The mentally disabled Lennie finds pleasure and comfort in stroking soft things. Like a child with a favorite blanket, soft things tend to calm him down. Lennie carries a dead mouse in his pocket; however, Lennie’s constant petting and strength kills the mouse, and George makes Lennie throw it away. This obsessive behavior is carried throughout the novel with Lennie killing a puppy and through the stroking of Curley’s wife’s hair who he also kills. Lennie dreams of having rabbits when he and George get their own ranch, but we know what the outcome of that would be!
Lennie’s behavior scares George, and Lennie’s obsession indicates just how truly child-like he is. George putting Lennie out of his misery at the end of the novel also matches with Lennie’s destructive behavior of soft, furry things.
No comments:
Post a Comment