The Theme Of Innocence In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Immanuel Kant once said, “There is something splendid about innocence; but what is bad about it, in turn, is that it cannot protect itself very well and is easily seduced.” In John Steinbeck’s novels Of Mice and Men and The Pearl, Lennie Small, a migrant farm worker in California traveling to find work with his partner George Milton, and Kino, a simple fisherman from a small village that finds a unique pearl, exemplify this theme through their tendency to being deceived by others and their lack of prior knowledge which offers little protection from their deception. Lennie and Kino’s actions lead readers to understand that they are innocent characters, which is revealed through their gullibility and naivety.
Lennie’s limited view of the world …show more content…
He and Juana are oblivious to the evil that is stirring up in the town because of his pearl and think “that everyone share[s] their joy” (23). They are trapped inside their own bubble and because of it are unaware of the oncoming darkness that is lurking within their village. The only thing that Kino can see in his pearl are his dreams for the future and his own wants and needs, which renders him “blind” and untouched by the darkness because of his naive belief that everyone has his happiness. Because of this, Kino begins to believe that his legendary pearl is the best and that he will get a high price for it. However, he “[is] helpless to protect himself” from the reality that befalls him when the pearl dealers cheat him out of his pearl (51). He doesn’t realize that the pearl dealers are only trying to get it so they can sell it for more money to their customers, and is fooled into believing that his pearl would bring him lots of money and great fortune. His gullibility only serves to show how little experience Kino has in the world and works against him when he is trying to find the fortune from his