How Is Slim Presented In Of Mice And Men

While I agree that Slim is a man to be admired, I can recognise and understand why others would disagree. Slim has numerous admirable qualities, presented to us by Steinbeck and other characters, such as Candy. In the first description of Slim, Steinbeck presents Slim as a respected and powerful man and we receive a similar description from Candy. He is compared to ‘royalty’ and ‘master craftsmen’ and is later praised by some of the other workers at the ranch. We do, however, see another side to Slim, which diminishes our admiration for him. For example, in section three, Slim threatens Curley not to mention what Lennie did, which, for most people is seen as manipulative and something to lessen our respect for him.*

When we are first introduced

to Slim, Steinbeck immediately leads us to believe
that he is a man to be admired.

Steinbeck’s use of adjectives such as ‘majesty’ and ‘great’ in the opening description of Slim tells us that he is given a certain sense of authority on the ranch and has gained a certain amount of respect from the other workers. ‘He moved with majesty achieved only by royalty and master craftsmen.’ This use of regal imagery increases the readers respect for him and leads them to believe he is truly a man to be admired.

Slim is given the longest physical description of any of the characters in the novel. This tells us that Steinbeck wanted him to make an impression and wished us to remember him and the sense of power he holds over the other characters in the novel, which we know he uses to his advantage in the future.*

Steinbeck uses multiple metaphors and similes when describing Slim. Each of these do a lot to present Slim as a man of dignity and intelligence. ‘He was a jerkline skinner, prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders.’ This not only describes him as a strong worker, but the metaphor used is very important in defining the hierarchy on the ranch. If the boss is at the top, he should be known as the king and Curley, as his son, should rightfully be the prince. However, from this description, in which Slim is described as, ‘prince of the ranch’, we learn that Slim is more respected and admired by all the workers than Curley is. This tells the reader that Steinbeck himself believes that Slim is a man to be admired, encouraging them to believe this

too.
Slim is not only a respected because of his strength and natural sense of power, he is also in a very similar position to all the other workers on the ranch, making him more trustworthy to the workers than someone like Curley. ‘Like the others he wore blue jeans and a short denim jacket.’ Steinbeck used the words, ‘like the others’ in order to enhance the idea that he holds no higher position of power than any of the other workers, even though he does. This begs the reader not only to trust and respect him as we do the other men, but to admire him as a hard worker in the same position as all the others.*
Although all of this confirms that Slim is a man to be admired, there are some moments in the novel when our admiration for him is reduced. ‘Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal. And Slim gave him none. At last Candy said softly and hopelessly, ‘Awright, -take ‘im.’ This passage in section three shows us Candy begging Slim to help save his dog. Candy knows that with Slim’s approval, he will be allowed to keep his dog, for ‘Slim’s opinions were law’ on the ranch. By ignoring Candy’s pleas for help, our admiration for Slim is decreased as we know how very little it would take for Slim to save the life of Candy’s only friend, and yet he chooses to ignore it.
Before this, there had been no other major instances causing our respect and admiration for Slim to be lessened, however, as the story continues, we are able to recognise other things Slim does to be suspicious and manipulative. We also become more aware of cases we had previously thought to be innocent, causing us to question his intentions.