1. Issues of power in the novel.
Of Mice & Men
Issues of power in the novel.

2. Who has power? The Boss. Curley. Slim. George (to some extent).
The other men.
Candy.
Lennie (physical).
Curley’s Wife.
Crooks.

3. The Boss He owns the ranch and runs it.
He is the one that hires George and Lennie.
Uses his power reasonably. Hard but fair.
Worries that George is using Lennie.

4. Curley Has power through being boss’s son. Physical power of boxer.
Power over his wife – not confident in this though.
Abuses power – beats up Lennie.

5. Slim Respected. Jerkline Skinner. Other men listen to him.
They think more of him than Curley.
He has authority that he uses wisely.

6. George Has power over Lennie.
Is respected by Slim as a humane and sympathetic character.
Is not scared of Curley.
His ultimate power is over life and death: he kills Lennie.

7. The other men. Under the control of their bosses.
Carlson shows power over Candy.
They don’t have much power because of their financial position.

8. Candy Powerless because he is old and has nothing to offer.
Has some power because he has money – enough to make their dream come true.
Cannot even save his dog.

9. Lennie Lennie is powerless mentally.
He has some power over George – makes him feel guilty.
His physical power gives him control over Curley.
He has the ultimate power to kill.

10. Curley’s Wife Powerless because she’s female.
Dependant on males for future.
Power with her looks.
Power over Crooks and she abuses it.

11. Crooks Has the least power because he is black. Calls Slim ‘Mr Slim.’
Only power he has is to resort to the Civil Code.
Curley’s Wife shows power over him.
He abuses the power he thinks he has over Lennie.

12. Weak and the Strong The heron catches the water snake in the end.
The strong devour the weak.
Nature is cruel.
The weak, in the novel, are destroyed by the strong.

13. Power The title refers to a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns.
It refers to a mouse having its nest dug up when ploughing.
It reflects how vulnerable some humans are.
‘The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men Gang aft agley.’