George Small Character Analysis Of Mice And Men

Jonathan Jimenez

Ms. Collier

English 9 Period 3

12-12-14 Lennie: "Of Mice and Men" Character Anaylisis

Lenny Small is a protagonist (main character) in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" who

expresses his characteristics greatly. This is illustrated through a series of Lennie's incidents

and interactions with other characters in the novel. Lennie's main characteristics are his large

physical stature, and being mentally handicapped. From this, Lennie contains a sense of

physical appearance and emotion despite his complications. To his accompany, Lennie is

assisted and usually tamed through a second protagonist: George. Throughout

Lennie's complication have him to be accepted by other

characters such as: Candy, Crooks and Curley's wife. He emits no threat, and seems to listen

patiently because he has learned to pay close attention, due to remembering slightly of what he

hears. Like a young child fascinated with stories, George has come to comfort Lennie with a tale

of a golden future. A gold future of a farm and land with abundant livestock to himself.

In English context, Lennie is a round yet static character. We know much about Lennie but

his mental incapabilities and personality remains identical throughout the story. From this,

there is no proper asylum (a safe place) for Lennie. Curley is vengeful, but even if he could be

restrained, Lennie would face life in a degrading and cruel institution such as a mental hospital,

prison or home for the criminally insane. Therefore he has the caring relationship with his

partner George. A quote from the story states, "I got you. We got each other"pg104. Lennie is a

burden to George, who frequently shows irritation and, sometimes, anger towards him. But it