Slim
- “Ideal” in microcosm
- Jerk line skinner
- Appearance (p37-8): long, black hair; “prince of the ranch”, “profound”; “ageless”’ “
hands large and lean”; “voice gentle”
- Friendly, warm to everyone: “hope you get on my team” p38
- ^to the point of flirtation w/ CW: “Hi, good-lookin” p35
- Profound: “Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other” p39
- Structure: Other characters speak of Slim. Candy describes him, his job, “no high-heeled boots”
to assert power (unlike Curley, where costume plays important part in power)
- ^ Highlights theme of fate. Positive description positive predisposition – Slim fated to be
respected and admired by reader.
- George and Lennie meet him, fated to have a positive attitude towards Slim.
- 2 sides to Slim:
- Clearly superior, language – royalty: “prince”, “majesty”
- Fated to tragedy of life, doesn’t achieve much despite superiority. Same clothes as G and L
(costume symbolic again), lives in same bunkhouse.
- Regal but fated to live same life.
- Fate: defies AD idea (“only have to work hard to achieve dream” – works hard but still hasn’t
received much more.
- Curley’s wife – woman; Lennie – slow; Crooks – black; Candy – old; Slim has it all, still fated to
achieve little more than anyone else.
- Sensitive: “loudly” to drown out dog dying p55, “take a shovel”
- Defends Lennie, voice of reason: p72-3
- Colour-blind, kind: “Slim comes in 2-3 times” – sees Crooks every time he comes in.
- “Ideal” in microcosm
- Jerk line skinner
- Appearance (p37-8): long, black hair; “prince of the ranch”, “profound”; “ageless”’ “
hands large and lean”; “voice gentle”
- Friendly, warm to everyone: “hope you get on my team” p38
- ^to the point of flirtation w/ CW: “Hi, good-lookin” p35
- Profound: “Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other” p39
- Structure: Other characters speak of Slim. Candy describes him, his job, “no high-heeled boots”
to assert power (unlike Curley, where costume plays important part in power)
- ^ Highlights theme of fate. Positive description positive predisposition – Slim fated to be
respected and admired by reader.
- George and Lennie meet him, fated to have a positive attitude towards Slim.
- 2 sides to Slim:
- Clearly superior, language – royalty: “prince”, “majesty”
- Fated to tragedy of life, doesn’t achieve much despite superiority. Same clothes as G and L
(costume symbolic again), lives in same bunkhouse.
- Regal but fated to live same life.
- Fate: defies AD idea (“only have to work hard to achieve dream” – works hard but still hasn’t
received much more.
- Curley’s wife – woman; Lennie – slow; Crooks – black; Candy – old; Slim has it all, still fated to
achieve little more than anyone else.
- Sensitive: “loudly” to drown out dog dying p55, “take a shovel”
- Defends Lennie, voice of reason: p72-3
- Colour-blind, kind: “Slim comes in 2-3 times” – sees Crooks every time he comes in.
