julianna Hale
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
Read book one by Oct. 6
Post by Oct. 6

Griselda, as I was reading the first section (pages 1-16) I noticed that there was one obvious leader and one obvious follower/listener. I think that George was the one with all the brains and good ideas and it was up to him to tell Lennie what to do if he ever got into trouble. For example, when George and Lennie were hiding in the bushes, George said to Lennie, "...if you jus' happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush" ( Steinbeck 15). Lennie had no problem following that but George told him to repeat it over and over so that he wouldn't forget. It seems like the two characters are running away from something because they hide in the brush like they don't want to be seen. I also read that George thinks Lennie isn't smart but he still likes him. Lennie says, "If you don't want me, you only jus' got to say so" (13). George replies, "I want you to stay with me, Lennie" (13). Finally, it seems that they have big plans for themselves. Lennie asks George to tell the story of what they are going to do once they make enough money. George says, "we're gonna have a house together and a couple of acres an' a cow and some pigs and..."(14). I think that an obvious theme that can be seen is friendship. There are two guys who don't have to do anything with each other; one is smart and the other isn't. However, they choose to stick together and that shows true friendship.