Chapter 3 Summary

Bunkhouse chatter

As George and Slim play cards in the bunkhouse, their conversation is focused on Lennie.  They come to the conclusion that Lennie is nice, but not smart; Lennie gets in trouble because he is dumb, not because he is mean. 

Lennie and Weed

As the conversation progresses, Slim asks about the trouble Lennie got into in Weed, the place where George and Lennie had previously been working.  One day Lennie came upon a woman who was wearing a red dress.  He wanted to touch it, so he did.  He thought it felt so wonderful that he didn't want to let go.  The woman started to yell and scream.  Lennie and George ran away before they could get caught.  Other men from Weed were looking for them because the woman was saying that Lennie had raped her.

George and Lennie's Land

Lennie returned from staying with the puppies.  While sitting in the bunk house conversing, Lennie says, "George, how long's it gonna be till we get that little place an' live on the fatta the lan'--an' rabbits?"  Lennie and George's dream of having their own land is an ever present idea throughout the book (see Symbols and Themes).  Lennie enjoys George's describing of the land, the farm, and how they would live on it.  As George tells the story, Candy seems to be taking an interest in the dream. 

Fight!

Lennie is still smiling as he is still lost in the memory of the dream.  As Curley glares at Candy, Curley realizes that Lennie is smiling and steps over to Lennie.  "What the hell you laughin' at?"  Lennie doesn't know how to respond and simply says, "Huh?"  This causes Curley to become enraged and take up a position to fight Lennie.  Lennie covers his face and cries to George to make Curley stop, but to no avail.  Lennie took his hands away from his face just in time for Curley's fist to hit Lennie's face.  Curley decided to swing again, but this time Lennie responded by grabbing Curley's hand in mid swing.  Lennie was so terrified that he couldn't get himself to let go of Curley's hand.