Below are three central traits Curley shows in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, with short paraphrased supporting passages, chapter references, and a brief, step‑by‑step explanation of how each trait affects the plot and other characters.
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Aggressive / Combative
Evidence (paraphrase): When we first meet Curley (Chapter 2) he immediately picks a fighty, unwelcoming tone with the ranch hands and later provokes a physical fight with Lennie (Chapter 3).
Why it shows the trait: Curley looks for chances to prove himself by starting confrontations; his quickness to anger makes him a constant threat on the ranch and directly causes the violent encounter with Lennie that leads to serious injury.
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Insecure / Needs to prove himself
Evidence (paraphrase): Curley is small and the boss’s son, and he overcompensates by acting tough and challenging larger men—other characters comment that he is "always picking fights" with bigger men.
Why it shows the trait: His need to appear powerful explains his antagonism toward Lennie (who is physically large) and why he targets people to prove his status. This insecurity fuels tensions and drives key conflicts in the story.
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Jealous / Possessive (about his wife)
Evidence (paraphrase): Curley constantly watches and questions other men about his wife, acts jealous when he thinks someone is talking to her, and, after his wife’s death (Chapter 5), he immediately seeks violent revenge.
Why it shows the trait: His possessiveness isolates his wife and contributes to the tragic chain of events—his jealousy escalates the situation after her death and motivates the search for retribution.
How to use this for an assignment:
- State the trait as a topic sentence (e.g., "Curley is aggressive.").
- Give a short paraphrased passage from the text that shows the trait and cite the chapter (e.g., "Chapter 2: Curley immediately sizes up and challenges the ranch hands").
- Explain, in 1–2 sentences, how that behavior reveals the trait and affects other characters or the plot.
- Repeat for each trait, then add a concluding sentence about Curley’s overall role in the novel (e.g., his aggression and insecurity make him an antagonist whose actions escalate the novel’s tragedies).
Would you like me to find and quote very short (under 90 characters) exact lines from the text that illustrate each trait, or help you draft a paragraph that uses these points and paraphrases with chapter citations?