Characters – WJECOf Mice and Men - Characters overview
The main characters in Of Mice and Men are George and Lennie. They are best friends but complete opposites. Learn about the other characters on the ranch and how they all long for friendship.
The main characters in Of Mice and Men are George and Lennie, as the novel revolves around their friendship. Several of the characters they come into contact with on the ranch are also important, particularly Curley’s wife, Candy and Crooks. Set during the Great Depression, these three characters demonstrate the harshness of life in the working class environment for those who are perceived to be weak. Curley draws attention to the violence of the life lived by the men on the ranch, while Slim is a more understanding and admirable character, able to empathise with George in particular.
The other men on the ranch are The Boss, Carlson and Whit. Carlson and Whit are both workers on the ranch, Carlson being the character who kills Candy’s dog. Lennie’s Aunt Clara does not feature directly in the text but is referred to by George and Lennie and then seen by Lennie in his hallucinations after he kills Curley’s wife.