How Does Slim Symbolize The Power In Of Mice And Men

The Great Depression was a time of great sorrow and struggle. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a story about two men who go from town to town, looking for work during the Great Depression. The two men: a thin “ sharp featured” man, George, and a large “shapeless” man with a mental disability, Lennie, find work at a ranch. This ranch is where most of the story takes place, where we are introduced to many characters including Slim, the jerkline skinner with lots of power on the ranch. Slim symbolises the goodness of man throughout Of Mice and Men because he is easy to open up to, a good person and compassionate.
Many people open up to slim easily. After meeting Slim and after dinner, George and Slim start talking about how George travels

with Lennie, eventually leading to a conversation about what lennie has done.
"’Well, he seen this girl in a red dress. Dumb bastard like he is, he wants to touch ever'thing he likes. Just wants to feel it. So he reaches out to feel this red dress an' the girl lets out a squawk, and that gets Lennie all mixed up, and he holds on 'cause that's the only thing he can think to do. Well, this girl squawks and squawks. I was jus' a little bit off, and I heard all the yellin', so I comes running, an' by that time Lennie's so scared all he can think to do is jus' hold on. I socked him over the head with a fence picket to make him let go. He was so scairt he couldn't let go of that dress. And he's so God damn strong, you know,’" (Steinbeck __41_). This reveals that although it is the first time George and Slim talk, that George is willing to talk about sensitive issues, showing us that it does not take long for people to form a strong bond with slim. At least, enough to talk about sensitive issues. George isn’t the only one willing to open up to Slim, Carlson, a “thick bodied man” talks about Candy’s dog with him.
“Carlson said thoughtfully, ‘Well, looka here, Slim. I been thinkin'. That dog of Candy's is so God damn old he can't hardly walk. Stinks like hell, too. Ever' time he comes into the bunk house I can smell him for two, three days. Why'n't you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up? I can smell that dog a mile away. Got no teeth, damn near blind, can't eat. Candy feeds him milk. He can't chew nothing else.’” (Steinbeck __36_). Carlson shows that even after a while on the ranch, slim is easy to talk to about troublesome issues like: how he doesn’t like candy’s dog and asks him to settle it, Slim decides to have the dog put down, but to settle the argument and to save the dog from suffering.
It is shown throughout that Slim is a good person. One prime example of this is when slim tells Candy that he should put his dog down. The skinner had been studying the old dog with his calm eyes.
"’Yeah," he said.

"You can have a pup if you want to." He seemed to shake himself free for speech. "Carl's right, Candy. That dog ain't no good to himself. I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I get old an' a cripple." Candy looked helplessly at him, for Slim's opinions were law. "Maybe it'd hurt him," he suggested. "I don't mind takin' care of him." Carlson said, "The way I'd shoot him, he wouldn't feel nothing. I'd put the gun right there." He pointed with his toe. "Right back of the head. He wouldn't even quiver.’" Slim is the deciding factor for Candy’s dog to be put down, even then Slim wants to make sure that it is done humanely, and Slim is willing to give one of his pups to Candy to help cope and to create a new bond with. This humanity and understanding shows that slim is a good person and wants the best decision to be made, to make people happier out of the goodness that is within man. In order to be better to Candy also requests something of Carlson to limit Candy’s greif. Slim said:

"Carlson."
"Yeah?"
"You know what to do."
"What ya mean, Slim?"
"Take a shovel," said Slim shortly.
"Oh, sure! I get you." He led the dog out into the darkness. George followed to the door and shut the door and set the latch gently in its place.” The implication of the shovel is that Carlson will bury the dog, hiding it from view but also being respectful as to not leave it in the open to rot, Trying to be as compromising as possible.
Lastly: because he has figured out that he is easy to open up to, he has the ability to make everyone feel that they have someone looking after them.

For example when Slim is visited by the stable buck, Slim defends Lennie: “‘Well, he ain't doin' no harm. I give him one of them pups.’ ‘Just thought I'd tell ya,’ said Crooks. ‘He's takin' 'em outa the nest and handlin' them. That won't do them no good.’ ‘He won't hurt 'em,’ said Slim. ‘I'll come along with you now.’” Because of this defense, Slim has understanding for George and how he deals with lennie. This is why at the end, after George has killed Lennie, he says: “‘You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on with me.’ He led George into the entrance of the trail and up toward the highway.“ The sympathy shown with the small amount of text reveals that Slim does care about people under his domain. George is going to be carrying the guilt of killing Lennie for the rest of his life, Slim gives George comfort i having someone to confide in. This compassion shows that there is reason throughout the

novel.
Throughout Of Mice and Men, Slim shows himself as the good in the world. This is shown through being quick to bond, like when slim is first introduced, and trustworthy like when carlson vents to him. Along with that he is a good person by settling an argument and wants the best for everyone. The compassion is also shown when Lennie is killed as well as after Candy’s dog is put down. Slim, the jerkline skinner, Is a great symbol throughout Of Mice and Men.