Lennie s figure construction and representation

Of Mice and Men

Lennie is a central character in Of Rats and Men, and though simple he is a flat character, he does actually evolve because the story moves on, with Steinbeck making him progressively more human. Someone strongly empathises with this kind of a fascinating figure who is shown in many ways. Without a doubt, though simple in his wants and perhaps limited in his method of viewing the world, Lennie makes Steinbeck’s novella and communication even more important.

Lennie is proclaimed by a strong contrast between his physical appearance and his attitude, which features many important aspects of this character. At the beginning of chapter 1, Lennie is usually described bodily: he is “huge”, has “large, pale eyes” and “sloping shoulders”. These kinds of long vowels and diphthongs emphasise Lennie’s strikingly large appearance. His imposing visibility makes his last name sarcastic, since physically, Lennie is precisely the opposite of “Small”. Furthermore, the reader has got the impression that Lennie does not have control over his body wonderful abrupt, rough movements: for instance, Lennie’s “arms (¦) they would[a]ng loosely” when he walks and he “flung[s] himself down” to drink. This is certainly perhaps a sign of problems: his physical strength could be dangerous to others, especially if he can’t control it. Steinbeck beautifully makes several comparisons between Lennie and selected animals, which usually underline crucial features of this character. For example , in chapter three, in just one phrase, Lennie is definitely referred to a massive and good animal, a bear together with his “paws”, but also to a weak and small pet, a lamb that “bleat[s]inch. This animal imagery shows the compare between Lennie’s physical durability and mental weakness, powerlessness. Indeed, from the beginning of the novella, you understands that Lennie is different and it is certainly mentally disabled. He seems childish, naïf, and his only preoccupation is for George to let him “tend the rabbits”. His mental some weakness makes him live in as soon as and be anxious only about petting “furry” issues, George alternatively ” Lennie’s “opposite” the two physically and mentally ” plans forward and anticipates. It is incredibly ironic that Lennie, “a big guy”, gives a “whimpering cry” and “blubber[s] like a baby” when ever George requires his mouse button away from him. The stabreim in ‘b’ imitates Lennie’s way of speaking and further emphasises the similarities of his behaviour to this of a child’s. Furthermore, Lennie’s obsession above rabbits, “soft” and “furry” animals, reflects Lennie’s requirement of security. For most men, just like George, reliability means your own area and becoming self-sufficient, nevertheless like an newborn, Lennie simply needs to “pet” soft things to feel encouraged and protected.

Lennie’s inability to take care of himself makes him dependant on George, with who, in spite of their particular many variations, he stocks a strong connection based on loyalty and unification, and with whom this individual couldn’t live without. Lennie admires George and regards him being a role unit: this is shown when Lennie repeatedly “imitate[s] George”, “push[ing] himself back, dr[awing] up his knees” and “pull[ing] his head wear down a little” just how George truly does. There is no doubt that Lennie depends on George, and the relationship appears like that of a child-parent 1. When Lennie misbehaves, George admonishes him like a dad, embodying expert. For instance, the moment George needs that Lennie give him the mouse this individual has in the pocket, “snapp[ing] his hands sharply”, Lennie “obey[s]” and “lay[s] the mouse in his hand”: Lennie is to some degree submissive and compliant. Their very own relationship is likewise similar to regarding a dog great “master”: George infantilises Lennie and explains to him “Good boy”, which is something a great owner generally says to his doggie. George is usually clearly the best of the two, with Lennie depending on him and continuously seeking for his approval, which can be shown if he says inches ‘Look, George. Look what I done’ inch. Despite becoming under George’s commands, Lennie and George share a genuine bond and remain loyal towards the other person through thick and slim. When Lennie gets into difficulties in Bud for the hundredth time, George even now runs away with him to save Lennie a word of imprisonment. Indeed, he can constantly sacrificing his existence for Lennie, and it sometimes makes him proceed “nuts” when he thinks about the “swell” period he would have without him. However , they save each other from loneliness (“I got you to take care of me, and also you got myself to look after you”), and their strong friendship can be perceived as odd, “funny”, by the men within the ranch, since “hardly low of the guys ever travel together”. Their particular relationship stands out from the other workers during the dull, solo times of the fantastic Depression, whom “got simply no family”, “don’t belong not any place” and “ain’t acquired nothing to appear ahead to”. Lennie and George reveal a common dream that distinguishes them from everybody else and gives them expect: they want to “live off of the fatta the lan'” in a “little house”, owning domestic animals that Lennie will be allowed to take care of. Though their fantasy is unfortunately unrealistic, Lennie’s innocence and immense desire keeps it alive.

Lennie is presented not merely as a predator, but also as a food. As previously said, his physical power and massive size makes him dangerous to others, a ttacker. For instance, when ever Lennie gradually walked to Crooks because he had been “supposin’ ” that George more than likely come back to get him, Criminals immediately “saw the danger as it approached him”: in this phrase, Lennie is definitely directly connected with “danger”, scaring Crooks. Lennie is perceived as a predator, ready to jump at him at any second. Crooks’ lifestyle would have significantly been at risk if he hadn’t reassured Lennie that George will be “back most right”. Lennie’s perilous character is also displayed when he is definitely “stroking” Curley’s wife’s “soft” hair, but then breaks her neck inadvertently after the lady tried to break free. The way Lennie is seen as elegance predator, nevertheless he offers only very good intentions, can be very tragic and deeply techniques the reader. He’s a victim of his own physical strength and emotions. Nevertheless , Lennie is usually Curley’s wife’s prey through this situation. Indeed, one could look at things from another position and notice that Curley’s better half singles away Lennie the moment she gets him alone in the barn, luring him into her trap simply by telling him that this individual could “feel” how “soft” her frizzy hair was. Indirectly, she caused Lennie’s loss of life as well as her own. Also, Curley also singles away Lennie: the moment Curley goes in the hoke house, buying fight, his eyes immediately “light[ ] on Lennie” and then “attack[s]” him, his helpless and scared victim that “bleat[s]inches like a sheep. The fact that Lennie is both a predator and a food is further shown inside the final section, where potential predators become preys. The phase opens with a description from the surroundings, responsive the beginning of the novella: this kind of repetition illustrates the many dissimilarities. Indeed, similar place is very different towards the end, where sycamore leaves are now “dry” and “silver”, “the sun has left” and “shade has fallen”. A normal water snake can be “swallowed” by a “heron”: this snake, an animal that was your predator along the “deep green pool” in chapter 1, has now become a prey. The tables include turned. Indeed, Lennie is additionally changing: if he arrives at the scene, he can alert and seems stressed, his brain “jerk[ing] up” with every tiny sound. In chapter a single, he was regarded as a strong, imposing bear with his “huge paws”, this greatly contrasts while using final chapter, where he can be as “silent[ ] as a sneaking bear”. Lennie has become a hunted animal, and since the tension increases, the reader can easily sense a tragic end approaching.

Though his life is noticeable by a heart-breaking fate, Lennie is regarded as a pure-hearted and blameless individual, who may be nevertheless an outsider in the cruel and harsh universe he comes from. Lennie’s cheerful mood puts a smile towards the reader’s encounter, as he generally “smile[s] happily”, “giggle[s]” and “grinn[s]” with “delight”: free of responsibilities, Lennie has the attitude of a child, oblivious to the evil and prejudices of society. This is seen when he casually goes in Crooks’ area and talks to him, entirely unaware that Crooks can be surprised because no one provides ever moved into his area before, since he is considered as simply a useless “nigger” by most of the guys on the ranch: Lennie’s ingenuous nature allows him to act with pure kindness. The line in the Holy bible “Blessed, are definitely the poor in spirit, pertaining to theirs is a kingdom of Heaven” is very relevant: if we consider that “poor in spirit” means mentally fragile, this estimate could further demonstrate that being poor allows anyone to act out of goodness and stay worthy of “Heaven”. According to Slim, “a real smart guy [¦] ain’t rarely ever a nice fella”. Indeed, Lennie seems to be extremely kind, embodying Christian principles. For instance, he’s generous, which can be shown if he promises George that “if they was any ketchup, why he’d give it most to [George]”, he is likewise incredibly dedicated and loyal toward him. There are many religious referrals relating to Lennie in the story, further producing him look like a Christ-like figure. For example , the landscape at the “Sacramento River” where he jumps into the water could possibly be seen as a sort of baptism, observing a beginning of a new lifestyle: this instant is a turning point in his marriage with George, who has a point in time of epiphany and seems guilty because of the way he took benefit of Lennie’s mental weakness. In fact , this event on the Sacramento Lake was more of a baptism pertaining to George than for Lennie: after George’s symbolic baptism, he starts a new your life, where he cares about and looks following his faithful companion. Inspite of being a meaning character, Lennie is put aside: his mental disability and way of thinking makes him completely different from the remaining portion of the men around the ranch. He could be regarded as a “cuckoo” and is misunderstood by many people, just as he can unable to appreciate others and abstract suggestions such as fatality. At the end of chapter two, the line “a coyote yammered, and a puppy answered through the other part of the stream” further emphasises how Lennie is a great outsider of society: an interpretation of the is that Lennie is presented as a “coyote”, a crazy animal, who “yammer[s]” within an uncivilised approach. This clashes with just how George is depicted, seen as an “dog” whom “answer[s]” how a human being would. Indeed, Lennie, just like the coyote, is too untamed and wild to fit into society just how everybody else will: the “stream” of the river highlights this symbolic splitting up that stands between Lennie and the civilised world, isolating him and making him an outcast.

Through the novella, Steinbeck poignantly shows and builds up the character of Lennie, in such a way that the reader is deeply shifted by his sad destiny. However , Lennie’s tragic end and the fact that he is replaced by Slim right away delivers a pessimistic message, denouncing that inside the bitter and harsh community we stay in, everybody is replaceable and hopes and dreams happen to be in vain, just as the poem that inspired Steinbeck for the novella’s subject, “To a mouse” by simply Robert Burns, suggests this.

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