Slim takes a place naturally that Curley long to fill. Slim is described to be a “powerful” man,
as we know Slim is not of a higher class, the reader concludes this comes naturally to Slim.
Curley is of higher class, being the ranch owner’s son, however he does not gain the respect
Slim does and even tries to emphasize his higher status by wearing “high heeled boots”.
Before the reader even meets Slim we are told “Slim don’t need to wear no high heeled
boots.” Steinbeck is really highlighting here the difference between the two characters. Slim
goes against the 1930s hierarchy, in which the rich were on top. Slim is not a rich man, he is
the same class and wealth as the other ranch workers but Steinbeck still presents him as
someone who is above. Slim contrasts Curley in many ways. Slim is described to be ‘god-
like’ and he ‘moved with majesty’, which is the opposite to Curley who is ‘scrappy’ and is ‘alla
time picking scraps with big guys.” Throughout the novella Slim can be used to compare to
other characters, Slim’s kind nature highlights how horrid Curley is.
Slim’s power on the ranch makes him a voice of justice throughout the novel. Slim is
presented at every critical juncture. When Lennie kills Curley’s Wife Slim says “I guess we
gotta get ‘im” to George, he is the voice of reason, trying to tell George what to do in a hectic
situation. A situation in which Slim’s justice is questionable is when he kills the puppies. Slim
‘drowned four of [the puppies] right off.’ This seems like murder, however as we know at the
time resources and money were scarce we wonder if Slim knew the puppies would starve
and acts in a God like why. Steinbeck may have chosen Slim to do this as it is the most
loving thing to do, a Christian teaching which compares Slim to God once again. This shows
the reader Slim is understanding. Although, this action makes the reader feel more
forgivingly to another situation, when George shoots Lennie, George can look to Slim’s
example and see that killing Lennie was the most loving thing to do, Lennie’s death would be
painless from George but may not be from Curley. Even after the murder, Slim is unchanged
he still supports George and understands him, reassuring him and saying ‘never you mind, a
guy got to sometimes’. Slim is defying the characteristic 1930s breakdown of trusts and
friendships – it was a time where understandings were jeopardized and distances were
created, but Slim reveals a true understanding of the complexities of George’s decision.
Slim is fated to be a nice guy before the reader even meets him. “Hella of a nice feller” is our
first introduction of Slim, and this is something Steinbeck does a lot, introducing the
character through other characters speech first. Fate is one of the most prominent themes in
the novella, shown at many opportunities. Even the title “of mice and men” links to fate, as it
is taken from a line of a poem by Robert Burns. This poem revolves around the theme of
fate, as we see Steinbeck’s novella does also. As Slim’s first impression is that he will be a
nice guy, he is almost faded to be a nice man throughout.
Slim tries to help characters achieve their dreams. “He moved back out of the light” in this
quote “light” could represent dreams, and Slim doesn’t want to get in the way of anybodys
ambitions. Steinbeck may have included this to show that Slim is a caring figure, who wants
the best for everybody, another link to God who is omnibenevolent. This also foreshadows
Slim will be there to help people try and achieve what they dream of. This is very significant
as Curley’s Wife is said to step in front of the light, blocking it. This foreshadows that
Curley’s Wife will be the one to stand in front of their dream, which we see she is.
Slim represents how harsh the lives of 1930s Americans were. Slim is described to have a
“gravity in his manner” and he is “the prince of the ranch”, and yet Steinbeck still illustrates
how he will never achieve his dreams. Curley’s Wife cannot achieve her dreams as she is a
woman in a sexist society, Crooks cannot achieve his dreams as he is black in racist society,
as we know Slim is not of a higher class, the reader concludes this comes naturally to Slim.
Curley is of higher class, being the ranch owner’s son, however he does not gain the respect
Slim does and even tries to emphasize his higher status by wearing “high heeled boots”.
Before the reader even meets Slim we are told “Slim don’t need to wear no high heeled
boots.” Steinbeck is really highlighting here the difference between the two characters. Slim
goes against the 1930s hierarchy, in which the rich were on top. Slim is not a rich man, he is
the same class and wealth as the other ranch workers but Steinbeck still presents him as
someone who is above. Slim contrasts Curley in many ways. Slim is described to be ‘god-
like’ and he ‘moved with majesty’, which is the opposite to Curley who is ‘scrappy’ and is ‘alla
time picking scraps with big guys.” Throughout the novella Slim can be used to compare to
other characters, Slim’s kind nature highlights how horrid Curley is.
Slim’s power on the ranch makes him a voice of justice throughout the novel. Slim is
presented at every critical juncture. When Lennie kills Curley’s Wife Slim says “I guess we
gotta get ‘im” to George, he is the voice of reason, trying to tell George what to do in a hectic
situation. A situation in which Slim’s justice is questionable is when he kills the puppies. Slim
‘drowned four of [the puppies] right off.’ This seems like murder, however as we know at the
time resources and money were scarce we wonder if Slim knew the puppies would starve
and acts in a God like why. Steinbeck may have chosen Slim to do this as it is the most
loving thing to do, a Christian teaching which compares Slim to God once again. This shows
the reader Slim is understanding. Although, this action makes the reader feel more
forgivingly to another situation, when George shoots Lennie, George can look to Slim’s
example and see that killing Lennie was the most loving thing to do, Lennie’s death would be
painless from George but may not be from Curley. Even after the murder, Slim is unchanged
he still supports George and understands him, reassuring him and saying ‘never you mind, a
guy got to sometimes’. Slim is defying the characteristic 1930s breakdown of trusts and
friendships – it was a time where understandings were jeopardized and distances were
created, but Slim reveals a true understanding of the complexities of George’s decision.
Slim is fated to be a nice guy before the reader even meets him. “Hella of a nice feller” is our
first introduction of Slim, and this is something Steinbeck does a lot, introducing the
character through other characters speech first. Fate is one of the most prominent themes in
the novella, shown at many opportunities. Even the title “of mice and men” links to fate, as it
is taken from a line of a poem by Robert Burns. This poem revolves around the theme of
fate, as we see Steinbeck’s novella does also. As Slim’s first impression is that he will be a
nice guy, he is almost faded to be a nice man throughout.
Slim tries to help characters achieve their dreams. “He moved back out of the light” in this
quote “light” could represent dreams, and Slim doesn’t want to get in the way of anybodys
ambitions. Steinbeck may have included this to show that Slim is a caring figure, who wants
the best for everybody, another link to God who is omnibenevolent. This also foreshadows
Slim will be there to help people try and achieve what they dream of. This is very significant
as Curley’s Wife is said to step in front of the light, blocking it. This foreshadows that
Curley’s Wife will be the one to stand in front of their dream, which we see she is.
Slim represents how harsh the lives of 1930s Americans were. Slim is described to have a
“gravity in his manner” and he is “the prince of the ranch”, and yet Steinbeck still illustrates
how he will never achieve his dreams. Curley’s Wife cannot achieve her dreams as she is a
woman in a sexist society, Crooks cannot achieve his dreams as he is black in racist society,
