Jadyn Cosenza Mrs. McLellan English III 13 March 2024. Since the 1930s, Handicapped vulnerability has been a problem and continues to be a problem. In Steinbeck's novel, he showcases the mistreatment of the handicapped through his character Lennie. Steinbeck warns of the caution against this; despite his warning, we still see the handicapped being vulnerable in today's society. Euthanasia was a recurring problem in the 1930s as well. Back then, euthanasia was seen as assisted suicide; in other words, people were killing someone to take them out of their misery. It was also seen as a way to control the population (Smith). Since people couldn’t take care of themselves, the family would terminate them. In comparison, assisted euthanasia has gone …show more content…
Steinbeck says, “He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon he got back to Hollywood. He was gonna write to me about it.’ She looked closely at Lennie to see whether she was impressing him” (Steinbeck, 88). Her inability to recognize Lennie’s lack of understanding shows the misinterpretation of his actions by others. It also notes the societal failure to acknowledge and support those with disabilities. In the novel, the character Crooks – who is isolated both for his race and his physical disability – speaks to Lennie about loneliness. Steinbeck states, “ ‘A guy needs somebody to be near him.’ He whined, ‘A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long as he's with you. I tell ya,’ he cried, ‘I tell ya a guy gets too lonely and he gets sick’ ” (Steinbeck 88). This not only highlights Crooks’ understanding of a yearning for companionship, but also reveals the universal need for connection, especially for those with disabilities or other disadvantages. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck makes note of the neglect and the failure to provide support from society. When George and Lennie think about their dream of owning a piece of land, it symbolizes a place where Lennie could live safely and be free