Comparing Adult Lenny In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Adult Lenny generally appears into the narrative when she recounts her memories of her Cousin. As she reflects on her past, Lenny realizes the relationship with her Cousin takes on a dangerously sexual tone. It begins with a kiss, her Cousin attempting to copy a kiss scene seen in films. Yet, her description of their inexperience only shows the awkwardness it must have felt for her reliving it. Adult Lenny, translate her feelings into young Lenny by claiming “our mutual agony becomes unbearable” (Sidhwa 153). The usage of ‘our’ in this quotation suggests Adult Lenny is expecting her Cousin felt awkward during the moment. Yet, as she is the only narrator, she can only give her perspective. It is unclear what Cousin thinks at this moment, but

Her choice to alter the narrative is problematic, because Adult Lenny realizes the intents of her Cousin, but chooses to leave it to a child’s interpretation. On one hand, she attempts to remain in character as her young self, ignorant of the sexual world. On the other hand, she cannot help but comment on these moments. For example, she cannot help but ask what the dancing-girls do as a job, and her Cousin “[e]ver ready to illuminate, teach and show [her] things” attempts to touch her lower regions (Sidhwa 252). Adult Lenny recognizes her own naivety to the situation, wary of her Cousin’s actions already, but “the gullibility that made [her] climb a stool to insert [her] finger into the AC current remains” (Sidhwa 252). She tries to show how young Lenny was placed in a situation unknown to her. Her

The essential plotline of Cracking India is Lenny’s entrance to the adult world after the loss of her Ayah to the complexities of politics and religions. However, the narrator, adult Lenny, chooses to showcase the growing relationship with her Cousin to underline the connection with the main story. When she realizes her Cousin has been acting aloof to get her attention, she cannot blame his actions. Rather, his attempt to woo her is acknowledged by Lenny upon recognizing how “[p]assion does make one silly” (Sidhwa 245). Her statement indirectly reflects how Ice-candy-man is driven to destroy Ayah because of his overwhelming passion for her. Even more, when she claims to “feel sorry” for her Cousin because of his passion, she recognizes the potential danger of love (Sidhwa 245). Yet, this recognition is further shown when she reunites with her Ayah and sees her despaired state. Although possibly a trickery on his part, Lenny sees Ice-candy-man’s “haunted” expression and suggests he is “underserving of his beloved’s heartless disdain” (Sidhwa 276). Through her Cousin and Ice-candy-man, Lenny creates a parallel in their passion for a woman with different consequences. Lenny is not disgraced but Ayah is. Nevertheless, both fates of the men are left untold, as Cousin’s purpose in the story is reduced shortly after the rape