Weakness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

¨Pick on someone your own size ¨. This remark refers to the bigger picking on the weaker and smaller. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, author John Steinbeck illustrates multiple different ways that the weak are often at the mercy of the strong and powerful . He illustrates this topic through not only one but many characters in the novel such as Lennie, Curley's wife, and Crooks.He also shows that those who are not only physical weaker but mentally are also often at the mercy of the strong and powerful.

First, Lennie is the mentally disabled character in the novel he is always traveling with his friend George. Lennie is mentally weaker than the other character in the novel and is taken advantage of by those in the novel who are mentally stronger. Curley's wife tries to pick on Lennie not only because she is flirtatious but also because she finds him weaker than the rest.Another person who takes advantage of Lennie is George's pal that he travels around with, George takes advantage of Lennie's disability by make him do things he shouldn't for his own amusement . George also takes advantage of Lennie to make himself feel smarter or more inferior. ¨But he was too dumb even to even know he had a joke played on him. I had fun. Made me seem damn smart alongside of him¨ (40) said by George.

Her husband Curley keeps her alone and isolated from the other men and since she is a woman she will not stand up for herself which makes her weaker than Curley and at the mercy of him due to this weakness. ¨I get lonely,she said. ¨You can talk to people, but I can't talk to nobody but Curley.Else he gets mad. How´d you like not to talk to anybody?¨(87)Said by Curley's wife