Of Mice and Men: Reading Check CH 2 Chapter 2 of Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck includes many themes including friendship, loneliness, mental disability, racism, strong vs. weak, and dreams vs. reality. One of the more obvious themes in this chapter, however, is mental disability. Once George and Lennie arrive at the ranch, they are forced to speak with several people, the first of which is the boss. During their conversation, the boss notices Lennie’s silence:
The boss pointed a playful finger at Lennie. “He ain't much of a talker, is he?” "No, he ain't, but he's sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull." Lennie smiled to himself. "Strong as a bull," he repeated. George scowled at him, and Lennie dropped his head in shame at having …show more content…
He, like his father, questions Lennie’s quietness and instantly takes a dislike to the larger man by saying:
"You the new guys the old man was waitin' for?" "We just come in," said George. "Let the big guy talk." Lennie twisted with embarrassment. George said, "S'pose he don't want to talk?" Curley lashed his body around. "By Christ, he's gotta talk when he's spoke to. What the hell are you gettin' into it for? . . . you won't let the big guy talk, is that it?" "He can talk if he wants to tell you anything." He nodded slightly to Lennie. "We jus' come in," said Lennie softly. Curley stared levelly at him. "Well, nex' time you answer when you're spoke to." (Steinbeck 25-26).
Once again, it is shown that Lennie is not quite capable of making smart conversation, leaving George to do most of the talking. He is not comfortable with interacting with others as a result of George’s constant insults, which are spoken out of fear for their jobs. This interaction was very similar to the first, as both the boss and his son were suspicious of Lennie’s behavior. His mental disability is very prominently shown in Chapter
The boss pointed a playful finger at Lennie. “He ain't much of a talker, is he?” "No, he ain't, but he's sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull." Lennie smiled to himself. "Strong as a bull," he repeated. George scowled at him, and Lennie dropped his head in shame at having …show more content…
He, like his father, questions Lennie’s quietness and instantly takes a dislike to the larger man by saying:
"You the new guys the old man was waitin' for?" "We just come in," said George. "Let the big guy talk." Lennie twisted with embarrassment. George said, "S'pose he don't want to talk?" Curley lashed his body around. "By Christ, he's gotta talk when he's spoke to. What the hell are you gettin' into it for? . . . you won't let the big guy talk, is that it?" "He can talk if he wants to tell you anything." He nodded slightly to Lennie. "We jus' come in," said Lennie softly. Curley stared levelly at him. "Well, nex' time you answer when you're spoke to." (Steinbeck 25-26).
Once again, it is shown that Lennie is not quite capable of making smart conversation, leaving George to do most of the talking. He is not comfortable with interacting with others as a result of George’s constant insults, which are spoken out of fear for their jobs. This interaction was very similar to the first, as both the boss and his son were suspicious of Lennie’s behavior. His mental disability is very prominently shown in Chapter