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Characterize Lennie from of mice and men
An analytical essay explaining how characters in mice and men influence the plot
Characterize Lennie from of mice and men
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Andy Doan Mr. Doring English 2 12 November 2015 Lennie’s Motives and Actions Lennie is depicted in a very childlike manner throughout Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Accordingly, he acts in a manner that is persistent with a child in that his motivations precisely lead to his actions. He does not act in a pure sense of dishonesty, reflective of the purity that is peculiar to someone who is like a kid at heart. The pattern.of motivations directly leading to.his actions can be seen throughout the novella. The first time the reader is popularized to Lennie is a moment in which his motivations directly lead to his actions. The desert wind that creates the heat which surrounds George and Lennie opens the novella. Steinbeck does not grind …show more content…
There are moments in which they are driven out of an emotional need to show immortalization to George or show deference to him. In the altercation between Lennie and Crooks, the controversy of companionship is raised. Crooks lives a life alone and he possesses a sense of enviousness towards the friendship that Lennie have a hand in with George. When Crooks wanted to make his point, he talks to Lennie about how his (Lennie's) world would fundamentally change if George left and went out on his own: Crooks advances this in discussing with Lennie the assumption such an action, suggesting that George might simply fall victim to getting hurt. However, Lennie paraphrases this vision as a threat of harm against George: At this moment, Lennie threatens Crooks through body language and voice inflection because of his motivation to chaperon George. The motivation of bulwarking George initiates his actions of becoming aggressive, something that Crooks immediately realizes in backing down from his initial stance. Lennie's motivations to champion George inspire his actions in wishing to do harm to anyone or anything that would cause danger to George. In particular, the thought of owning a farm on which he can tend and pet his own rabbits appeals to Lennie's childlike desire for fantasy brought to life and his desire for a safe place to call home. In the end, Lennie's motivations throughout Steinbeck's novella are nothing short of "the inarticulate and powerful yearning of all men," elemental ones that lie within the heart of all men from their childhood: safety, love, comfort, physical pleasure, and a little bit of heaven in
Although Lennie was unattractive and has the tendency of accidental violence, compassion was still something readers had for him. Steinbeck constantly reminded us that he has a mental disability which automatically makes someone feel pity for him. Additionally he was ignored and made fun of by other characters, “Blubberin’ like a baby! Jesus Christ! A big guy like you”(Steinbeck 10). Him getting in trouble was beyond his control because of his mental disability which is something else that makes a reader feel sympathetic for him. Also, the readers are solicitous towards Lennie because of how much he looks up to George. This is portrayed when Crooks asks Lennie what he would do if George never came back, “Well, s’pose, jus’ s’pose he don’t come back. What’ll you do then?”(Steinbeck 70). Because of his inability to comprehend information, he got extremely defensive and said, “George is careful. He won’t get hurt” (Steinbeck 70). This scene is crafted in such a way that it automatically
Was George to harsh or too fast with his decision to kill Lennie? Ever since Lennie was born he has needed help “living” and it started with his aunt Clara. When his aunt Clara died Lennie needed someone to help him with his everyday life and someone that could be there and tell him what to do. Lennie starts to travel with a good family friend George. In the book “Of Mice and Men” there is many cases where Lennie just “holds on” to George. George realizes in the end of the book Lennie has done too much harm and needs to essentially go away. George then shoots Lennie in the back of the head because Lennie couldn't live on his own if he were to run away from Curly and the rest of the gang of workers coming after him. George did the right thing because Lennie was unstable and George knows lennie didn't mean to harm anything. He doesn't know his own strength and George really wasn't qualified to help Lennie learn that he is powerful beyond measure.
Lennie’s unintentional mistakes resulted in the sudden end for him, but was done in the best way possible. As Lennie would’ve been subjected to a life of loss, running and suffering, George correctly made the decision in euthanizing him. While contemplating whether or not to euthanize him, George knew he very well could but it wasn’t the easiest decision to make on his part. If George wouldn’t of made the decision he did, Lennie would’ve had to run for the rest of his life with no account of what happened or what to do due to his mental illness. He would’ve been seen as a criminal and hunted down like animal which is inhumane and cruel. Although his mishaps weren’t meant to be as extreme as they were, the consequences were foreshadowed throughout
The emotional symbiosis between George and Lennie helps each man. Lennie’s attachment to George is most strongly visible when Crooks suggests George is not coming back. Lennie is almost moved to hysterics and his fear does not quickly abate. George prefers to feign dislike for Lennie to Lennie’s face: “I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail” (7). When pressed, George reveals his true feelings for Lennie. “I want you to stay with me Lennie” (13). They stay together because “It’s a lot easier to go around with a guy you know” (35). Both men need and value their strong emotional relationship.
In all of these quotes George is looking after Lennie similar to how a brother would look after a younger sibling. From when he is talking to Slim about Lennie’s work ethic on page 39 to when he is trying to keep Lennie from getting into trouble with Curley and his wife on pages 32 and 29, George is always looking after Lennie in some way. Alongside the last example, Steinbeck illustrates a caring relationship between George and Lennie. “ [George] ‘They ain’t got nobody in the worl’ that gives a hoot in hell about em-’...[Lennie] ‘But not us’” (104). George and Lennie always come back to the subject of looking out for each other. This is demonstrated when Lennie is talking to Crooks about George and Crooks says, “jus’ s’pose he don’t come back. What’ll you do then” (72)? Just the mention of George doesn't come back or being hurt makes Lennie defensive about George, “Suddenly Lennie’s eyes centered and grew quiet, and mad. He stood up and walked dangerously toward Crooks, Who hurt George” (72). Lennie is attached to George, to Lennie, he is the only person in the world that actually cares about his well being.They have been together for years, which is quite similar
These devices are incorporated into the journey of two companions working their way towards a dream. Steinbeck uses symbolism to complement his words to depict a higher meaning. As experienced readers will discover, the relationship between the intelligent, but small and weaker George Milton and the mentally handicapped, but large and stronger Lennie Small is symbolic. Even Lennie expresses this relationship “because I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you, and that's why” (14) .This suggests that they are not alone-they have each other. While George complains in the first chapter that he does not know why he keeps Lennie around, George argues "I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my tail"(11), he later explains the importance of Lennie's friendship -:“I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain't no good. They don't' have no fun. After a long time, they get mean. They get wantin' to fight all the time” (41). Although he is often irritated with Lennie, The reader can infer George stays with Lennie out of his promise to Lennie's aunt or the reader could look deeper and understand George cares about Lennie and that, meaning in life depends on upon sharing. This idea is central to Steinbeck's theme of brotherhood and how men are better if they are not alienated because, if alienated, they become mean and cruel out of their fear of vulnerability. The strength to oppress others originates of weakness, Steinbeck tells his readers. Most importantly for both George and Lennie, Lennie is the keeper of the dream. Without the child-like Lennie there is no dream of a ranch and rabbits and "livin' off the fat of the land." It is for Lennie's sake that George repeats the dream of them owning land. At first George does not really believe that this dream will come to fruition. But, with his childlike friend's
Lennie: Big and strong kid in a grown mans body, cant keep nor get a job. Avery sweet guy but is mentally behind. He relies upon George who is a caring, compassionate, and understanding human being and dreams of owning his own piece of land. Physically he is an intelligent and small man who has strong features. He is Lennie’s cousin. It was during the Great Depression of the 1930s beside a stream, close of Soledad, California. A fictional Novel. No one Really knows what’s wrong with Lennie. “He is mentally retarded” says John Steinbeck, author “Of Mice and Men”.
The nineteen thirties happened a long time ago. Many things have changed since then, one of them is the treatment of people with disabilities. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie Small, a man with a cognitive disability, is gruesomely mistreated. If he were to live his life nowadays, his treatment would be extremely different. If Lennie was born in say; nineteen eighty, his treatment would be different because; people would be more supportive of him and his cognitive disability, he wouldn’t be driven out of town multiple times, and his life wouldn’t have ended so abruptly because he wouldn’t be wanted dead by ranchers.
John Steinbeck wrote a story about two men that only had each to depend on. Many of George and Lennie's struggles come from things they cannot control such as Lennie's mental issues. George and Lennie are very poor and they work on farms together, but they have to move a lot because Lennie always does something stupid. The greatest tragedy in Mice and Men was when Lennie was left alone with Curley's wife. She was the reason why Lennie ended up being killed. She knew of to manipulate others to get her way and that is what she relies on most of the time.
George then encourages Lennie to go find some willows and start a fire so that they can heat the beans and sit down to their bean fiesta. Lennie then remarks that he likes ketchup with his beans. George gets paranoid after the seemingly needy statement and just sends Lennie on his way telling him not to mess around and that it will be dark shortly.(Steinbeck 8) Second, George equips Lennie with thoughts of a home and dreams to look forward to. For instance, George and Lennie are having their bean fiesta and Lennie asks George to tell him how it is going to be. At first George is mad because Lennie won't give him a break but Lennie coaxes George into telling him the delightful story. George explains that guys like himself and Lennie have to work on a farm and get their fifty bucks then they just go blow it in town at the whore house and on drinks. George then says not us though. George then explains that one day they are going to have enough money and go buy a place of their own. George then mentions that they will have a vegetable garden, maybe a few chickens, and rabbits. Out in the garden George says they will have an alfalfa patch and when the rabbits are hungry Lennie will
“You crazy fool. Don’t you think I could see your feet was wet where you went acrost the river to get it?” He heard Lennie’s whimpering cry and wheeled about. “Blubbering’ like a baby! Jesus Christ! A big guy like you.” Lennie’s lip quivered and tears started in his eyes. “Aw, Lennie!” George put his hand on Lennie’s shoulder. “I ain’t takin’ it away jus’ for meanness. That mouse ain’t fresh, Lennie; and besides, you’ve broke it pettin’ it. You get another mouse that’s fresh and I’ll let you keep it a little while.” (Steinbeck
A man with a child-like mind can not get far in life. Other characters recognize that Lennie is a child. Lennie has many limitations to live the American Dream, and acting like a child is one of them. On page nine in “ Of Mice and Men”, George takes away Lennie's dead mouse and Lennie begins to cry. “ “ Blubberin’ like a baby!”” (9). Lennie is called a baby because in George’s eyes, a grown man should not cry. With Lennie, he is not like every other average man. When a kid has a role model they try to act as that person. Lennie's role model is George. He will not only imitate George but he will obey him as well. Lennies imitation of George begins on page four when they
Lennie Small is a gentle giant who possesses and almost superhuman strength that ultimately leads to tragedy. We first read about Lennie's great strength in the opening scene when he has killed, probably by accident, the pet mouse he has in his pocket. We learn that it is not the first time Lennie has killed pets. During the same scene, Steinbeck compares him to a bear and a horse, both strong animals. This imagery of Lennie as an animal continues. He is also compared to a terrier, indicating that he is a faithful and loyal companion to George.
George’s relationship with Lennie has made him selfless; his conversations, with and with out Lennie, are generally revolving around Lennie, although in the case of their dream-ranch George seems to find fulfilment for himself as well. Due to these altruistic tendencies that he shows throughout the novel, a danger is bestowed upon George; he tends to care for Lennie far too much, and too little for himself. In occasional moments, he escapes his sympathy and compassion for Lennie, and realises the burden that he causes. This usually results in George taking his frustration out on Lennie, which can often harm his simple mind, leaving Lennie upset and forced to confess to his own uselessness, and George feeling guilty for what he has caused. We can learn very little about George through his actual conversations, which made it necessary for Steinbeck to focus the novel on him in particular, and let the reader gain an closer insight on him through his actions. Generally, he seems to be caring, intelligent and sensible, but is greatly worn by the constant attention Lennie requires. This illustrates a major theme in Of Mice and Men, the dangers that arise when one becomes involved in a dedicated relationship.
Character Analysis - Devoted Lennie - Lennie Small - from John Steinbacks Of Mice and Men Character Analysis ------------------ Devoted Lennie Lennie Small, from John Steinbacks Of Mice and Men, is the least dynamic character, but also the star of this short but impacting novel. John Steinbacks conception of this novel is centered on Lennie's simplicity. Throughout the entire book, Lennie's personality and life seem based on three things: soft things, devotion to his protector (George) and his dream of one day owning a farm. Within the novel, Lennie shows no significant changes, development, or growth; yet is a favorite character by most readers.