From Survival to Situational Success

        From Survival to Situational Success

Charles Darwin, described as being one of the most influential scientists in human history, said, “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.” This would be the basics of what everyone now knows as the theory of evolution. Since the first organisms appeared on the planet, change has been necessary for survival. Many creatures now exist that change with their environment. The most notable of these creatures is the chameleon which changes its physical appearance at fast speeds based on external factors.  Several key factors of their speech such as the way they talk, what they say, and their honesty are affected, as well as their body language and physical interactions with others. A situation can even change one’s perception and thoughts of the world around them. Essentially, the ability to change with the environment and situation is what made humans achieve sapience before all other animals.  

As one’s situational environment changes around them, one of the first ways that they change is by altering their speech. They change it in a manner that fits the current situation. However, this manner does not always reflect their usual character or behavior. These changes begin to affect their relations of others as well as their perceptions of themselves. George displays this response to situational change very well. For example, during his interview with the owner of the ranch or the boss, he begins to start lying in response to the boss’s questions. He does not want to reveal his past but he is receiving pressure in the scenario, so he has to lie to escape the situation. When the boss asks about his relation with Lennie and why he is so interruptive when Lennie is asked a question, George replies that Lennie is his cousin and he has to talk in place of Lennie because Lennie was kicked in the head as a child and cannot think properly. Additionally, when the boss asks why they came to the ranch instead of staying at Weed, George replies, “’Job was done’,” and when asked what the job was, he says, “’We…was diggin’ a cesspool’’ (Steinbeck 23). All of George’s replies to the questions were false, because he knows if he is to answer truthfully in the situation he is, he is not going to be able to get the job. Another example of speech change in response to situation can be seen with Carlson and Candy. At first these two ranch workers were scared of Curley due to his position as the boss’s son at the ranch; he can possibly get them fired. However, as one of Curley’s accusations and attacks against Slim, a rugged and hardworking skinner, fails, Slim begins to threaten Curley for his accusation. Since Candy and Carlson look up to Slim, they began to harass and laugh at Curley as well. “Curley whirled on Carlson. ‘You keep outta this les’ you wanta step outside.’ Carlson laughed. ‘You God damn punk,’ he said. ‘You tried to throw a scare into Slim, an’ you couldn’t make it stick. Slim throwed a scare inta you.  You’re yella as a frog belly. I don’t care if you’re the best welter in the country. You come for me, an’ I’ll kick your God damn head off.’ Candy joined the attack in joy” (Steinbeck 62).  Not only did Carlson and Candy begin to no longer fear Curley, but they insult him several times with passion thanks to Slim being able to change the situation they were in. If Slim is not there to instill fear into Curley, Carlson and Candy will not have had the courage to attack Curley in that manner. Last but not least, George lies to Lennie throughout the entire story just because of his relationship with him. He tells Lennie that they would be able to buy their own ranch one day with rabbits for Lennie, just for his pleasure. After George kills Lennie, he tells Candy, who also believes in George’s story, that never truly believed that he would be able to buy the ranch. “’I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would’” (Steinbeck 94). If Lennie has a different character than his current one, George would not try to please this person like he did to Lennie, due to the bond that they lack. Overall, speech is one of the first things that change in response to a different situation and is the most notable as well.      

Moreover, to adapt to the people and the environment around them, most people undergo a change of body language and physical interactions. Their actions as well as their appearance may seem unnatural to others. These changes may even go unnoticed due to others’ adaptations to a situation. For example, early on in the story, Lennie greatly admires George for he looks up to him as a brother figure. Normally, someone who looks up to another will try to become more similar to the other. Lennie tries to imitate George to please him, since he realizes that he can be a nuisance to George at times. When George criticizes Lennie for rushing to drink water, Lennie decides to make up for the act by trying to do what George does. After drinking the water, George “replaced his hat, pushed himself back from the river, drew p his knees, and embraced them. Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them, looked over to George to see whether he had it just right. He pulled his hat down a little more over his eyes, the way George’s hat was” (Steinbeck 4). Lennie admires and looks up to George greatly, so George scolding him causes a disruption within Lennie’s environment. To make up for his error, Lennie decides to become more like George. He respects George and wants to please him so he will not get criticized or insulted by George. If there is no respect present, Lennie will not try to change for George. He will stay the same.

        Along with Lennie, Curley also displays external changes dependent on his situation. One of the most noticeable differences is his body language toward the other skinners on the ranch caused by his change in temperament. Although Curley normally acts aggressive towards others, as the other ranchers indicate, a change in his aggressiveness occurs after he marries his wife. Due to his wife’s flirtatious nature, Curley is always on edge; he is always skeptical toward the other ranchers. He suspects his wife is hanging around them a little bit too much for his liking. As Curley looks for his wife, he also looks for new opportunities to pick fights with others. “Curley burst into the room excitedly. ‘Any you guys seen my wife?’ he demanded (Steinbeck 53). As usual it seems Curley is eager for a fight, but now he justifies his eagerness by saying he is searching for his wife.  However, this change of a situation leads him to pick a fight with Slim, which has never happened before. “Curley looked threateningly about the room. ‘Where the hell’s Slim?’ ‘Went out in the barn,’ said George. ‘He was gonna put some tar on a split hoof.’ Curley’s shoulders dropped and squared” (Steinbeck 53-54). Lennie’s tone and body language clearly indicate that he believes that his wife is with Slim and he wishes to fight Slim on account of his assumption. Normally, if Curley is not in a situation where he has a wife, he will neither attack nor accuse Slim of such wild claims due to Slim’s mysterious and high reputation, as well as not even having a valid reason to even start the fight. Curley has nothing to show reasoning to pick fights.