4/22/15 Blog

Of Mice and Men 

By John Steinbeck Pages #1-39

Prompt: Describe the atmosphere of the ranch and bunkhouse. Be sure to include characteristics of different characters that were formally or informally introduced to us in this chapter. Support your choice with textual evidence and interpretation. Why doesn't Curley's wife have a name?   What message, if anything, is John Steinbeck  trying to send by not giving her a first name?  Support your choice with textual evidence and interpretation.

  The atmosphere in the ranch and the bunkhouse is tense. Every man fends for himself there. I think this because in the text it says, "'Say, what the hell you doin' listenin'?' ...'I wasn't listenin'. I was jus' standin' in the shade a minute scratchin' my dog. I jus' now finished swampin' out the wash house.' 'You was pokin your big ears into our business, ' George said. 'I don't like nobody to get nosey.'" This shows the atmosphere is hostile and tense because they were arguing with each other because George thought someone was listening to their conversation. There are serval dialogues like this. It shows the guys here get mad pretty easily.

   Some characters easily get more mad than others. Such as the boss, Curley, and sometimes George. The boss and his son both mainly affect the negative atmosphere because they both have a short fuse. I think this because in the text it says, "'Let the big guy talk.' Lennie twisted with embarrassment. George said, 'S'pose he don't want to talk?' Curley lashed his body around. 'By Christ, he's gotta talk when he's spoke to. What the hell are you gettin' into it for?' 'We travel together, ' George said coldly. 'Oh so it's that way.' George was tense and motionless." This shows the tone is tense between the two men. Therefore the atmosphere is mostly negative energy.

     I think Curley's wife doesn't have a name because she is irrelevant to main parts of the story. I think this because the boss doesn't have a name and he might only be important in the first few chapters. Curley's wife might not also have a name because she isn't deserving of one. I think this because in the book they call her a "...tramp..." and that could be a reason Steinbeck didn't think she deserved a name. The message he might be trying to send is you have to be a good enough person to earn a good name. I think this because it seems like Curley's wife isn't such a good person, so that could be why because she doesn't have a name.