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Explore the significance of Slim in the novel
Slim is one of the most sympathetically presented characters in the novel. It is clear that
Steinbeck intends for the reader to share the respect that the ranchers have for Slim
themselves and this enables him to use Slim’s character to present his own opinions on
some of the issues that are presented in the novel. Early on, Slim is described as “Prince of
the ranch”, a title that gives him status and which reinforces the admiration that Steinbeck
wishes us to have for his qualities. Steinbeck tells us that Slim’s “authority was so great that
is word was taken on any subject” He is often described with words like “kindly” and
“gentle”.
1930’s America was a challenging environment to thrive in. It was a time of mass
unemployment and poverty and a time when difference and weakness were neither
tolerated nor understood. Slim on the other hand, is an extremely tolerant character who is
capable of empathy and compassion. The reaction given my most characters to George and
Lennie’s friendship, is one of suspicion and mockery. However, Slim says “ain’t many guys
travel around together” and “I don’t know why”. Like George, he is able to appreciate the
importance of companionship. At this point, Steinbeck describes Slim as looking “through
George and beyond him”; this suggests that Slim is able to look beyond the surface and is a
thoughtful and intelligent man. It was extremely rare for men to travel together looking for
work at the time the book is set. There was little work to go around, so for an itinerant farm
worker, his chances of finding work are greater, if he travels alone.
It is perhaps this lack of companionship that makes many ranch workers unable to
empathise with others. Carlson, for example, is presented by Steinbeck as a stereotype
ranch worker of 1930’s America. His reaction to Candy’s pain at the potential loss of his dog
is practical, not emotional. He tells him, “The way I’d shoot him, he wouldn’t feel nothing.
I’d put the gun right there.” Carlson presents the attitudes prevalent in such a “dog-eatdog” world, where a decent livelihood was so hard to come by. Slim, in contrast, has been
looking at the dog with “calm eyes” and reassures Candy “Carl’s right Candy”, also trying to
alleviate his suffering by offering him a puppy from his dog’s litter. It is significant however,
that Slim also recognises that the dog would be better off dead. This is paralleled by his
decision to drown some of the pups: “I drowned four of’em right off”. Despite his
compassionate nature, he is a man who makes decisions based upon the practical needs of
the ranch. Even Slim must accept the fact that the weak are no use to society. His
endorsement of the shooting of Candy’s dog, highlights the likely fate of the old, crippled
Candy, as there was no welfare or other forms of support for such men when they could no
longer work.
Age discrimination is not the only form of prejudice shown in the novel. Steinbeck was
writing at a time of great racial discrimination. Crooks, is a crippled stable buck, who
represents the suffering experienced by black people at the time. He is referred to by other
characters as “nigger”, a term which was considered acceptable by the majority of people at
the time but was none the less, derogatory. Slim, however, refers to him as Crooks and
when Crooks says that he will tar the mule’s foot, Slim responds “No, I’ll come do it myself”,
accompanying Crooks to the stables, rather than expecting Crooks to do his dirty work for
him. Slim speaks to Crooks and treats Crooks in the same way that he treats all the other
men on the ranch, suggesting that this is the type of tolerance that Steinbeck would like to
see displayed by everyone at the time.
Similarly, whereas most of the men on the ranch treat Curley’s wife as insignificant and
curse her for the threat that she poses to them through her constant attention seeking
behaviour, Slim behaves much more patiently with her. As a woman at the time, Curley’s
wife has little choice but to be dependent on men. Her dreams of Hollywood and leading a
life of glamour are no less likely than her being able to lead a normal life of independence.
The ranchers refer to her as “tart”, “lulu” and “jailbait”, but Slim calls her “Good-lookin”, a
much more affectionate term suggesting that he has some sympathy with her situation
being married to the bully Curley. Curley is one character who Slim does speak unkindly to;
when looking for his wife, Slim tells him “I’m getting’ God damn sick of it.” Again, the fact
that this sympathetic character so openly dislikes Curley, helps to ensure that the reader
dislikes him too.
Slim’s relationship with George is also significant in the novel. Firstly, because he is the one
person who understands George’s relationship with Lennie and secondly because he
understands George’s decision to shoot Lennie, when all the other ranchers would most
likely have preferred the drama of seeing him caught by Curley. His reassuring words at the
end “You hadda, George. I swear you hadda” help to ensure that the reader understands
and forgives George too. In a world where everyone is, in Slim’s words “scared of each
other”, Slim represents Steinbeck’s hope that society can improve. When he tells George at
the end to “Come on with me”, Steinbeck may be offering the reader some hope that
George and Slim may join forces and benefit from the like-minded companionship that no
other character in the novel has been able to enjoy.