In the story Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the author emphasizes a main character, Lennie, as unworldly and ignorant. Throughout the book Lennie gives the impression through his unobservant innocent acts as a childlike character. For example, Lennie endeavors to create friendships as though a child and does not know how to make friends in the manner of an adult. When Lennie tries to make friends with Crooks, Steinbeck describes Lennie smiling at Crooks in attempting to be friends. Yet Lennie does not understand the difference in how he makes friends and how Crooks makes friends. Steinbeck expresses Crook’s indifference by stating, “Lennie smiled helplessly in attempt to make friends. Crooks said sharply, ‘You ain’t got no right …show more content…
Nobody got any right in here but me.’”(64) Lennie is only trying to make friends but he is oblivious to Crook’s annoyance of him in his personal space. Lennie’s unawareness to other people’s emotions and acts renders him as childlike. In addition, when Curley’s wife walked into the room Lennie stares at her even though Crooks and Candy look away. Steinbeck conveys, “Lennie watched her, fascinated; but Candy and Crooks were scowling away from her eyes.” (73) Although all the men are looking away, Lennie does not understand the issue with staring at Curley’s wife even though he does not have a vulgar mind. Steinbeck depicts Lennie as having an innocent mind who does not take in his surroundings. Furthermore, when Lennie kills the puppy and Curley’s wife walks in he quickly tries to hide away the puppy as though he is embarrassed. Steinbeck reveals Lennie’s embarrassment, “In panic he shoveled hay over the puppy with his fingers…” (82) Once Lennie accidentally kills the puppy he appears to be unaware of where to put the dead puppy. Steinbeck indicates Lennie burying the puppy is like a child trying to hide away a mess. In conclusion, Steinbeck draws attention to Lennie’s acts which made him appear to have a childlike personality because of his incomprehension