How Does Lennie Treat Disabled People

In the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, something that is portrayed correctly is how badly they treated the mentally challenged or disabled people. George, Lennie’s brother, has been taking care of him over that past few years, since his Aunt Clara passed away. They worked in a small town called Weed, that was until Lennie had an outburst with a women; he had been accused of rape after just wanting to touch the red silk of her dress. After that they ran to the Sacramento river, then got new jobs just north of the river. Lennie has been treated like crap from everybody, including his own family, his whole life. An example of how Lennie was treated could be “‘Where we goin’, George?’ The little man jerked down the brim of his hat and scowled …show more content…
Oxnotes.com also states “Lennie's situation is different to most people during 1930s America because he wasn't placed in a mental illness institution and has someone who cares for him, both which were rare at the time. Some would some that Lennie was lucky to have George to look after him. George supports Lennie's ability to work and doesn't let the fact that Lennie has a mental disability to stop Lennie from getting a job. This can be seen in Of Mice and Men through the fact that George doesn't let the boss hear Lennie before he sees Lennie working, attempting to hide Lennie's disability to prevent the boss from discriminating against Lennie.” This can show the reader that George wanted to boss to see how well he can work, not his problems that affect him. His mental disabilities don’t affect his work and that all that matters to George. Also this could signify that Lennie was extremely lucky, and unlucky at the same time. He has been put into an environment where people can pick on him, and mess with him because of his disabilities; but if he was placed in an institution, he would have been put through back breaking labor that would have absolutely no positive