Intellectual Disabilities In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

In life, people must sometimes make tough choices for the greater good to make sure others don't suffer and the piece continues. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinback, people see him explore this concept by constantly showing the characters in his story making sacrifices to do what is best for them and for the workers of the ranch. Steinback's story of mice and men takes place in 1930s America a time of the great depression when people could barely make a living and were living paycheck to paycheck. In the story readers meet George and Lennie, Lennie is a very strong man but has an intellectual disability that makes his intelligence must less than that of his peers. This gets him in trouble with many of the characters of the ranch they

Candy and George knowing their dream of owning a ranch of their own was now dead decided to tell the rest of the workers that Curley's wife had died. Curley's reaction to this news was as expected and he was not going to let Lennie”s inteltical disability be an excuse to not kill Lennie. “Why-ever'body else was out there playin' horseshoes." He worked himself into a fury. "I'm gonna get him. I'm going for my shotgun. I'll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I'll shoot 'im in the guts. Come on, you guys." He ran furiously out of the barn” (Steinbeck 96). Curley was not gonna be merciful about how he would kill Lennie and would most likely make him suffer before he killed him. Carlson also was not giving mercy to Lennie either as even he was on Curley's side this time and was willing to shoot Lennie. When Carlson went to find his gun though he couldn't find it. “Carlson came running in, "The bastard's stole my Luger," he shouted. "It ain't in my bag." Curley followed him, and Curley carried a shotgun in his good hand. Curley was cold now” (Steinbeck 97). Even though it was George that actually took Carlson's gun all the workers thought that Lennie took it. The workers not only think Lennie purposely killed Curley's wife but he also took Carlson's gun and that he was some dangerous killer that needed to be put down. Now that everyone thought he was a killer everyone one of the workers banded together to set out and find and kill Leinne. “ The little evening breeze blew over the clearing and the leaves rustled and the wind waves flowed up the green pool. And the shouts of men sounded again, this time much closer than before” (Steinbeck 104). If George didn't pull the trigger at that moment the mod of workers would've found the two and George and Lennie could get into trouble. George knew that if he didn't