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In Of Mice and Men, what are some quotes that show power vs. powerlessness?

I think that some of the best examples of power and powerlessness can be seen in the way Lennie and George interact with their world.  


In the novella's opening chapter, George demonstrates frustration with his lack of agency. George's anger towards the bus driver is one such example:



The rims of his eyes were red with sun glare. He said angrily, “We could just as well of rode clear to the ranch if that bastard bus driver knew what he was talkin’ about. ‘Jes’ a little stretch down the highway,’ he says. ‘Jes’ a little stretch.’ God damn near four miles, that’s what it was! Didn’t wanta stop at the ranch gate, that’s what. Too God damn lazy to pull up. Wonder he isn’t too damn good to stop in Soledad at all. Kicks us out and says ‘Jes’ a little stretch down the road.’ I bet it was more than four miles. Damn hot day.



George voices anger about how the bus driver exerts power over Lennie and him. On a "damn hot day," he sees the bus driver as "lazy" and "too damn good" to drive them to the ranch. George lacks power and communicates this frustration to anyone who will listen. In this case, his only audience is Lennie, George's partner in powerlessness.


Another instance which shows the dynamic of power and powerlessness can be seen when the boss interrogates George and Lennie in chapter two. As he reprimands both men for being late, George responds while he "looks down at his feet." Steinbeck's inclusion of this detail shows what powerlessness looks like. George knows he and Lennie need the work and they must take whatever abuse the boss heaps on them. All they can do is "look down."


Finally, the dynamic of control can be seen in Lennie's interactions with Curley. As the boss's son, Curley embodies power. Candy is direct in saying that power is a part of Curley's identity: "[Curley] Won’t ever get canned ‘cause his old man’s the boss.” When Curley first encounters Lennie, he is insistent on displaying his power. Curley shows this when he says, "He's [Lennie] gotta talk when he's spoke to" and "Next time you [Lennie] answer when spoke to."  Curley uses power to intimidate Lennie, who shows powerlessness in his silence.


In chapter three, Curley further displays power in his fight with Lennie. As Curley is in the midst of landing repeated body blows on him, Lennie displays one of the most poignant examples of powerlessness when he calls out to George, "Make ‘um let me alone.” When Steinbeck writes that Lennie was "too frightened to defend himself," it shows the sad level of Lennie's powerlessness. Lennie shows a lack of power in response to Curley's excessive display of it. While the power dynamic shifts soon after, this particular instance is revealing in showing the relationship between power and powerlessness in Of Mice and Men.

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