What are some representations of IDENTITY in the novella "Of Mice and Men"?I know there are representations of class, gender, race, handicapped...

The most important aspects of identity are related to
social class and animal symbolism (anthropomorphism).  Steinbeck sets up a
social class hierarchy on the ranch based on the white male's work
status:

THE RULING CLASS:

1.
 The Boss

2.  Curley

THE
WORKING CLASS:

3.  Slim

4.
 Carlson, Whit

5.  George / Lennie (Lennie is in two
classes, really.  He does the work of two men in the fields, but in the bunkhouse, he's
like a child)

THE
UNDERCLASS:

6.  Candy (old, missing
hand)

7.  Lennie (mentally
disabled)

8.  Curley's wife (a woman in a man's
world)

THE OUTCAST:

9.  Crooks
(lives alone because of his race)

In terms of
animal symbolism, here are the
connections:

Lennie: identified as a bear early by the size
of his hands.  Also connected to mice and puppies (which he kills).  Later, dreams of
tending rabbits.  Thinks he sees a giant rabbit, symbolic of his Id, or pleasure
principal.

George: not identified with much animal
symbolism, but he's small and crafty (fox?).

Slim:
identified by the team of horses he drives.  A leader.  The hero of the
novella

Curley: hates big fellas, so he's got a Jack
Russell (little dog) complex.

Curley's wife: becomes like
the dead mice and puppy that Lennie kills.  Dies in the barn like an
animal.

Candy: identified by his old smelly dog, which gets
shot by Carlson

Crooks: crooked back like the mule that
kicks him.  Lives in the stable next to the mules.