Lennie's Strength in Of Mice And Men Essay

Prose coursework Of mice and men

Lennies physical strength is his downfall. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

I agree with this statement to the extent that Lennies physical strength was the main factor in his downfall, among others, such as his mental capacity because his mental capacity is equal to that of a young child and therefore he doesnt know his own strength let alone understand it or even how to use it. Lennies mental capacity is clear in chapter 3 when he tries to take one of the puppies into the bunkhouse.

Throughout this essay I will describe my response to the statement by discussing the factors of lennies downfall; his strength, character, disadvantages and advantages of his strength, the environment in which lennies is in and his lack of aggression.

Lennies strength is the main factor in his downfall because he doesnt know his own strength so, for example in chapter when he is petting the mouse he kills I without much effort, this is essentially what happens with the puppy and Curleys wife. Another example of lennies strength is in chapter 3 when Curley picks a fight with him, The next thing minute Curley was floor flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in lennies big hand.

In chapter 2 when George and lennies are introduced to the boss, George says that lennies is very stronghes sure a hell of a good worker strong as a bull. He also says He can put up a four hundred pound bale.

Another factor in Lennies downfall is his character, because he has a mental capacity equal to a young child, he likes simple things such as petting soft thins like animals, peoples hair and dresses. He is also blindly devoted to George and their vision of the farm. Lennies mental capacity becomes apparent in chapter 3 when he tries to take a puppy into the bunkhouse Lennie said breathlessly Hes black an white jus like I wanted. He went into the bunkhouse and lay down and drew up his knees. This quote shows that even though Lennies is a grown man he acts like a child, as Steinbeck say he lay down and turned his face to the wall and drew up his knees. This is exactly what a child who is hiding something would do.

As Lennie is very strong he is always coming into problems due to his immense strength. Although he is kind and gentle nevertheless does not know his own strength and so his love of petting soft things leads him to disaster every time. An example of this would be in chapter 5 when he accidentally kills the puppy, He was so littleI was jus playin with himan he made like he was gonna bite mean I made like I was gonna smack himanan I done it. An then he was dead.

However, there are advantages to Lennies strength, for example, working on the ranch Lennie finds it easy to pick up and move a four hundred pound bale, as George said in chapter 2, whereas it takes two men of regular strength to move a four hundred pound bale with difficulty. Another advantage for Lennies strength would be when he is defending himself from Curley, his closed fist was lost in Lennies big hand.

The environment in which Lennie was in is a factor in his downfall because of his character he is totally defenceless form threats like Curley and Curleys wife. He cannot avoid the dangers presented by these two. Curley is a threat to Lennie because he doesnt like big guys like Lennie and Curleys wife is a threat to Lennie because she is flirtatious and might cause an incident similar to the one in Weed. Although Curley seems to be a bigger threat it is actually Curleys wife that turns out to be the bigger threat because she is someone that Lennie can relate to because shes also an outcast.

Another factor in Lennies downfall is his lack of aggression, for example; in chapter 3 when Curley picks a fight with him Lennie looked helplessly at George, and then tried to retreat. In this quote the fact that Lennie is completely dependent on George for guidance and protection clearly as well as his lack of aggression is clear because he doesnt fight back.

Steinbecks insistent repetition of the fact that Lennie loves to pet soft things, is blindly devoted to George and their vision of the farm, and possesses incredible physical strength, makes Lennie a rather flat character. However, Lennies simplicity is central to Steinbecks conception of the novel. Since the tragedy depends upon the outcome seeming to be inevitable, the reader must know from the start, or at least part way through the novel, that Lennie is doomed, and must be sympathetic to him.

So in conclusion I do agree with the statement but I do think that there are other factors such as Lennies mental capacity, character, the environment in which he is in and his lack of aggression, were all involved in his inevitable downfall.