Steinbeck’s novel ends with Carlson(and Curley) looking after the departure of George and Slim, completely unaware of the magnitude of what has just happened. ‘Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?‘ Carlson’s incredulous insensitivity is foregrounded by Steinbeck as it gives lasting testament to the indifference and cruelty of the lives of itinerant workers on ranches at that time. The exasperated reference to ‘hell’ acts as an ironic summary of the nightmarish enviroment of the ranch. Carlson’s ignorance gives him no inkling as to the terrible sacrifce of George, whose execution of his friend Lennie, must blight the rest of his own life. The loneliness of the ranch hands is brilliantly compressed into that final, ‘unseeing’ question.
By contrast, Slim’s awareness of George’s intensely difficult decision to execute his friend Lennie humanely, in order to prevent Lennie being lynched, gives readers hope of some supportive friendship for George. Without Slim’s understanding, George would face a very bleak and isolated future.
For Slim symbolically helps George by the elbow and leads him ‘up’ towards the ‘highway’ suggesting a positive, hopeful change for the devastated George. An equal friendship has been formed. This cements it. Perhaps there can be hope in a world riddled in lost dreams and quiet despair.
However Steinbeck does not let Slim’s compassion alter the emotionally arid setting and gritty realism of the novel. This is the dust bowl in every sense:the way of life is bleak and without joy and the workers seem hardened and isolated- imaginatively harshly limited and resigned to selfish self preservation.
Thus Carlson’s bemused question at the end of the narrative leaves the reader in no doubt as to the emotional/moral limitations of most of his characters.
Compassion is something to be wondered at, almost as if it is aberrant behaviour: something way beyond the understanding of Carlson and Curley. Their heartlessness is given the very last line of the novel in order for the reader to be reminded of the callous ignorance of this world.
The question returns us to the tough realism of the narrative. Language is at a subsistence level!
Steinbeck therefore underlines the unusual quality(integrity and compassion) of George and Slim in a world compromised by poverty and bigotry.
