Term
| "Sure, right now. I gotta. We gotta." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Responsibility and companionship. George feels responsible for Lennie and recognizes the necessity of their mutual support. - **Context:** George reaffirms his commitment to their shared dream and their dependence on each other's companionship. |
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Term
| "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Loneliness and isolation. This quote highlights the pervasive loneliness experienced by itinerant workers during the Great Depression. - **Context:** George expresses the common experience of isolation among ranch workers, emphasizing their lack of meaningful connections or relationships. |
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Term
| "I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Broken dreams and disillusionment. George reflects on the unattainability of the American Dream, symbolized by their failed attempt to own a farm. - **Context:** George shares his realization with Slim, acknowledging the impossibility of achieving their dream due to Lennie's actions and society's challenges. |
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Term
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Dreams and aspirations. George yearns for a simpler, more fulfilling life without the burdens and complications brought by Lennie. - **Context:** George expresses his frustration and moments of temptation to abandon Lennie and pursue a more comfortable existence. |
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Term
| "I ain’t much good with on’y one hand." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Disability and discrimination. Candy laments his diminished worth and fears being deemed useless due to his physical disability. - **Context:** Candy expresses his insecurities to George, highlighting the harsh reality of ableism and the vulnerability of marginalized individuals in society. |
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Term
| "I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn thing in their heads." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** The harsh reality of the Great Depression. This quote underscores the transient nature of the itinerant worker lifestyle and the prevalence of shattered dreams. - **Context:** George reflects on the cycle of hope and disappointment experienced by countless men like themselves during the Great Depression. |
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Term
| "You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on with me." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Friendship and sacrifice. Candy acknowledges the difficult decision George had to make regarding Lennie's fate and offers his support. - **Context:** Candy urges George to accept the inevitability of their actions and encourages him to leave the ranch before the situation escalates. |
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Term
| "Well, we ain’t got any. Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want. God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Loneliness and the pursuit of happiness. George reflects on the burdens of companionship and the sacrifices he makes to support Lennie. - **Context:** George vents his frustrations to Slim, expressing his desire for independence and the challenges of caring for Lennie. |
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Term
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Mental health and vulnerability. George confronts Lennie's childlike innocence and lack of awareness, revealing his frustration and concern for his friend. - **Context:** George reacts to one of Lennie's naive comments, highlighting the complexities of their relationship and Lennie's innocence in the face of harsh realities. |
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Term
| "If you don’t want me I can go off in the hills an’ find a cave. I can go away any time." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Loneliness and alienation. Lennie grapples with the fear of abandonment and the fragility of his relationship with George. - **Context:** Lennie expresses his insecurity to George, revealing his vulnerability and dependency on their companionship for a sense of belonging. |
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Term
| "Tell me about the rabbits, George." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Dreams and innocence. Lennie's fixation on tending the rabbits symbolizes his desire for a simple, idyllic life and his childlike innocence. - **Context:** Lennie repeatedly asks George to recount their shared dream of owning a farm and caring for rabbits, highlighting his unwavering optimism and longing for companionship. |
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Term
| "I can still tend the rabbits, George? I didn’t mean no harm, George." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Innocence and guilt. Lennie expresses remorse for his unintentional actions and seeks reassurance from George.- **Context:** Lennie apologizes to George after unintentionally causing harm, demonstrating his childlike innocence and reliance on George for guidance and forgiveness. |
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Term
| "I don't like Curley. He ain't a nice fella." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Power dynamics and oppression. Lennie's instinctive dislike of Curley reflects the antagonistic relationship between the marginalized workers and those in positions of authority. - **Context:** Lennie confides in George about his discomfort around Curley, highlighting the tension and animosity prevalent on the ranch. |
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Term
| "I don’t like this place, George. This ain’t no good place. I wanna get outta here." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Alienation and displacement. Lennie expresses his discomfort with the oppressive environment of the ranch and his desire to escape.- **Context:** Lennie shares his feelings with George, illustrating his inability to adapt to the harsh realities of ranch life and his longing for a sense of belonging. |
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Term
| "We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Hope and companionship. Candy finds solace in the shared dream of owning a farm and the companionship offered by George and Lennie.- **Context:** Candy expresses his optimism to George, emphasizing the importance of their friendship and shared aspirations for a better future. |
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Term
| "I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn thing in their heads." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** The transient nature of migrant labor. Candy reflects on the cyclical nature of itinerant work and the prevalence of unfulfilled dreams among ranch workers.- **Context:** Candy shares his observations with George, highlighting the pervasive sense of disillusionment and hopelessness among the migrant laborers. |
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Term
| "You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on with me." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Sacrifice and loyalty. Candy acknowledges the difficult decision George had to make regarding Lennie's fate and offers his support.- **Context:** Candy urges George to accept the inevitability of their actions and provides emotional support during a challenging time. |
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Term
| "I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I got old an’ a cripple." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Disability and despair. Candy expresses his fear of becoming useless and burdensome due to his age and physical disability.- **Context:** Candy confides in George, revealing his vulnerability and internalized ableism in the face of societal pressures and expectations. |
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Term
| "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." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Loneliness and mortality. Candy acknowledges his lack of familial connections and seeks to establish a sense of belonging and legacy through his will.- **Context:** Candy discusses his intentions with George, highlighting his desire for companionship and the importance of their friendship in his life. |
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Term
| "I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Survival and purpose. Candy offers his skills and labor in exchange for a sense of belonging and security on the farm. - **Context:** Candy proposes his contributions to George and Lennie's dream of owning a farm, emphasizing his desire for stability and a place to call home. |
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Term
| "They left all the weak ones here." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Survival of the fittest. Slim reflects on the harsh reality of life on the ranch, where only the strong and capable workers are valued. - **Context:** Slim observes the departure of the ranch workers to town, leaving behind those deemed less capable or essential to the operation. |
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Term
| "I ain’t much good with on’y one hand." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Disability and identity. Slim acknowledges his limitations and struggles with his physical disability, revealing his vulnerability and insecurities. - **Context:** Slim shares his frustrations with George, highlighting the challenges of navigating a physically demanding environment with a disability. |
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Term
| "I don’ know why. Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Fear and mistrust. Slim reflects on the pervasive sense of paranoia and suspicion prevalent in society during the Great Depression. - **Context:** Slim discusses his observations with George, highlighting the impact of economic hardship and social alienation on interpersonal relationships. |
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Term
| "Nobody can’t blame a person for lookin’." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Desire and temptation. Slim justifies Curley's wife's flirtatious behavior as a natural response to the loneliness and isolation experienced on the ranch. - **Context:** Slim consoles Curley's wife after she expresses her dissatisfaction with her marriage, offering empathy and understanding for her struggles. |
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Term
| "A guy needs somebody - to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Loneliness and companionship. Crooks articulates the universal need for human connection and the psychological toll of isolation. - **Context:** Crooks shares his perspective with Lennie, highlighting the loneliness and despair experienced as the only African American worker on the ranch. |
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Term
| "I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Mental health and isolation. Crooks emphasizes the detrimental effects of loneliness on one's well-being and mental health. - **Context:** Crooks confides in Lennie, revealing his vulnerability and despair in the face of social exclusion and racial discrimination. |
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Term
| "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." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Alienation and bitterness. Crooks reflects on the dehumanizing effects of social isolation and the subsequent development of resentment and hostility. - **Context:** Crooks shares his experiences with Lennie, highlighting the psychological toll of systemic oppression and social exclusion on marginalized individuals. |
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Term
| "Just like heaven. Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Dreams and aspirations. Crooks expresses his longing for a sense of belonging and stability through ownership of land, mirroring the dreams of George and Lennie. - **Context:** Crooks engages in conversation with Lennie, revealing his own desires for autonomy and security in a society that denies him such opportunities. |
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Term
| "I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn thing in their heads." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** The harsh reality of the Great Depression. Crooks reflects on the cyclical nature of itinerant work and the prevalence of unfulfilled dreams among ranch workers. - **Context:** Crooks shares his observations with George, highlighting the pervasive sense of disillusionment and hopelessness among the migrant laborers. |
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Term
| "Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Racism and oppression. Curley's wife asserts her power and privilege over Crooks, using racial slurs and threats to assert dominance. - **Context:** Curley's wife confronts Crooks in his quarters, revealing the racial hierarchy and power dynamics present on the ranch. |
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Term
| "I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely." |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Loneliness and isolation. Curley's wife reveals her own sense of isolation and longing for companionship amidst an oppressive and patriarchal environment. - **Context:** Curley's wife confides in Lennie, expressing her frustration and despair at being trapped in an unhappy marriage and denied agency and autonomy. |
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Term
| "Why’n’t you shoot him, Candy?" |
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Definition
| - **Theme Connection:** Utilitarianism and cruelty. Carlson callously suggests killing Candy's old dog to put it out of its misery, prioritizing practicality over compassion. - **Context:** Carlson pressures Candy to euthanize his aging dog, highlighting the callousness and indifference prevalent among the ranch workers. |
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