Of Mice And Men Quote Analysis

In today’s society, one does not consider how one person’s dream can affect others. In the story Of Mice And Men written by John Steinback, two men search for a job that will secure their ambitions, but find out that “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men” can result in “nought but grief and pain.” One of the two men, Lennie, acts as a burden with his child-like personality, is dangerous because of his lack of intelligence combined with prodigious strength, and spreads hope to others with his innocence.

There are many cases in which Lennie’s child-like personality proves to be a burden. In the second chapter, George tells Slim the real reason why he and Lennie left Weed. “Well, he seen this girl in a red dress. Dumb bastard like he is,

he wants to touch ever’thing he likes. Just wants to feel it.” … “Well, that girl rabbits in an’ tells the law she been raped. The guys in Weed start a party out to lynch Lennie. So we sit in a irrigation ditch under water all the rest of that day” (41). In this quote, it reveals how Lennie’s child-like tendency to pet soft things gets himself and George kicked out of town. George tells this to Slim because he wants to convey what he puts up with as George travels with Lennie. Lennie’s immaturity has prevented them from keeping the same job for long periods of time. When George talks to the boss for the first time, he prevents Lennie from talking since he wants to conceal Lennie’s child-like mind. “Then why don’t you let him answer? What are you trying to pull over? George broke in loudly, “Oh! I ain’t saying he’s bright. He can put up a four hundred pound bale” (22). In these lines, Lennie avoids letting Lennie talk to the boss because he doesn’t want anybody discovering Lennie’s mental incapabilities. George is a man who would have no trouble finding a job, but with Lennie tagging along, the task of finding work becomes more arduous as George also has to hide Lennie’s issues from the boss. This results in Lennie being a nuisance in George’s plan to find a job that will lead them to their dream.

The story illustrates many examples in which Lennie’s lack of intelligence proves dangerous when added to his super-human strength.

When Curley approaches Lennie for laughing, Lennie attacks Curley in defense. “Curley’s fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it. The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand. George ran down the room. “Leggo of him, Lennie. Let go” (62). In this quote, Lennie’s ridiculous power proves to be harmful as he ends up crushing Curley’s hand in fear. Lennie is typically a very peaceful person, but when he feels threatened, the resulting damage can be overwhelming because of the lack of sense needed to control his strength. When Curley’s wife screams for Lennie to let go of her hair, Lennie panics and ends up breaking her neck. “He shook her then, and he was angry with her. ‘Don’t you go yellin’,’ he said, and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck” (91). In these lines, it is revealed that in his desperation to not get in trouble, Lennie ended up breaking the neck of Curley’s wife, which is another indicator of his lack of sense and his physical prowess. His child-like desire to “tend the rabbits” made him realize that he should not get in trouble, and when he found himself in that situation, he became angry and accidentally killed her. This shows how Lennie’s immaturity and great power makes him

dangerous.

Lennie’s innocence is portrayed in this story by his interactions with others, which often involves sharing his dreams.

Lennie asks George to “tell it again” often, which usually follows “ ‘Come on George. Tell me. Please George, Like you done before.’ ‘You get a kick outta that, don’t you? Awright, I’ll tell you, and then we’ll eat our supper…’ George’s voice became deeper. He repeated his words rhythmically as though he had said them many times before” (13). In this quote, Lennie beseeches George to tell the story like he always does, and George obliges. Although George may think in the back of his head that his story will never happen, Lennie’s innocence silences that thought and persuades George to think that someday he might be living as he said he would be. Crooks responds to Lennie and Candy once he realizes that they were serious when they talked about the land that they would live on. “…If you…guys would want a hand to work for nothing--just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand. I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to” (76). In these lines, Crooks wants to become part of the dream because of its innocence, which convinces Crooks that he would no longer be lonely once he finds himself on the cottage with everyone else. Lennie’s innocence blinds everyone with the idea that they can change their future, which tragically ends by Lennie’s

death.

In conclusion, the story Of Mice and Men, is a story of how two friends come to a ranch seeking to complete their dream, but end up with a tragedy that shows how close friends they were. Lennie acts as someone who burdens others with his child-like personality, is dangerous because of his lack of sense mixed with abundance of strength, and influences other people with his innocence. The dreams that Lennie had serves as an example to all that not every dream can be achieved, and that fact will never change.