Disabilities In Of Mice And Men

Disabilities are an aspect of life that has become increasingly significant throughout history. Being that it is so prevalent, it is almost definite that everyone on this planet knows at least one person with some sort of disability, whether it is himself or herself or someone they know. The book titled “Of Mice and Men,” written by John Steinbeck represents many of disabilities seen in society today. From physical disabilities to mental disabilities, this book shows how those with disabilities were treated during the 1930s. The two main characters of this short novel are George and Lennie. These two characters stuck together throughout the whole novel and George always made sure Lennie was on his best behavior. It is clear that Lennie, …show more content…
During the time of the setting of the novel, disabilities were very misunderstood and so was Lennie. For example, George had to explain to the boss that Lennie was kicked in the head by a horse when he was little and that’s why he lacked intelligence (22). Lennie was treated like a child and an animal. As the novel went on and characters got to know Lennie more, they became more accepting of him. For example, Crooks, Candy, and Curley all turned to Lennie because they realize how accepting he is and that he does not have a prejudice bone in his body. For instance, Crooks was very hesitant in allowing Lennie to be in the barn with him, but after talking to him for a little while he opened up to Lennie and ended up enjoying his company. Overall, disabilities of all types are much more accepted nowadays, and no one should feel the need to hide them or be ashamed of …show more content…
In Lennie’s case, I do feel that things would be similar in the fact that he might need a mentor or someone to keep an eye on him, such as George. It is very common for those with disabilities to have an aid or mentor to help them be successful in society. For example, there is an organization called Disabled World Towards Tomorrow that pairs those with a disability with a mentor who can support them and help them become successful human beings. Depending on how severe a disability is, I do believe that aids/mentors are needed, but only to a certain extent for some people. I think it is important to allow an individual to be as independent as possible, so I feel that there is a line that needs to be made when working with someone. On the other hand, I do not believe that Lennie would work in such hard conditions if he were to live in our society today. Many jobs exist in the world today that would better fit a person with a disability, such as Lennie’s. Just because someone has a disability like Lennie, does not mean they are incapable of work. A lot of people are motivated to be the best that they can be and it is important to have jobs available that are accessible for those with disabilities to work for. Furthermore, people who had disabilities in the past were often thrown in psych wards, jails, or killed. They were