3.1.2
Lennie - Strength
Physical Strength
Physical Strength
Lennie's physical strength is striking to the other characters in the plot. Although Lennie is not confrontational he is unaware of the damage he can do with his own strength.
First impressions
First impressions
- Contrary to his name, Lennie Small is “a huge man” (Section 1), and it seems as though the first thing people notice about him his physical stature.
A good worker
A good worker
- Due to his superior physical strength, he is known as a good worker: “Maybe he ain't bright, but I never seen such a worker. He damn near killed his partner buckin' barley. There ain't nobody can keep up with him.” (Slim, Section 3)
Avoiding conflict
Avoiding conflict
- Despite his physical strength, Lennie avoids confrontation and does not want to be involved in conflict with anyone else: “I didn’t want no trouble.” (Lennie, Section 3)
Accidents because of Lennie's strength
Accidents because of Lennie's strength
- However, when he does find himself in serious trouble, such as when he is attacked by Curley, Lennie proves that he is more than capable of defending himself: “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.” (Section 3)
Animal-like
Animal-like
- Steinbeck sometimes describes Lennie as being more like a bear than a human, emphasising his physical size and strength: “Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water…” (Section 1)
- Although physically Lennie’s may be bear-like, his personality is better compared to that of a loyal dog, with George as his master. He mostly obeys all of George’s commands, even when they go against his nature, such as when he defends himself against Curley: "You tol' me to, George." (Lennie, Section 3)
Lennie's Lack of Control
Lennie's Lack of Control
Lennie cannot control his physical strength. Steinbeck also reveals flashes of Lennie's hidden aggression. We can see that he doesn't have the same emotional capacity as others and can lash out.
Lack of control with animals
Lack of control with animals
- In Section 1 of the novel, Lennie accidentally kills the mouse he has been petting in his pocket. The subsequent conversation with George reveals he has a history of killing mice in this way: “Aunt Clara… she stopped givin' 'em to ya. You always killed 'em." (George, Section 1).
- Lennie kills the puppy that Slim gives him by playing too roughly with it: “I didn't bounce you hard.” (Lennie, Section 5).
Lack of control with Curley
Lack of control with Curley
- When told by George to defend himself against Curley’s attack, Lennie uses excessive force and seriously damages Curley’s hand: "We got to get him in to a doctor … Looks to me like ever' bone in his han' is bust.” (Carlson, Section 3).
Lack of control with Curley's wife
Lack of control with Curley's wife
- In the most serious incident of the novel, Lennie breaks Curley’s wife’s neck while trying to make her stop screaming: “He shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck.” (Section 5).
Lennie's awareness
Lennie's awareness
- Lennie is aware of good and bad, in the sense that he knows what will make George happy and what will make him sad, but he never realises until it is too late.
1Context & Overview
1.1Context & Overview
2Plot
2.1Section 1 - Analysis
2.2Section 2 - Analysis
2.3Section 3 - Analysis
2.4Section 4 - Analysis
2.5Section 5 - Analysis
2.6Section 6 - Analysis
3Key Characters
3.1Main Characters
3.2Minor Characters
4Themes
5Authorial Method
Jump to other topics
1Context & Overview
1.1Context & Overview
2Plot
2.1Section 1 - Analysis
2.2Section 2 - Analysis
2.3Section 3 - Analysis
2.4Section 4 - Analysis
2.5Section 5 - Analysis
2.6Section 6 - Analysis
3Key Characters
3.1Main Characters
3.2Minor Characters
4Themes
5Authorial Method
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