How Does Steinbeck Present Lennie's Mental Disability

In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck utilizes Lennie’s mental disability to demonstrate that his dream of a farm will be a place of acceptance for Lennie. Lennie is not accepted into society due to his mental disorder. When George tells the charming story of the dream, Lennie adds, “An’ rabbits, George” (Steinbeck 3.57). Lennie is insistent on including the rabbits because he is the rabbits. He wants the rabbits to be accepted into the dream farm; just like Lennie wants to be accepted in society. Lennie is never accepted, hence to him having the farm is a place of acceptance for himself. If Lennie can fulfill the idea of the farm, then he can fill the void in his heart. All Lennie wants is acceptance and with the rabbits included in

George suggests having stripes cats at the farm. George then explains the cats can’t get to the rabbits. In response to this Lennie says, “You jus’ let ’em try to get the rabbits. I’ll break their God damn necks. I’ll… I’ll smash ‘em with a stick” (Steinbeck 3.58). Lennie will do anything to keep those rabbits from getting hurt. He is so insistent on ensuring the safety of the rabbits because he could never prevent himself from getting hurt. Lennie gets hurt by society due to his disability, and he cannot fix that. However, if he can keep the rabbits from getting hurt, it’s closure for him. Lennie knows how bad it feels to get hurt and he will do anything to ensure no one or nothing else ever experiences that feeling. Lennie is desperate for the farm because he would finally be happy. Steinbeck describes the anxiety Lennie has for starting the farm by saying, “‘An’ rabbits,’ Lennie said eagerly. ‘An I’d take care of ‘em. Tell how I’d do that, George’,” (Steinbeck 3.58). Steinbeck includes words such as ‘eagerly’ to show how enthusiastic he is to participate in something and feel as if he belongs. Lennie always tries to love small animals, but he always hurts them. At the farm Lennie wants to prove that he is responsible and