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can someone grade this essay on of mice and men for me would be greatly appreciated.

Im doing AQA if that matters and i am currently revising for english literature exams next month. the passage is when Slim first enters the bunkhouse.


a) in this passge how does steinbeck present slim ?

in the passage Steinbeck presents slim as a man of position , Steinbecks description on line 1 of the passage is "tall" instantly we see him not only as one who is physically big but someone who has natural status due to his physicality. This can be compared to the way another character Curley is presented as he had to wear boots to increase his height to gain social status. Again another description is used by Steinbeck to compare to Curley "hands, large and lean". We see from this that already slim has qualities Curley doesnt as Curley wears a glove full of vaseline to protect his hand. Slims hand is used for his work whilst curleys is for his wife which can give an idea of where the 2 characters priorities lie. For slim it is his worj as he is a "master craftsmen". Steinbeck uses royal lexical fields to portray Slim as "majestic" and "royal". This i unusual for Steinbeck to be using such a paradox of language for a mere ranch worker who is destined to be at the bottom of the social hierarchy. This emphasizes the fact that that Steinbeck has elevated him to a very high position that not many could achieve - even those such as Curly who had wealth and authority. Steinbeck describes his face as being "hatchet" and his face being "thirty-five or fifty". The word hatchet refers to an axe which could imply that he is sharp and agile. It could represent that he can have devestating consequeces such as the execution of Candys dog. His face does not relay his age which shows that Slim is such a respected character , no one should dare discriminate him because of his age - like some characters such as Candy experience. Steinbeck writes that he has a certain gravity in his manner. This displays the idea that he can easily draw in people such as George. However it could also mean that he can keep people in their place (as gravity keeps objects on earth) such as Curleys wife. He responds to her but does not give her the attention she craves. This is an example of Slim using his powerful status to his advantage. I have explained before that he is seen as being "royal" however royalty is not shown in the way he dresses he wears "blue jenas and a short denim jacket" like the others. Steinbeck does this to show that wealth is not needed for respect (this is proven in the case of Curley), he introduces the reader to a different type of royalty - based on respect and moral conduct. One that is needed during the time of the Depression when money was scarce. Steinbecks portrayal of Slim is positive. Steinbeck intended him to be an impossible character (impossible in the sense that everyone had negative attitudes but he did not become impenetrable like the others) to portray the american dream.Attractive in its appearance but out of reach and therefore futile in its existence. Steinbecks hyperbolic description represents the workers naivety in trusting a leader who would inevitably let them down through frail human nature which we see when he supports the execution of Candys dog. Steinbecks representation of Slim was intended so we could compare characters with him to intensify their weaknesses. He challenges hierarchical structure on the ranch as he has something more precious than wealth- respect which is very rarely portrayed in the novella. It is the lack of respect that creates the novella.

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