How Characters in Of Mice & Men are victims

Characters in the novella Of Mice & Men are all victims in their own unique ways; some may just be difficult to see at first glance, however when you look closely you can see the depth and issues they go through.

George is a victim of love, he cares too much and it brings him down. He cares for Lennie, however if he didn’t have Lennie around, he would be a prosperous young man, most probably making more money and being able to care for himself properly.
"I ain't got no people. I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain't no good. They don't have no fun. After a long time they get mean. They get wantin' to fight all the time. . . 'Course Lennie's a God damn nuisance most of the time, but you get used to goin' around with a guy an' you can't get rid of him." This describes the extent in which without Lennie, George will just be one of those men who wander around alone and without care. However, George cares about Lennie a lot, and it is mentioned in the book that without Lennie, George will be free, to do what he wants, he’s have money and may even have a girl. "Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy.” (The Boss, on George and Lennie’s relationship.

Lennie in my opinion is the most victimised character in the book. He is a victim of bullying, of disability and of innocence. He tries so hard to do good, but in the end it all seems to not work out well and results in horrible circumstances. He is an innocent and loving man, who has a very kind heart, however his mind is too innocent, he doesn’t seem to know the difference between right and wrong, although he means no harm. "If you don' want me I can go off in the hills an' find a cave. I can go away any time." This quote describes that Lennie knows he can be a nuisance to everyone, and that he can go away and make everyone’s lives better, because that is what he was lead to believe.

Candy is a kind old man who works on the farm and is a victim of loneliness. His only close companion was his dog, and after the other men deemed his dog unworthy of life, he became sad. "I'd make a will an' leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, 'cause I ain't got no relatives or nothing…" Illustrates the loneliness and the fact that he would give his money to some men he only just met because he has no family to give it too.

Curley is a victim of his own confidence. He is a cocky, rude, uptight man who has problems with every other men on the farm. He thinks that because it’s his family’s farm that he says what goes, and when he is crudely mistaken, he becomes very defensive and wants to start fights. "I’ll try to catch him," said Curley. His eyes passed over the new men and he stopped. He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious. Lennie squirmed under the look and shifted his feet nervously. Curley stepped gingerly close to him. "You the new guys the old man was waitin’ for?" This quote shows that Curley is a very aggressive man, even though he is small, he’s very angry and is a victim of his ego.

Curley’s wife is a lonely, heart broken woman who isn’t at all happy and longing for a real companion. She wants to be a movie star, and instead she unwillingly got married to Curley who treats her with no dignity or independence and is left alone and scarred. She uses her sexuality to push Curley’s buttons and to talk to the men on the farm. "If I catch any one man, and he's alone, I get along fine with him. But just let two of the guys get together an' you won't talk. Jus' nothing but mad. You're all scared of each other, that's what. Ever' one of you's scared the rest is goin' to get something on you." This quote tells of the fact that men can’t talk to her when they’re in a group in fear of Curley’s wrath.

Crooks is a victim of loneliness. Being the only black worker on the farm, he is discriminated against everyday. He is lonely, longing for a companion and a conversation. "S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and play rummy 'cause you was black. How'd you like that? S'pose you had to sit out here an' read books. Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got to read books. Books ain't no good. A guy needs somebody-to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick." This quotation from the book expresses Crooks longing for love and friendship, however he is a victim of solitude.