In Chapter one, as the two men are traveling, George discovers that Lennie has been petting a dead mouse in his hand. He takes the mouse and throws it away. He scolds Lennie and reminds him why they are running away. Lennie goes and finds the dead mouse, George discovers it again and throws it away.
This time George explains to the saddened Lennie why the mouse is harmful, it is unclean. Lennie begins to cry, so George promises to get Lennie a puppy, even though he knows that Lennie's strength always ends up killing the poor animals.
In his childlike way, that is almost heartbreaking, Lennie suggests to George that he leave him and go off by himself, that George would be better off without him. George begins to feel bad for the harsh way that he spoke to Lennie.
He admits to Lennie that he was being mean when he spoke to him about the dead mouse and about all the trouble he causes. He tells him that he doesn't want him to leave.
Even though George and Lennie need each other, George knows that his life would be simplier without Lennie. He also knows that he would be terribly lonely without him. So like a child that makes a parent feel guilty for scolding him, Lennie manipulates George in the same way.
No comments:
Post a Comment