Lennie

Lennie

Childlike
1. Powerful man with huge hands
  1. Makes him a great farmer
2. Grown up physically but mentally he's like a child
3. Innocent and asks a lot of innocent questions
  1. Slim immediately see's that Lennie 'ain't mean'
4. Condition is never explained
  1. Called a 'dum-dum' and Curley's wife and Slim think he's 'cuckoo'
  2. George denies he's insane
5. Likes to stroke and pet soft things (Curley's wife's hair)
  1. Like a child with a favourite blanket/stuffed toy
Identifies with Animals
1. Looks like a bear
  1. Drags his feet 'the way a bear drags his paws'
  2. Eats and drinks like a hungry animal
2. Very possessive over his animals
  1. The mouse in Chapter One
3. A bit like George's pet
  1. Relies on him for food
  2. Follows him around
4. George treats Lennie like a pet
  1. Orders him around and uses his strength to get them jobs
  2. In the end he treats him like Candy treat his god, shoots him in the head for his own good
Moments of Cleverness
1. Knows George would feel guilty about leaving him and uses this to get his own way
  1. When George is unkind to him in Chapter One he threatens to go and find a cave
    1. After George persuades him not to he uses this to his advantage to get George to describe their 'Dream Farm'
2. Sometimes seems intelligent enough to realise how much George sacrifices for him
Killer
1. Gentlest character and most destructive
2. Dangerous and violent
  1. Attacks Curley and his wife
  2. Kills mice
  3. Throws his dead puppy across the barn
3. Fear that makes Lennie hold onto Curley's wife
  1. 'in a panic'
  2. He cries 'with fright'
4. Lennie's fear tends to turn into anger
  1. Steinbeck tells us twice Lennie is 'angry' with Curleys wife
    1. So angry he shakes her to death
Reader Feels Sorry for him
1. Lennie isn't maicious
  1. George tells him to 'get' Curley
  2. Kills Curley' wife because he can't control his own strength
2. In Weed, Lennie held on to the girl's dress because 'that's the only thing he can think to do'
Dependent on George in both Body and Mind
1. George has looked after him since his Aunt died
2. Couldn't survive on his own
3. He does have one practical skill
  1. He's a good worker
    1. Slim says 'There ain't nobody can keep up with him'
    2. Useful for George as it helps them get work
4. George has the brains, Lennie has the strength
  1. Good partnership

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	Created by chrishenry97 about 11 years ago