Question

To console Lennie over the death of his puppy, Curley’s wife tells him that he can get another one, that “the whole country is fulla mutts.” What is the significance of this line? What does she mean? What is she suggesting about “mutts?” How is the use of that term a metaphor for the characters in the story?

Answer 1

Perhaps Curley's wife realizes that just like the puppy, people are insignificant. Curley's wife probably feels as if just like the puppy, the men on the ranch, and possibly herself, are disposable. Or there are a bunch of men in the world, just like mutts. Once one goes away there is always another or when one is useless there is always another.