Lennie's Intentions

In John Steinbeck’s dynamic novel Of Mice and Men, the challenged Lennie’s harmless intentions results in heinous acts due to his decline in mentality and inability to control his own immense strength. In the beginning, Lennie’s simple love of soft things causes inconsequential incidents that quickly escalate into more severe offenses as the story progresses. By the end of the novel, Lennie’s uncontrollable strength and mental deficits leads him to commit unintended manslaughter. Stories of Lennie’s childhood show that from the beginning Lennie has enjoyed petting soft things but becomes hindered by his unmanageable physical power and child-like mind. George’s retelling of his and Lennie’s long ago past reveals Lennie’s Aunt Clara has given him soft things to stroke like a square of velvet and mice. Like most with metal disabilities, Lennie loves to touch soft things, but this is not a harmful obsession in itself. Only when combined

While working in Weed, Lennie gets in trouble because he wants to feel a girl’s red dress. The scared girl screams and the confused and panicked Lennie does not know any better and holds on until George is able to knock enough sense into him to let go. After this event Lennie forgets what previously transpired and where he and George are going. Forgetfulness becomes another of Lennie’s known mental deficits. The next horrible act Lennie commits is caused by his fantasies of rabbits which lead to a fight between him and Curley that ends with Curley’s hand being completely crushed by Lennie’s out of control strength. Lennie cries “I didn’t wanta hurt him” (Steinbeck 64) and George says “Lennie was jus’ scairt...he didn’t know what to do” (Steinbeck 65). This proves that Lennie does not mean to harm people but due to his challenged mind and physical power it is