Significance of characters' names in Of Mice and Men?

Question

I've already decided that 'George' if often associated with power and leadership; he looks over Lenny. Also, 'Lenny' is the diminiutive of Leonard; he has a nickname because he is childlike.

What about Slim? Curley? Candy? Crooks? Carlson? What special meanings are behind their names? Is there a particular reason why so many characters' names begin with a C?

Answer 1

The novel is allegorical.
An allegory is a story that uses character types to represent specific ideas and create a universal message. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses his characters, locations, animal imagery, and a simple game of cards to demonstrate to his readers that most people dream about lives of great significance. But in reality, most humans’ limitations keep these dreams from coming true, and in the long run, they are destined to experience common lives.

Characters

George and Lennie are the only two characters in the novel who are explained in any detail. The other characters are all “types,” or people whom the reader might recognize as one of a certain group. Even the names of the characters, short and descriptive, say something about them. Lennie Small, for instance, is anything but small physically, and other characters seem to notice and comment on that. His brain is small and his ability to reason is small, but his body is huge and very powerful. Curley’s wife has no name, indicating her powerless position on the ranch.

Each of the characters represents a kind of person in American society and often one that is a victim of discrimination. For example, Crooks represents a segment of American society that is discriminated against because of race; Curley’s wife, because of gender; Candy, because of old age and physical handicap. Carlson is a perfect example of a selfish oaf, interested only in his creature comforts and oblivious to any one else’s feelings. Slim is the consummate example of understanding and gentleness beneath a wise and experienced exterior. The pugnacious Curley is the little guy who loves to flaunt his power and status. Each of these minor characters impact, negatively or positively, Lennie and George’s dream of having their own farm.

Locations

The pool described in the first paragraph of the novel is a place of sanctuary. Away from the world of humans, “the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool.” Steinbeck goes on to describe the “strong and rocky” Gabilan Mountains and the “golden foothill slopes.” A gentle breeze and fresh, green willow trees line the pool. In this place of sanctuary, George and Lennie enjoy one last night before going in to the ranch. Here there are no voices, no “scary things” for Lennie, no hurry, and no concerns about work.

But the pool represents another kind of sanctuary. George asks Lennie if he can remember this place, especially since it is on the river, an easy sign for Lennie to follow. George repeats several times his directions to Lennie: “Lennie—if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush … till I come for you.” This is the place where Lennie can come and George can meet him and help him again as he did when Lennie got in trouble in Weed. If necessary, the pool will be their meeting place so they can get away once again. Later, when the doomed Lennie returns to the pool, he sadly repeats, “I di’n’t forget, you bet. God damn. Hide in the brush an’ wait for George.” For Lennie, this is where George will make everything right, and he will be safe.

While this is also the place where Lennie’s dream will die, it will do so with peace and tranquility, at least in Lennie’s mind. When George describes the dream, later at this pool, the atmosphere of nature and its beauty obviously inspire his words. He tells Lennie, “You … an’ me. Ever’body gonna be nice to you. Ain’t gonna be no more trouble. Nobody gonna hurt nobody nor steal from @‘em.” Now this place has also become enmeshed in the retelling of the dream that will bring them better lives. And even though we know that the dream is retold here with another meaning for George, we also see that Lennie hears the story once again with eagerness in his voice and anticipation in his words. Here, in this beautiful place, George will save Lennie from the cruelty of Curley and help him die with his picture of their farm in his head.

The dream farm is another location; it does not exist in reality but is very real in the minds of Lennie and, eventually, George. It becomes a symbol for their relationship, and the retelling of the dream has become a ritual. This is the place where George and Lennie will have self-respect and independence. They will live off the fat of the land, and no one will tell them what to do. Lennie can have what he likes the best—soft rabbits to pet—and he will feel safe. George can have a more normal life that involves putting down roots and staying in one place. At the farm, George will also have an easier time keeping track of Lennie. When Candy offers the money to put down a payment, the symbol begins to become a reality. Unfortunately, the dream is an enchanted concept, and once its reality becomes possible, it begins to die.

In opposition to these two positive symbols is the bunkhouse, which represents the cruel world of reality. Even Lennie, with his mental handicap, can intuitively feel that the bunkhouse is not a good place. After meeting Curley, Lennie tells George, “I don’t like this place, George. This ain’t no good place. I wanna get outa here.” And as soon as Curley’s wife comes alone to the bunkhouse, George knows exactly where the trouble is going to originate. He cautions Lennie not to talk to Curley’s wife and to stay away from Curley. It is also in the bunkhouse that we see discrimination (against Candy and Crooks), cruelty (Curley’s wife’s attack on Crooks and Curley’s attack on Lennie), insensitivity (Carlson’s killing Candy’s dog), and suspicion (Curley’s jealousy, several characters presumptions about why Lennie and George are traveling together). This is also a world in which fate often plays a hand, and the humans are frequently defenseless and see their “best laid plans” go awry.
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Answer 2

It has been a while since I read it, and I don't know where my copy is, so I will only respond to the ones I can think of off hand.

Slim, I believe, is called that because it is a physical description of his body. He is kind of the archetypal cowboy, who is usually portrayed in literature as tall and lanky, or slim. I would imagine it's a nickname, though I don't remember him being called by anything else in the book.

Curly gets his name, I believe, from his hair, which has a dashing sort of curl above the forehead, if I recall. Again, I would imagine it is a nickname. The significance in this particular place is that it reinforces his vanity. He's always worried about how he looks, and paying attention to his hair is an extension of that. I always had the feeling that having a beautiful wife was actually part of his vanity, and that her main function for him was something beautiful to possess and have on his arm, rather that having an actual wife. I think that's why she is so unsuited to the farm---she was picked with an eye to her looks rather than to her suitability as a farm wife.

Candy is the old man with the dog, isn't he? My only guess would be that his nickname has to do with him being kind and gentle, or a "sweet old man".

I am sorry I cannot be of more help.

Answer 3

Candy- is supposed to be a hooker/tarts name

Answer 4

**** ron