Have you ever thought about how a single action can set off a chain of events that ultimately determines the course of a story? In John Steinbeck's classic novel, "Of Mice and Men," this concept is shown through the character of Lennie. First, Lennie is the catalyst for the events of the novel; without Lennie's actions, the story would not exist in the same way. However, Lennie's importance goes deeper than his role as a catalyst. Lennie's inability to control his strength and impulses leads to disaster in the novel. Lastly, Lennie's vulnerability represents the struggles of those who are different in society. Lennie is the most important character because of his role as a catalyst in the story, his uncontrolled strength, and his vulnerability and struggles.
Lennie's role as a catalyst for the events of the novel is one of the main reasons he could be viewed as the most important character in "Of Mice and Men." Lennie's fascination with soft things and his accidental killing of Curley's wife sets off the tragic chain of events that ultimately leads to George's decision to "play God" and kill him. This event marks the climax of the novel and sets the stage for the ending. Without Lennie's actions, the story would lack the dramatic tension and emotional impact, which both make it so powerful.
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Although physically powerful, Lennie is not aware of his own strength, which causes him to harm others. This is seen in his crushing of Curley's hand during their fight, and eventually, in his killing of Curley's wife. Lennie's lack of understanding of social norms and his childlike nature also led to him unintentionally killing the puppies he was tending, even though he loved them so dearly. Despite his good intentions, Lennie's actions keep resulting in harm and