The old man, whose name we learn at a later point, represents a number of themes and ideas. He is an important character as he is the one who leads the reader to have an opinion regarding Curley in tandem with George's own opinion; he is the one who labels Curley's wife a "tart" and sets up the gender division within the novel; he uses the racist term "nigger" at some length and gives us some introduction to the character of the black man who is bullied by the boss when he's angry and a figure of hate for men like Smitty who apparently "woulda killed the nigger".
At each introduction the old man calls whoever he talks about a "nice fella", apart from Curley and his wife. This suggests the qualifications of 'nice fella' are easy to come by.
The old man also, notably, has a stump at the end of one arm where he has lost his hand. He not only represents the older generation, but the disabled.
The connection between George and the old man eventually prospers when the old man is able to rebuke Curley by sharing the news about Curley's hand that he keeps in a glove "fulla vaseline". This suggests that men can connect with each other only when another is identified as a shared point of hate or derision.
Summary Task: How is the old man different to George?
Steinbeck uses the old man to guide the reader's opinion; he presents him as a gentle figure who is also sentimental. He has a dog and is proud of the dog's prowess as a sheep dog in its youth.
One of the most important things the old man says is "A guy on a ranch don't never listen nor he don't ast no questions."
Summary Task: What does this final quotation tell you about life on ranches at this time?
At each introduction the old man calls whoever he talks about a "nice fella", apart from Curley and his wife. This suggests the qualifications of 'nice fella' are easy to come by.
The old man also, notably, has a stump at the end of one arm where he has lost his hand. He not only represents the older generation, but the disabled.
The connection between George and the old man eventually prospers when the old man is able to rebuke Curley by sharing the news about Curley's hand that he keeps in a glove "fulla vaseline". This suggests that men can connect with each other only when another is identified as a shared point of hate or derision.
Summary Task: How is the old man different to George?
Steinbeck uses the old man to guide the reader's opinion; he presents him as a gentle figure who is also sentimental. He has a dog and is proud of the dog's prowess as a sheep dog in its youth.
One of the most important things the old man says is "A guy on a ranch don't never listen nor he don't ast no questions."
Summary Task: What does this final quotation tell you about life on ranches at this time?
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