52
"You never ought to drink water when it ain't runnin,... You'd drink out of a gutter if you was thirsty."
George, Candy, Crooks, Slim
"Lennie's friend gives him a piece of advice about his drinking habits."
1,3
"Might jus' as well spen' all my time tellin' you things and then you forget 'em, and I tell you again."
George, Candy, Carlson, Curley
"Lennie's companion complains about his forgetfulness"
1,4
"Jus' a dead mouse.... I didn't kill it. Honest! I found it. I found it dead."
Lennie, Slim, Whit, Candy
"Someone who longs for a pet is worried his mouse will be taken from him."
1,5
"Well - look, we're gonna work on a ranch like the one we come from up north."
George, Lennie, Crooks, Slim
"The speaker gives information about the past, and plans for the future."
1,6
"I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl."
George, Curley, Carlson, Lennie
"The speaker laments being stuck with his troublesome companion."
1,7
"I wish't we'd get the rabbits pretty soon, George."
Lennie, Candy, Slim, Crooks
"The speaker loves to pet soft, furry animals."
1,10
"You can't keep a job and you lose me ever' job I get. Jus' keep me shovin' all over the country all the time."
George, Curley, Carlson, Whit
"The speaker reveals some resentment of his long-time companion."
1,11
"George, you want I should go away and leave you alone?"
Lennie, Slim, Carlson, Candy
"The speaker gives a child-like reply to being scolded."
1,12
"Your Aunt Clara wouldn't like you running off by yourself, even if she is dead."
George, Lennie, The Boss, Crooks
"The speaker explains why he feels his friend should stay with him."
1,13
"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place."
George, Slim, Carlson, Whit
"A labourer explains why he feels the need to own a place of his own."
1,14
"The Boss gives him hell when he's mad. But the stable buck don't give a damn about that."
Candy, Carlson, Slim, Whit
"An old man tells two new labourers about the anger of the Boss."
2,21
"After that the guys went into Soledad and raised hell. I didn't go in there. I ain't got the poop no more."
Candy, The Boss, Slim, Crooks
"A swamper confides in two other men that he is becoming tired in his old age."
2,21
"...he's sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull."
George, Lennie, Slim, Carlson
"A worker mentions the strength of his friend and fellow labourer."
2,24
"...don't try to put nothing over, 'cause you can't get away with nothing."
The Boss, Slim, Curley, Candy
"A person in authority warns a labourer against attempting to trick him."
2,24
"A guy on a ranch don't never listen, nor he don't ast no questions."
Candy, Slim, George, Lennie
"The speaker tries to mollify someone who thinks he was eavesdropping."
2,25
"Well, nex' time you answer when you're spoke to."
Curley, The Boss, Candy, Carlson
"Someone with a fiery temper speaks angrily to someone who has been told not to talk back."
2,27
"Curley's like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys."
Candy, George, Slim, Carlson
"The speaker voices his opinions which are soon proved to be correct."
2,27
"Slim's a jerkline skinner. Hell of a nice fella."
Candy, Carlson, Whit, The Boss
"These words in praise of Slim come from a fellow worker."
2,29
"You gonna have trouble with that Curley guy. I seen that kind before."
George, Candy, Slim, Crooks
"An friend predicts trouble - but does nothing to take his companion away from it."
2,30
"I don' like this place, George. This ain't no good place. I wanna get outta here."
Lennie, Candy, Crooks, Slim
"The speaker has misgivings about his new workplace."
2,34
"Ain't many guys travel around together. I don't know why. Maybe ever'body in the whole damn world is scared of each other."
Slim, George, Carlson, The Boss
"A respected man ponders the ways of the world."
2,36
"Why'n't you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up. "
Carlson, Slim, George, Whit
"The speaker asks a person with more influence than he has to persuade Candy to shoot his dog."
2,37
"Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes it jus' works the other way round."
Slim, George, Carlson, Candy
"The speaker is respected, and obviously has thought deeply about people."
3,43
"He's jes' like a kid, ain't he?"
Slim, Candy, Carlson, Whit
"George's friend comments on Lennie's childlike nature."
3,45
"I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him."
Candy, Slim, George, Crooks
"A dog owner explains his reluctance to get rid of his old dog."
3,47
"I never seen nobody like her. She got the eye goin' all the time on everybody. I bet she even gives the stable buck the eye."
Whit, George, Slim, Carlson
"A labourer describes Curley's wife to his friend."
3,54
"S'spose I went in with you guys.Tha's three hundred an' fifty bucks I'd put in."
Candy, Slim, Curley, Crooks
"The speaker proposes to team up with two other labourers to buy a house."
3,62
"You tried to throw a scare into Slim an' you couldn't make it stick. Slim throwed a scare into you. You're yella as a frog belly."
Carlson, George, Candy, Whit
"A labourer confronts the Boss' son with his cowardice."
3,65
"We got to get him in to a doctor. Looks to me like ever' bone in his han' is bust."
Slim, George, Lennie, Carlson
"The speaker attempts to help Curley after he is injured in a fight."
3,67
"You got no right to come in my room. This here's my room."
Crooks, Candy, George, Curley
"The speaker is angry at having what little privacy he has violated."
4,72
"Figuring? What's Candy figuring about?"
Crooks, Lennie, George, Slim
"The speaker is cynical when told of the reason for Candy's 'figurin''."
4,73
"S'pose George don't come back no more. S'pose he took a powder and just ain't coming back."
Crooks, Candy,Slim,Curley's wife
"The speaker takes some pleasure in mentally torturing George's dim-witted companion."
4,75
"What you supposin' for? Ain't nobody goin' to suppose no hurt to George."
Lennie, Candy, Slim, Curley
"The speaker is angered by the thought that someone might want to hurt his friend."
4,76
"A guy needs somebody - to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody."
Crooks, Lennie, George, Slim
"A lonely man regrets his isolation from others."
4,77
"Nobody gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It's just in their head."
Crooks, Candy, Carlson, Whit
"An experienced man is skeptical about George and Lennie's plan."
4,78
"I been here a long time. An' Crooks been here a long time. This's the first time I ever been in his room."
Candy, Slim, The Boss, Whit
"An old man's comments reveal the long-standing racism on the ranch."
4,79
"Everybody wants a little bit of land, not much. Jus' som'thin' that was his. Som'thin' he could live on ..."
Candy, Crooks, Carlson, Slim
"Someone who shares George and Lennie's dream explains what most people want from life."
4,80
"Maybe you better go along to your own house now. We don't want no trouble."
Crooks, Candy, George, Slim
"A man who usually has his room to himself nervously advises an unwanted visitor to leave."
4,81
"Think I don't like to talk to somebody ever' once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?"
Curley's wife, Curley, The Boss, Crooks
"A lonely person gives reasons for wanting to stay and talk with the men."
4,82
"You ain't wanted here. We told you you ain't. An' I tell ya, you got floosy idears about what us guys amounts to."
Candy, Lennie, Crooks, George
"The speaker shouts angrily at someone who has just insulted him and his friends."
4,83
"I'm glad you bust up Curley a little bit. He got it comin' to him. Sometimes I'd like to bust him myself."
Curley's wife, The Boss, George, Slim
"A rather surprising comment, in light of the speakers relationship with Curley."
4,86
"Why can't I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely."
Curley's wife, Crooks, Candy, The Boss
"The speaker's loneliness will soon lead to big trouble."
5,91
"I coulda made somethin' of myself. Maybe I will yet."
Curley's wife, Curley, George, Candy
"An ambitious character is bitter about having such ill fortune."
5,93
"I like to pet nice things with my fingers, sof' things."
Lennie, George, Carlson, Slim
"A gentle giant who doesn't know his own strength mentions one of the things he likes."
5,95
"You're a kinda nice fella. Jus' like a big baby."
Curley's wife, Slim, Candy, Crooks
"An apt description of Lennie by one whom most people believe is stupid."
5,95
"Ever'body knowed you'd mess things up. You wasn't no good. You ain't no good now, you lousy tart."
Candy, George, Curley, Whit
"A bitter comment from one who is unafraid of speaking badly of the dead."
5,101
"I'm gonna get him. I'm going for my shotgun. I'll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself."
Curley, Carlson, Whit, Slim
"An angry vow from one who disliked Lennie from the start."
5,102
"You never give a thought to George. He been doin' nice things for you alla time."
Aunt Clara , Curley's wife, Candy, Slim
"A maternal figure scolds Lennie for his thoughtlessness."
5,107
"You ain't fit to lick the boots of no rabbit. You'd forget 'em and let 'em go hungry."
Rabbit , George, Curley, Slim
"Part of an imaginary conversation."
6,108
"You can't remember nothing that happens, but you remember ever' word I say."
George, Slim, Candy, Crooks
"Lennie's idol talks to him before his death."
6,109
"Ever'body gonna be nice to you. Ain't gonna be no more trouble. Nobody gonna hurt nobody nor steal from 'em."
George, Candy, Slim, Lennie
"An ambiguous prediction, which will come true in a way the listener cannot anticipate."
6,112
"Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?"
Carlson, Curley, Whit, Crooks
"An insensitive comment, considering what has just transpired."
6,113