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Now and then character analysis
Now and then character analysis
Now and then character analysis
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Lennie had a fondness for soft things. This fondness lead him to the incidents of the mouse and ,later on, Curley 's wife. He never meant any harm to either of them. However, he was the cause of their deaths. Lennie was mentally handicapped.
‘Lennie begged, “Le 's do it now. Le 's get that place now.”’ George concurs, places the Luger on the back of Lennie’s head, and shoots him. One of the most controversial aspects of George Steinbeck 's novel Of Mice and Men, was the death of Lennie by his friend’s hands. Many believe that George murdered him in Lennie’s best interest, yet many others believe that George was being selfish and with his act, removed the burden of Lennie.
In this essay I will be explaining why George was justified in shooting Lennie. You will read 3 reasons why I believe he is justified such as: Lennie wouldn’t have to face jail time, it would put Lennie out of his misery, and premeditation. To start off my essay I will begin with the reason of him not having to face jail time. Lennie wasn’t the brightest crayon in the box if you know what I mean so he didn’t really understand a lot.
PERSUADABLE Within this novel, we see Lennie be persuaded into many different problems. One of the first instances of this is when George encourages Lennie to fight back against Curley. (Page 63 paragraph two) “Get him, Lennie. Don’t let him do it.”
All of us will be presented with an important choice at least once in our lives. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, George is confronted with a very difficult choice after Lennie accidently kills Curley’s wife: let Lennie live but have him be put through the pain of being executed by hanging, or end his life quickly and painlessly. John Steinbeck clearly expresses his own feelings about this decision and the resulting actions through many characters. Steinbeck first portrays his feelings through George when he discovers Curley’s wife’s body. “I should of knew.
Which means Lennie hurts animals and other people without meaning to. On their way to the bunkhouse, Lennie keeps petting a dead mouse in his pocket, when George says “you've broke it pettin' it.” (Steinbeck 9). Killing a little mouse by petting it is a splendid case that displays that Lennie has jurisdiction over his strength. Lennie was “gently” petting the mouse and snapped the little mouse's neck, Ironically Lennie adores soft furred creatures.
“I’d pet ‘em, and pretty soon they’d bit my fingers and I pinched their heads a little and then they was dead” (Steinbeck 58). Through this quote you can see the way Lennie’s intentions are contrary to the outcomes of his actions. His innocence is revealed by his want for the comfort the mice bring him, but doesn’t think of his strength and unintentionally kills them.
Then after that, he was too rough with the mice. When he got a puppy, we all knew something was going to happen. Lennie is just too strong and he can’t control it. So, he killed the dog which was a bigger deal than the other situations. As you can see, there is a pattern.
From the day that Lennie’s Aunt Clara died and from the day George took Lennie in as a friend George was always there for him. If Lennie did not have George, Lennie would have no one to protect him and save him from all of the bad things that he has done. Despite all of the dangers and problems Lennie got George and himself into, George benefited and also learned from Lennie’s mistakes. George needs his ignorant sidekick as much as Lennie needs George.
Killing Lennie “You hadda, George. I swear you hadda” (Steinbeck 107). Slim, one of the main characters in Steinbeck’s, Of Mice and Men, says this to George as they walk away from Lennie’s body. Slim helps George realize that he did the right thing by killing Lennie himself instead of letting someone else do it before he did.
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.
A Guy Got to Sometimes Would you kill your best friend, even though it's for the benefit of both of you? In John Steinbeck’s novel “Of Mice and Men,” George and Lennie are two migrant workers who travel together searching for work during the Great Depression. Lennie is a big man with limited mental capacity and is dependent on George to provide protection and guidance like a big brother. As well, Lennie’s disability makes him a liability and a danger to himself and others. For example, Lennie has accidentally killed multiple small animals and has a history of unintentionally harming others.
Although Lennie loves mice, he is inept at handling feeble creatures. George notices the mouse and addresses it by saying that: “‘That mouse ain’t fresh, Lennie...you’ve broke it pettin’ it’” (Steinbeck 9). The euphemism that George uses for death suggests that the mouse’ death was not intentional, nor sadistic. Lennie roots his intentions in kindness, but his strength overpowers this emotion.
In the beginning of the novella, George is very much hostile towards Lennie and looks upon him as if he has been burdened with taking care of him. George shows his thoughts towards Lennie, when he says, “ ‘Poor bastard,’ he said softly, and then went on whistling again”(8). After George threw Lennie 's dead mouse into the forest, he tells him he can 't have a dead mouse in his pocket, just so he can stroke it. Then George tells Lennie to go get some firewood, after he departs he hears Lennie looking for the mouse instead of firewood.
Lennie keeps a dead mouse in his pocket. George argues with Lennie about the mouse. Afterwards we also learn about a dream of the men. The chapter ends after Lennie gets told to come to this same spot in the brush if any trouble arises. In chapter 1 george acts very harsh towards Lennie.