In the novel Of Mice And Menby John Steinbeck, the two main characters (George and Lennie) set out to meet their appointment at a new ranch they want to work on, but they are late. They were supposed to arrive in the morning but don't get there until the afternoon, so already Steinbeck has set a little ripple of tension running through the narrative. He then tells us about the man that shows them...
In the novel Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, the two main characters (George and Lennie) set out to meet their appointment at a new ranch they want to work on, but they are late. They were supposed to arrive in the morning but don't get there until the afternoon, so already Steinbeck has set a little ripple of tension running through the narrative. He then tells us about the man that shows them into the bunkhouse. The first thing we find out is that the man is tall. We are then told that he stoops from the shoulders, suggesting advanced age and a man tired from a lifetime of hard physical work. This conclusion is further confirmed when we are told that he carries a yard broom in his hand, and we can guess most of the rest before he begins to talk. Readers have already surmised that the man is an employee. The man must be left handed—this is the hand he uses to carry the push broom.
Then his dialogue begins, and, as expected by now, he uses simple language that is casual and informal in style, missing the endings from words such as 'expectin.' His descriptions, such as 'sore as hell,' also remind us of ranch hand talk rather than the speech of the professional classes of the time. Then readers see why the broom was carried in his left hand. He pushes out his arm from a sleeve and it seems it is missing a hand. George takes no notice and goes to the bed to put his things away. He gets cross when he sees a can of pest control powder and asks the old man what the beds are like, wondering if they are dirty and unhealthy. Then we see more of the old man's character as he replies. He is slow and methodical and calm in his response, taking his time to investigate fully. He is also measured and reasonable and conveys a sense of reassurance to George and Lennie. For example, he explains that the last guy was very clean and was probably just using the product to be on the safe side. We see how observant he is as he tells tales from the bunk house; seemingly he has a sociable nature and a sense of humour. We find out that he has a white stubbly chin and that everyone thinks of him as a 'swamper.' We know that he can't move very fast because Steinbeck describes him as shuffling out the door, rather than walking out.
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