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Powerlessness in Of Mice and Men - Quotes
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Key quotes to help describe the theme of Powerlessness in Of Mice and Men.
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PowerlessnessThis is shown by many of the ranch hands as well as other people, such as Curley’s wife.
Many of the characters in the novella show a lack of power, but some more than others.
Key quotes:
“they left all the weak ones here”
Curley’s Wife isn’t given a name and, therefore, is referred to as only ‘Curley’s wife’
throughout the novella. This reflects her lack of identity on the ranch other than that
beyond being the property of Curley and being controlled by him to show her lack of
power and his great deal of power. Curley’s wife also shows how she has little power
when she talks about Curley visiting the cat house and that all the weak people were
left, including herself.
“Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it
ain't even funny.”
Here, Curley’s wife is showing her power, belittling Crooks. It just shows how powerless
Crooks was and her use of words also makes Crooks seem powerless as she calls him a
‘Nigger’ and threatens him. As he is on the ranch and Curley is higher in authority due to
him being the boss’ son, crooks cannot defend himself.
“because I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you.”
Lennie has very little power as he is controlled by George and is told how to live his life
in general as we see throughout the novella. This quote shows us how much Lennie
relies on George to look after him as he has gotten used to the idea of having George
around him too much as he assumes that he will always be there.
“When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me. But they won’t do nothing like
that. I won’t have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no more jobs."
Candy has now become powerless, after all, his job relies on strength, but now that he is
losing that in old age, his only livelihood is dwindling. The fact that he is becoming less
important on the ranch means that his power is slowing decreasing, too.
“I think you got your han’ caught in a machine…but you jus’ tell an’ try to get this guy
canned and we’ll tell ever’body, an’ then will you get the laugh.”
Curley after the fight is powerless and risks his own reputation if he tells anyone. This
moment also highlights the lack of power Curley has in comparison to Slim, who appears
to be the only person who Curley does not want to pick a fight against.
“The group burst into the clearing, and Curley was ahead. He saw Lennie lying on the
sand.”
Despite having no power at this moment in time, due to the fact that he has no choice
but to shoot Lennie (otherwise Curley will take great pleasure in it), George has taken
the power that Curley may have had, had he been able to get revenge on Lennie. So,
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