1. Curley’s wife’s dream is more realistic than George and Lennie’s because she already
possesses several of the qualities needed to pursue a movie-star career. For instance,
Curley’s wife is described as a remarkably gorgeous, which is a common trait among
Hollywood celebrities, and we can establish from her run-ins with actors in Salinas that
she has both a captivating personality and the innate ability to act. On page 88, for
example, Curley’s wife mentions that “‘[She] met a guy and he was in pitchers. Went out
to the Riverside Dance Palace with him. He sas he was gonna put me in the movies.
Says I was a natural’.” George and Lennie, unlike Curley’s wife, are a very irrational and
conflicting duo, which would most likely prevent them from prospering on their own land
if they are ever able to purchase it.
2. Steinbeck uses repetition in the first chapter in order to characterize Lennie as a childish
person who is a constant nuisance to George. For example, Lennie repeatedly mentions
“the rabbits” to George (pgs. 4, 10,13) which develops Lennie’s personality as a “baby in
a man’s body”. Additionally, George becomes increasingly annoyed as Lennie
continuously brings up “the rabbits”, and Lennie fails to notice. Through this, Steinbeck
conveys that Lennie is unable to understand simple social cues, such as when someone
is afraid or angry, which explains the conflict that occurred with Lennie in Weed.
3. The diction George and Lennie use to speak with each other is extremely simple and
choppy. For instance, on page 9, George states, “I ain’t takin’ it away jus’ for meanness.
That mouse ain’t fresh, Lennie; and besides, you’ve broke it pettin’ it. You get another
mouse that’s fresh and I’ll let you keep it a little while.” From George and Lennie’s
dialogue throughout the story, we can conclude that they most likely received little formal
