The two main characters in the novel, Of Mice and Men, are George Milton and Lennie Smalls. George is a small, intelligent man who cares for and acts as a sort of guardian for Lennie. Lennie is a very large, muscular man whose mind is very slow and is almost childlike. Both characters are traveling ranch hands, going from town to town in search of work. George's and Lennie's characters are round, evolving throughout the story. There are also a few stock characters. Curly, the ranch owner's bully son, has a wife whom he neglects. Slim, the wisest ranch hand, has respect from all the other workers. Carlson is the opposite of Slim; he is ignorant and insensitive. Candy is the ranch hand who wants to join George and Lennie on their journey. Crooks is a proud but lonely African-American who also works on the ranch. All of these stock characters are flat.
This story was written in the 1930's, taking place south of San Francisco. It opens with the two traveling ranch hands, George and Lennie, on their way to a new job at a California ranch. It is while they are traveling that the reader learns about George and Lennie. Lennie is a huge man, perfect for hard labor on a farm or ranch but is not able to do much else because he is mentally retarded. George is much tinier but also much smarter. George is Lennie's caretaker. During this time, we learn that Lennie has had a problem in the past of wanting to touch soft things, such as a mouse or a woman's dress, and getting himself into trouble. He does not realize when he is being too rough or inappropriate. This forces the two men to constantly find new work. They talk about their dream to one day own their own ranch and be their own bosses. Lennie dreams of being able to tend to his own soft rabbits.
Upon arriving at the ranch, we are introduced to all the other characters. Foreshadowing future events, Lennie tells George that he doesn't like it there, saying, "It's .