In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck depicts a realistic and dreary portrait of America in the 1930’s. He illustrates a world where the American Dream is just an illusion. During the Great Depression -1930’s- many people were not as ambitious to achieve their aspirations. However, this is not the case for our protagonists George and Lennie. Two men with inverse personalities and appearances strive to conquer their hopes under difficult circumstances. Tragically, moments away from achieving their aspirations, Lennie accidentally ruins their chances by committing a horrendous act. George is then left having to end Lennie's life to spare him of the aftermath. One may think Lennie is a villain because he harmed someone. On the contrary, Lennie is
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Lennie is a very vulnerable character because he is the easiest to agonize and many characters take advantage of that. For example, when George and Slim are playing cards, George confesses, “ ‘I turn to Lennie and says, ‘jumpin.’ an’ he jumps. Couldn’t swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get him. An’ he was so damn nice to me for pullin’ him out.’ ”(Page 40, Steinbeck) In this situation, Lennie is oblivious to the mental and physical manipulation done to him by his best friend George. George simply asks Lennie to harm himself for his own amusement and Lennie complies because he thought George always wants the best for him. Later in the novella, when George and the others head into town, Lennie enters Crooks' room in an attempt to make a friend. Crooks notices how dependant Lennie is of George and decides to fill him up with thoughts of abandonment. Crooks says, “ ‘I said s’pose George went into town tonight and you never heard from him more. Just s’pose that.”(Page 71, Steinbeck) Lennie cried, “He won’t do it.”(Page 71, Steinbeck) This statement shows how Lennie is in emotional and mental distress. His emotions and thoughts are easily swayed by those. These cases prove how Lennie is a puppet and his peers are the puppet masters; they are constantly pulling at his strings overtaking …show more content…
How can Lennie, someone with an obvious mental disorder, be sane enough to commit a horrid crime voluntarily? How can Lennie understand death with his fixed mindset? Without content, it may seem as though Lennie is a notorious and bitter being with cruel intentions at mind. However, he is truly battling a mental disorder (Autism or something very similar) and striving for his happiness. Of Mice and Men presents the other side of the story readers are not used to seeing; the offender's side. The readers receive insight as to how Lennie lives his daily life and what Lennie desires out of it. It is easy to see how Lennie is an offence, but not a villain. Lennie committed a crime, but his intentions were not cruel. This makes me ponder as to how many people are incarcerated for committing crimes, when not in the proper state of mind. How many people have lived a similar fate like Lennie? Do our morals play a major part in deciding someone else's
Lennie is a very vulnerable character because he is the easiest to agonize and many characters take advantage of that. For example, when George and Slim are playing cards, George confesses, “ ‘I turn to Lennie and says, ‘jumpin.’ an’ he jumps. Couldn’t swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get him. An’ he was so damn nice to me for pullin’ him out.’ ”(Page 40, Steinbeck) In this situation, Lennie is oblivious to the mental and physical manipulation done to him by his best friend George. George simply asks Lennie to harm himself for his own amusement and Lennie complies because he thought George always wants the best for him. Later in the novella, when George and the others head into town, Lennie enters Crooks' room in an attempt to make a friend. Crooks notices how dependant Lennie is of George and decides to fill him up with thoughts of abandonment. Crooks says, “ ‘I said s’pose George went into town tonight and you never heard from him more. Just s’pose that.”(Page 71, Steinbeck) Lennie cried, “He won’t do it.”(Page 71, Steinbeck) This statement shows how Lennie is in emotional and mental distress. His emotions and thoughts are easily swayed by those. These cases prove how Lennie is a puppet and his peers are the puppet masters; they are constantly pulling at his strings overtaking …show more content…
How can Lennie, someone with an obvious mental disorder, be sane enough to commit a horrid crime voluntarily? How can Lennie understand death with his fixed mindset? Without content, it may seem as though Lennie is a notorious and bitter being with cruel intentions at mind. However, he is truly battling a mental disorder (Autism or something very similar) and striving for his happiness. Of Mice and Men presents the other side of the story readers are not used to seeing; the offender's side. The readers receive insight as to how Lennie lives his daily life and what Lennie desires out of it. It is easy to see how Lennie is an offence, but not a villain. Lennie committed a crime, but his intentions were not cruel. This makes me ponder as to how many people are incarcerated for committing crimes, when not in the proper state of mind. How many people have lived a similar fate like Lennie? Do our morals play a major part in deciding someone else's