Section 2 - Plot

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Section 2 Plot

In Section 2, the reader is introduced to the ranch and key characters, including Curley and his wife, Candy, and Slim.

The ranch

George and Lennie arrive at the ranch and begin working. Candy, accompanied by his ancient dog, is an old man who has lost one of his hands.
He shows George and Lennie around “the bunkhouse”, “a long, rectangular building” with “whitewashed” walls and “unpainted” floors, which is where the men live.
George is worried that the bunks they have been given could be infested with lice.

The Boss

Candy tells George about the Boss, who is evidently “a pretty nice fella”.
Soon after, the Boss arrives. He is suspicious of George's relationship with Lennie because he has “never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy”.
George persuades them that they are just cousins (which is a lie), and that “he got kicked in the head by a horse when he was a kid” (which is also a lie) to explain Lennie’s slowness.
The Boss is satisfied and allows them to begin work.

Ranch workers

George and Lennie then meet the other ranch workers, including the Boss’s unpleasant son, Curley, who Candy describes as “pretty handy. He done quite a bit in the ring”.
Curley is wearing “high-heeled” boots, suggesting he has a higher status than the other workers. It seems that Curley takes a particular disliking to Lennie because he “hates big guys.”

Curley's wife

Curley’s wife, who has “full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes” and is “heavily made up” also comes into the bunkhouse and is flirtatious with George and Lennie.
Lennie finds Curley’s wife attractive and this worries George, who warns him to “not even take a look at that bitch.”

Slim

George and Lennie are also introduced to Slim, a “jerkline skinner” (person in charge of the horses), who is an impressive man who moves “with a majesty achieved only by royalty and master craftsmen” and is referred to as “the prince of the ranch.”
George is immediately drawn to him and clearly respects his authority.
Slim is also impressed by the friendship between George and Lennie, pointing out how rare it is for two men to look out for each other in this way.

1Context & Overview

1.1Context & Overview

1.1.1The Great Depression

1.1.2Racism

1.1.3The American Dream

1.1.4Of Mice & Men

1.2John Steinbeck

1.2.1John Steinbeck's Life

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Overview

2Plot

2.1Section 1 - Analysis

2.1.1Section 1 - Plot

2.1.2Section 1 - Overview

2.2Section 2 - Analysis

2.2.1Section 2 - Plot

2.2.2Section 2 - Overview

2.3Section 3 - Analysis

2.3.1Section 3 - Plot

2.3.2Section 3 - Overview

2.3.3End of Topic Test - Sections 1-3

2.4Section 4 - Analysis

2.4.1Section 4 - Plot

2.4.2Section 4 - Overview

2.5Section 5 - Analysis

2.5.1Section 5 - Plot

2.5.2Section 5 - Overview

2.6Section 6 - Analysis

2.6.1Section 6 - Plot

2.6.2Section 6 - Overview

2.6.3End of Topic Test - Sections 4-6

3Key Characters

3.1Main Characters

3.1.1George

3.1.2Lennie - Strength

3.1.3Lennie - Innocence & Dependence

3.1.4Slim

3.1.5Curley

3.1.6Curley's Wife - Flirtatious

3.1.7Curley's Wife - Lonely & Heartbroken

3.1.8Crooks

3.1.9Candy

3.1.10End of Topic Test - George & Lennie

3.1.11End of Topic Test - Slim, Curley & Curley's Wife

3.2Minor Characters

3.2.1Minor Characters

3.2.2End of Topic Test - Crooks, Candy & Others

4Themes

4.1Key Themes

4.1.1Hopes, Dreams & Reality

4.1.2Racial Prejudice

4.1.3Loneliness & Companionship

4.1.4The Weak & Strong

4.1.5Women

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes

5Authorial Method

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Dialogue

5.1.2Imagery

5.1.3Light

5.1.4Sound

5.1.5Symbolism

5.1.6Structure

5.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

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