Follower

Leader

Kind

Dreams

Fears

Strong?

Mistakes

Qualities

Role

Theme

Other notes

Lennie

Yes

No

Wants to be, to animals

Of feeding alfalfa to the rabbits

Not feeding rabbits; doing wrong

Physically

Girl in Weed; dead animals

Strength; emotionally aware; intuitive

Central figure; outsider – learning difficulties

Outsiders powerless-ness

Tall

George

No

Yes

Is now to Lennie

Of own farm

Lennie losing them a job

Not physically

Making Lennie jump into the river

Responsible minder; committed; clean living; thinks ahead; caring.

Central figure

Outsider

Grows in stature in the story; even plans to save money

Candy

Yes

Cynical

Comes to share George’s dream

Being sacked; growing old

Only one hand

Should have shot dog himself.

Careful with money

A source of info and scene-setting; source of $$$

Loneliness; old age; health and safety

Candy and his dog foreshadow George’s dilemma with Lennie

Curley

Yes- boss’s son

No

?

Insecure about masculinity; possessive

No but thinks he is

Provoking Lennie

Negative: jealous; bully; coward; vengeful. Positive: boxer

Privilege does not breed generosity

Privilege

Thin young man with brown face, brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair

Curley’s wife

Yes

Leads Lennie on

No; harsh to Candy

Of being a movie star

Loneliness

No; Lennie overpowers her

Poor choice of husband; leads Lennie on

Negative – a flirt; positive - pretty

Death causes the final tragedy

Loneliness; powerless-ness

Rouged lips, make-up, hair in rolled clusters, gives men the eye

Slim

Yes

Yes; esp to george at the end

Has the strength of character to command respect

Thoughtful

Best qualities can be found in the downtrodden

Justice – backs George’s mercy killing

Universally respected: ‘His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject..’

Crooks

Yes

Comes to share George’s dream

Teases Lennie that George will not return; provokes Curley’s wife

Dignity; good at horseshoes

Loneliness; racism; powerless-ness

Black stablehand; crooked back (industrial injury); not allowed in bunkhouse; more possessions

Carlson

Insensitive

Tough

Negative – insensitive over Candy’s dog

Provides picture of what Lennie’s end would be if the gang got to him first

It is his gun which George takes to kill Lennie