First, Steinbeck portrays Lennie Small as an innocent, childlike and accidental killer who does not understand how fragile life can be when handled without any absolute care. For example, Lennie liked to keep small mice in his pocket for feeling and comfort. However, Lennie was unaware of his strength, as he “pet’em, and pretty soon they bit his fingers and pinched their heads a little and then they was dead-because they was so little” (Steinbeck 10). Lennie did not understand how important it was to be gentle with animals, he believed if there was a larger animal such as a rabbit or a puppy, his strength would not harm the animal. As the story continued, Lennie received a small newborn puppy. He was thrilled but continued to play with
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Lennie was very confused and distraught when the pup was killed, “You ain’t so little as mice, I didn’t bounce you hard” (Steinbeck 85). Lennie had previously thought that a larger animal would be able to survive, but his rough playful strength again had caused another death. This was becoming a huge problem for Lennie as it would ultimately lead to his own demise. Finally, Lennie still mourning the death of his puppy was approached by Curley’s wife who attempted to comfort him. She spoke diligently to him as she wanted someone to converse with. Curly’s wife allowed Lennie to feel her soft hair, but he quickly became too rough, she shouted “you stop it now, you’ll mess it all up, she jerked her head sideways, and Lennie’s fingers closed on her hair and hung on … he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck” (Steinbeck 91). Lennie accidentally killed Curley’s wife because he was startled and afraid she would ruin his chances of tending rabbits on his future farm with George. Scared and afraid of what was to happen to himself, Lennie traveled to the hideout spot near the river to regroup with George. However, the workers having found Curley’s wife dead had sent the farm into a frenzy, they wanted Lennie lynched;
Lennie was very confused and distraught when the pup was killed, “You ain’t so little as mice, I didn’t bounce you hard” (Steinbeck 85). Lennie had previously thought that a larger animal would be able to survive, but his rough playful strength again had caused another death. This was becoming a huge problem for Lennie as it would ultimately lead to his own demise. Finally, Lennie still mourning the death of his puppy was approached by Curley’s wife who attempted to comfort him. She spoke diligently to him as she wanted someone to converse with. Curly’s wife allowed Lennie to feel her soft hair, but he quickly became too rough, she shouted “you stop it now, you’ll mess it all up, she jerked her head sideways, and Lennie’s fingers closed on her hair and hung on … he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck” (Steinbeck 91). Lennie accidentally killed Curley’s wife because he was startled and afraid she would ruin his chances of tending rabbits on his future farm with George. Scared and afraid of what was to happen to himself, Lennie traveled to the hideout spot near the river to regroup with George. However, the workers having found Curley’s wife dead had sent the farm into a frenzy, they wanted Lennie lynched;