Morgan Hunt
February 14, 2008
English 9
Mr.Edson
OMAM 3+4
1. In the third and fourth chapters of Of Mice And Men, a lot of talk of the future happens and also a lot of drama as well. The third chapter should be called "Defended, Happy, and then Attacked" because that is basically everything that happened to Lennie and this chapters. In the beginning, George and slim are talking and Slim mentions how it is weird that him and Lennie travel together. "'What's so funny about it?' George demanded defensively." (Steinbeck 42). George continues to defend Lennie in the situation by telling Slim that Lennie isn’t crazy, and how him and Lennie have known each other a while because he knew Lennie's aunt Clara. Lennie is happy because Slim gave him one of his' dog's puppies. However, when Curley thinks Lennie is laughing at him, Curley attacks him and at first Lennie does nothing but stand there and eventually crushes his hand. Chapter four should be titled "Lonely" because we learn how lonely Crooks and Curley's wife are. The chapter starts off by Lennie going into Crooks room, and not being welcomed. Crooks tries to tell Lennie how he has to live and how he is not wanted. Next, Candy comes in and they all talk about their own little house and Crooks gets in on the plan with Lennie, George and Candy. Soon Curley's wife comes into the barn, and wants to talk. They try to tell her that they don’t want any trouble and she should just leave. She stays, and tries to talk to them and explains how lonely she gets and what life she could have had.
2. One character in the third and fourth chapters that we learn more about is Candy's wife. In the first two chapters, the only perspective we have of her is that she is pretty, flirtatious and trouble. However, in these two chapters we learn the reason behind these actions; loneliness. She is lonely, and doesn’t even like talking to Curley. "Think I don't like to talk to somebody ever' once in a while?"(Steinbeck 85) she asks them. When they tell her that she has a husband she replies with "Swell guy, aint he? Spends all his time sayin' what he's gonna do to guys he don't like, and he don't like nobody" (Steinbeck 85) This explains why she is always trying to talk to the guys in the barn, because she is lonely and doesnt think Curley is a nice guy. She tells them how she could have been in pitchers, and then insults them buy saying "-Sat'iday night. Ever'body out doin' som'pin. Ever'body! An' what am I doin'? Standin' here talk'n to a bunch of bindle stiffs- a nigger an' a dum-dum and a lousy ol' sheep- an likin' it because they aint nobody else." (Steinbeck 86) This shows that she rather be out doing plenty of other things. This is important to the story because if she is lonely she is going to talk to the guys, and if Curley find out he is going to mad, which means trouble.
3. In these chapters, the dream of owning their own little house with a garden and rabbits plays a big role. Candy gets into the plans, and Crooks did for a while until he decided to forget about it. Their place is in mind is "ten acres... got a little win'mill. Got a little shack on it, an' a chicken run. Got a kitchen, orchard, cherries, apples, peaches, 'cots, nuts, got a few berries. They's a place for alfalfa and plenty water to flood it. They's a pig pen-" (Steinbeck 62) Lennie is looking forward to the rabbits, and feeding them. When candy joins in, he mentions how he could do work, and even put in $350. They really think they are going to get the place. For them, it symbolizes freedom to do what they want when they want. The said that there wouldn’t be anyone to stop them so, "S'pose they was a carnival or circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing. We'd just go to her, We wouldn’t ask nobody if we could. Jus' say, We'll go to her, an' we would" (Steinbeck 67)
4. These chapters make me think about how when my friends and I were younger we used to plan on getting a house together. Whenever we saw a house we really liked and agreed on we would always say that when we got older we were going to buy it and live in it together; Abergaveny, Allison, and I. There was one house on Nantucket between Allison's house and mine that we always thought was very cool. We'd imagine what we would have in it, and what kind of play set we would have. We would even talk about who got what room and when we would have parties. We also talked about how we could have movie nights and such. It was fun thinking about having so much freedom and sharing it with your friends. Just imagining all the things we could do were fun. Half the time we actually believed we were going to, but somehow we all knew that somewhere along the line things would change; and they did.
5. Overall, a lot happened in these chapters. I'm afraid for Lennie, not only because of Curley but because of his puppy. The reading says that the puppy is too little and that he is always with it which makes me a little cautious. I'm also a little afraid for when Curley gets better; no one knows what he could do. I’m kind of disappointed that Crooks dropped out of his plans for the house, except part of me doesnt think they will get it anyways. However, I think it was generous of George to let Candy in on the plans and nice of Candy to contribute to help buy the house.
6.
bemused- to be deep in thought
contemptuously - to be full of scorn
mauled- something worn out or torn
slug- usually a single alcoholic drink
twict- a sudden sharp punch
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