Lennie - Innocence & Dependence

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Childish Innocence

Lennie is comparable to a young child. He acts without malice but unintentionally causes tragedy.

The story of the dream farm

Despite his appearance, Lennie is childlike in the way he acts. Many critics think he has a learning disability as he struggles to understand lots of things in the novel.
To him, hearing George talk about the dream farm is like listening to his favourite childhood story and it soothes and comforts him: "Come on, George. Tell me. Please, George. Like you done before." (Lennie, Section 1).

Manipulating George

But, for all his difficulties in understanding things, Lennie shows that he does know how to make George feel guilty: by saying that he will go off alone into the wilderness: “I could go off in the hills there. Some place I'd find a cave.” (Lennie, Section 1).

Being frightened

Lennie gets easily scared when things become violent or threatening.
- For example, as soon as he meets the intimidating and unfriendly Curley on his first day at the ranch, Lennie tells George that he does not like it there and wants to leave: “I don't like this place, George. This ain't no good place. I wanna get outta here.” (Lennie, Section 2).

Lennie's Dependence on George

Lennie is dependent on George. Lennie is aware of this and deeply cares for George.

George's guidance

Lennie relies very heavily on the guidance of George, always following his lead.
- This can even be seen through how the two characters walk, with George normally ahead and Lennie following from behind: “They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other.” (Section 1).

George protecting Lennie

Lennie also relies on George to get him out of trouble. For example, when Lennie is attacked by Curley he waits for George to say “Get 'im, Lennie!” (George, Section 3) before retaliating.
Similarly, when Lennie kills Curley’s wife he remembers that he needs to go and hide in the designated spot and wait for George to come and help him: "I di'n't forget, you bet, God damn. Hide in the brush an' wait for George.” (Lennie, Section 6).

Lennie's desire to please George

Although Lennie isn’t always able to control himself and therefore often finds himself in trouble, upsetting George is one of his biggest worries.
Whenever Lennie does something that he realises is “bad”, his first worry is that George is going to be mad at him: “I done a real bad thing … I shouldn't of did that. George'll be mad.” (Lennie, Section 5).

1Context & Overview

1.1Context & Overview

1.1.1The Great Depression

1.1.2Racism

1.1.3The American Dream

1.1.4Of Mice & Men

1.2John Steinbeck

1.2.1John Steinbeck's Life

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Overview

2Plot

2.1Section 1 - Analysis

2.1.1Section 1 - Plot

2.1.2Section 1 - Overview

2.2Section 2 - Analysis

2.2.1Section 2 - Plot

2.2.2Section 2 - Overview

2.3Section 3 - Analysis

2.3.1Section 3 - Plot

2.3.2Section 3 - Overview

2.3.3End of Topic Test - Sections 1-3

2.4Section 4 - Analysis

2.4.1Section 4 - Plot

2.4.2Section 4 - Overview

2.5Section 5 - Analysis

2.5.1Section 5 - Plot

2.5.2Section 5 - Overview

2.6Section 6 - Analysis

2.6.1Section 6 - Plot

2.6.2Section 6 - Overview

2.6.3End of Topic Test - Sections 4-6

3Key Characters

3.1Main Characters

3.1.1George

3.1.2Lennie - Strength

3.1.3Lennie - Innocence & Dependence

3.1.4Slim

3.1.5Curley

3.1.6Curley's Wife - Flirtatious

3.1.7Curley's Wife - Lonely & Heartbroken

3.1.8Crooks

3.1.9Candy

3.1.10End of Topic Test - George & Lennie

3.1.11End of Topic Test - Slim, Curley & Curley's Wife

3.2Minor Characters

3.2.1Minor Characters

3.2.2End of Topic Test - Crooks, Candy & Others

4Themes

4.1Key Themes

4.1.1Hopes, Dreams & Reality

4.1.2Racial Prejudice

4.1.3Loneliness & Companionship

4.1.4The Weak & Strong

4.1.5Women

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes

5Authorial Method

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Dialogue

5.1.2Imagery

5.1.3Light

5.1.4Sound

5.1.5Symbolism

5.1.6Structure

5.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

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