Task: Write about what happened to George and Lennie on their first day at the Soledad ranch.

After a long and tiring journey, George and Lennie eventually arrive at the Ranch’s bunkhouse.
There, they were greeted by a man named Candy “The old swamper”. He is an old ranch worker
who lost his hand in an accident. Candy notified them that the boss was irritated as they were
supposed to arrive the day before. But, despite being angry with George and Lennie, Candy
mentioned that the boss could be a “pretty nice fella” because he gave the men a gallon of
whiskey for Christmas. After that, George asked Candy a few questions regarding the ranch, and
eventually, the boss arrives.

The boss’s name is never mentioned but he asked the two men about their late arrival and
George blames it on the bus driver who lied to them about how close they were to the ranch.
Then, the boss asked about their work experience and why they left Weed, and throughout the
entire conversation, George answers all the questions- emphasising Lennie’s strength and work
ethic. The boss grows suspicious of George and Lennie’s friendship and even wonders if George
is taking advantage of Lennie as he asks him “You takin’ his pay away from him?” Due to
isolation and loneliness being key themes throughout the novel, I believe that the reason the
boss thinks this is because itinerant workers usually travelled alone. They work somewhere for
a short time and then move on to another equally lonely place. As George previously quoted in
section one, “Guys that work on the farm are the loneliest guys. They got no family, they don't
belong no place.”

The boss wasn't the only one suspicious of George and Lennie’s friendship. Steinbeck made it
evident that arious characters demonstrated suspicion of George and Lennie. Firstly, the boss
questions whether George is taking away Lennie’s money, then Curley, and finally Slim
questions why they travel together. From my understanding, Slim’s reaction was the only one
that displayed compassion as he tried to acknowledge how travelling together might help with
the feeling of loneliness that continues to grow as the days go on.

After speaking to the boss, the two men were assigned to one of the grain teams, working under
a man named Slim-the well-respected leader of the workers. Eventually, the reader is introduced
to two more characters, Candy’s half-blind, and very old sheepdog, and Curly the boss’s son. The
relationship between Candy and his dog might be considered similar to the relationship George
has with Lennie as they are the only friendships throughout the entire novella. Curly is an ex-
boxer who likes to distinguish himself or stand out from the other ranch hands. He wears high-
heeled boots like his father and likes to believe he’s superior to the others because he’s married.
He enjoys taunting others and even has some fun at Lennie’s expense as he insists on letting
“the big guy talk”. This implies that Curly becomes insecure and angry when he’s around guys
bigger than him. The reader instantly senses that Curly is a bully. After he left, Candy explained
to George that his irritable nature only grew further since he married a “tart” who enjoys flirting
with workers.

From the way she’s described, Curley’s wife is symbolic of a woman of loose morals. As Lennie
begins to grow fascinated by her appearance and beauty, completely disregarding the danger
she represents; George becomes worried. I suspect he has every right to do so considering
Curley and his wife only bring fear and trouble every time they appear.

Finally, the writer introduces us to Slim and Carlson. Carlson is a ranch hand who suggests that
George and Lennie should convince Candy to shoot his old, worthless dog and raise one of the
pups instead. Some readers may consider Carlson heartless because a mercy killing is an act
that’s morally wrong and affects the person forced to do the killing. While others-including me-
consider it to be justified by the fact that letting Candy’s dog die, and ending his suffering is
better than dragging his death on. Slim is the voice of reason. There is a “gravity in his manner”
and everyone stops talking when he begins to speak, implying that workers respect him as
Steinbeck describes him as a man of “majesty” and “authority” and he even goes as far as
taking the pair to work together on his team, instead of separating them. This is a generous
gesture from the “master craftsman”.