Chin Lin Chen Chen 1
Mrs. Dolcetti
English 12 Block A
09 January 2016
Of Mice and Men
Character Paragraph
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck tells a story of two farm workers who wandering around the country during the great depression. Through dialogue and action, Lennie’s personality is apparent within the first chapter. To start with, Lennie’s reactions to George are puerile and unintelligent, constantly telling George “I like beans with Ketchup”(Steinbeck 8). Moreover, after George mentions he can have some ketchup if it was here, Lennie says morosely “I wouldn't eat none” (Steinbeck 12). In this incident, it is obvious that Lennie is childish; even knowing there is no ketchup, he is nonetheless desires ketchup. Furthermore, Lennie’s massive strength and his lack of intelligence make him dangerous and uncontrollable. He defends himself and makes “Curley flops like a fish on a line, and [Curley’s] closed fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand”(Steinbeck 63). Despite the fact that Curley used to be a professional boxer, Lennie crushed his hand with his overwhelming power and size. Near the end of the story Lennie is once again out of control, “ he shook Curley’s wife; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck” (Steinbeck 91). He is innocent and mentally handicapped without ability to comprehend abstract concepts like death makes him gets into troubles. Lennie’s simplicity has a solid impact to the story. He is a character whom Steinbeck develops for troubles and disasters. Tragedies seem to be inexorable since Lennie is lacked of intelligence and puerile.