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STUDYWORLD STUDYNOTES

Of Mice and Men

Chapter Two:

Lennie and George arrive at the ranch where an old man introduces them to their new home. The boss walks in while George and Candy (the old man) are talking. He takes down George and Lennie's names, where they worked before, and what skills they have. George answers every time for Lennie which makes the boss curious. He asks George what his interest in Lennie is, thinking that George is out to get Lennie's pay. George tells the boss that Lennie had been kicked in the head by a horse when he was little, and he had told Lennie's aunt that he would take care of Lennie. When the boss leaves, Candy comes back in with his dog after listening to the conversation through the door. Curley, the boss' son, comes in soon after. He notices the two new guys and sees a challenge - especially in Lennie. Once Curley leaves, George and Candy have a discussion about him. Candy says that Curley just does not like men who are bigger than he. Curley has been even cockier since he got married. Candy also says that Curley's wife is a bit of a "tart" , and then he leaves to go to work. Soon after, Curley's wife enters looking for her husband. After flirting with George and winning Lennie's love, she leaves just as Slim comes in. Slim introduces George and Lennie to Carlson. After another short confrontation with Curley the men go to dinner.

Review:

Upon arriving at the ranch, they are met by an old man named Candy and his dog. It is Candy who explains to them the ways of the ranch and the personalities of the other ranch hands. Soon, the boss enters the cabin to visit with his new workers, quite angry that they had been too late for the morning shift. He asks both George and Lennie questions, which George proceeds to answer. Eventually, Lennie answers one question in his own, unintelligent way. George is angry, but the boss is a bit suspicious.

The reader also meets Curley's seductive wife. As usual, she is "looking for her husband" as an excuse to meet and attempt to seduce the other workers. Of course, George and Candy deny her attempts, but Lennie innocently defends her. As George warns Lennie to stay away from her, Lennie shows that he wants to leave, "It's mean here". George agrees to leave once they have enough money to attain their dream.