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Of Mice and Men

A few years ago, people would have called Lennie "retarded." Today, he would be considered "mentally challenged." Nevertheless, there is something about Lenny that many of us may wish to hide behind- a child-like mind, a love for animals and simple things, and complete unawareness of reality. Big and powerfully built, yet for the most part meaning no harm, even when he takes a newborn puppy and tries to hide him in order to keep him. When accosted by George, he says, "I'll take 'um back. I didn't mean no harm, George. Honest I didn't. I jus' wanted to pet 'um a little" (Steinbeck 43). In a way, of course, being childlike is a benefit during the hardscrabble depression era days that Steinbeck writes about. George and Lennie were lucky to find work. Lennie would do the hard chores, and George was there to rescue him from any transgressions. Lennie was a hard worker, but he needed constant direction and looking after. However, being who and what he was, he had little choice about a day's work in the 1930s when jobs were hard to come by and keep.

His goal is for Lennie and him to have a place of their own, a place where they can, as Lennie puts it "live on the fatta the lan'" (p.56). Lennie wants to raise rabbits.

Of course, being a child with the strength of a man, Lennie can get into trouble. One can see that he would always need someone to take care of him. However, Lennie, as simple as he is, is trusting, so finding someone like George is a boon to Lennie. Of course, all too often he does not know his own strength. Even as he nearly strangles Curley, when he lets go, Lennie says, "I didn't wanta hurt him." (p. 64). And we believe him.

Even someone who has not red the book or seen the play or the movie knows what will eventually happen. At the last few minutes of his life, Lennie simply asks for reassurance that nobody is truly mad at him, especially George. I was trying to picture what a L

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Of Mice and Men. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 00:48, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1713371.html