Vulnerability In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Life's a roller coaster, twisting and turning, making you sick because you just ate a whole pizza and you just weren’t ready. You don’t want to scream or show your shaking hands and let people see that you are stricken with fear and anxiety. You don’t want to show vulnerability or weakness that they can use against you. You don’t want them to have a weapon and you, only with your fists, have nothing. Vulnerability shapes behavior and actions; it changes views about life, leading us to take advantage of each other. When Lennie starts talking about leaving and going to a cave all alone, fear was shown by George of being alone. Lennie took this to his advantage and pressed until George said that he could tend the rabbits. Another example is when

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck displays what happens when vulnerability controls us. So you are on that roller coaster. It jolts and you start cranking up that first hill. Crank rack-Crank. There is a feeling inside you. It is a mix of feelings; and in the end, it makes you vulnerable. In the start in Of Mice and Men, or the first hill, Lennie senses the fear in George. He sees the helplessness and will use it to his advantage, like most people would. “‘No-Look! I was jus’ foolin’ Lennie ‘cause I want you to stay with me’… Lennie avoided the bait. He had sensed his advantage.” (Steinbeck 13) George is made vulnerable because Lennie sees his fear. Now that George is vulnerable, Lennie can strike anywhere to get what he wants. By doing this, Lennie gets an edge and will gain something for himself. People try and get into others’ vulnerabilities because they will gain something out of it. “‘About the rabbits’” (Steinbeck 13) Because of Lennie trying to hurt George, George is susceptible to being conned or pushed into doing something he doesn’t have to. This is because his fear of loneliness gives him a weakness that Lennie can see and use to his advantage, with him having the power in this