Throughout this second part we meet many characters. Each one is extremely different and each one's personality seems to foreshadow something for George and Lennie. Some, such as Curly, are hostile to the newcomers. Others, such as Slim and Carlson are friendly and curious.
Slim is a Skinner who is well liked by everyone. He has a natural air of authority and everyone looks up to or respects him. He is fairly friendly towards George and Lennie and seems fairly trustworthy. He seems like the type who may stand up for or help Lennie. Although, based on the information I am getting from this book about the personality of a rancher, I am doubtful as to how far he'd go to help someone whom he doesn't know, I do think he will not be the cause of whatever conflict occurs for George and Lennie.
There isn't that much information about the boss, but he seems fair. The only thing is that because he is Curly's father he would take his side if he fought against Lennie. He does not seem like an extremely important character but I suspect Curly will be the cause or part of the cause of the conflict and the boss's authority plays a big part in Curly's misdeeds.
There isn't much about Carlson but he seems like a neutral character and I suspect he won't have much of a part in the conflict. He is friendly towards George and Lennie but I don't think he would help them. On the other side of that, he hasn't been hostile towards them so he won't purposely hurt them unless people with higher authority (such as Curly) commanded him to.
The swamper gives the impression of an old gossip. He doesn't seem the type to take any action. He seems afraid of everyone else and seems to prefer spying and hiding. He enjoys talking about people behind their backs and likes to think he knows a lot. Although he does seem like he has been at the farm for a while and knows his way around. Other that, perhaps being the source of valuable (probably not) information, he doesn't seem that important.
Curly, almost as soon as you meet him, gives the impression of a villain. He clearly hates Lennie and is planing to tangle with him. Also, George has made him his enemy by defending Lennie. He is definitely planing something for them in which he will abuse his father's authority.
Curly's wife doesn't seem hostile but she is almost surely going to take advantage of Lennie and cause him to incur Curly's wrath. She seems like a very dislike able woman and I understand George's opinion about her almost completely. I also understand why he fears for Lennie.
I agree with a lot that you are saying about the characters. I agree That slim seemed nice and fair to both George and Lennie. He was nice to Geroge and talked to him as if they were friends, but when Slim started talking about his 9 new puppies and how he 'drowned four of 'em out' I couldn't tell if he drowned them in water or if that was a term used for he sold them. He does seem a little like he can cause some trouble though. I agree with what you say about Carlson is too, he does seem a little neutral he is friendly towards George and Lennie. However I do think that he will not help Lennie and Geoge if they need to run away and I think he will also cause a problem to both of them. He seems a little too friendly and some of the other people there dont seem as friendly and like they would help. I dont think the swamper will come up in the book a lot, he seems to know a lot and have a lot of important information that could potentially help george and Lennie but other than that I think he will be a rather neutral character. I agree with what you said about curley. he seems to be rough and clearly does hate both Lennie and Geogre. I don't think that Curley disliking the both of them will help them in the future. Curleys wife seems very nice but I do believe that in the end of the book she will get caught up in george and Lennies mess if they have one. She does seem to take advantage of Lennie which I dont think will help him or her.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with what your are saying about the characters. Slim seems nice, but I also don't know what he means about the puppies. I think that something is amiss about his personality, as if he is too "perfect." I agree with what you said about Curly, he sounds like a natural villian. He seems very irascible and looking for trouble. He is the big guy on the farm that you don't want to mess with. I agree with what your said about Carlson. We don't know much about him yet, but his part might become bigger later in the book. He seems friendly towards George and Lennie, but wouldn't stand up for them. I totally agree with what you said about the swamper. He sounds like a gossip, that stays in the shdows. He loves his old dog, even if it is blind and deaf. Even though he knows a lot of valuable information that could help George and Lennie, I don't think he has a major role in the book. Curly's wife is going to try and take advantage of Lennie, and will probably suceed if George isn't there. I think that Curly might have made a plan with his wife, to make her take advantage of the men, and then they will have to feel the wrath of of Curly.
ReplyDeleteMaddy, I a agree with what you said except the part about Curly and his wife collaborating. It fells to me like Curly is trying to keep his wife under a leash but she is refusing and flirting with other men.
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