Of Mice And Men
Lennie
Character Description
Don't let the name fool you: Lennie Small is big. Unfortunately, that's about all he has going for him, and he's got a really good friend.
Curly and Lennie Fight
Quotes from the fight
"I wasn't kicked in the head with no horse, was I, George?"
"Be a damn good thing if you was," George said viciously. "Save ever'body a hell of a lot of trouble." (2.61-62)
It's a good think Lennie isn't actually George's kid, because we're pretty sure that Child Protective Services would have to get involved. Lennie's an adult—but does that make it okay? Or does his mental disability make him so childlike that George might as well be abusing a kid?
Song
Theme
Lennie's mental disability makes him into a child. He likes hanging out with George and petting soft things. Theres a problem, he's a child trapped in the body of a powerful man. Innocence may protect Lennie, because he never has to deal with the reality of what he's done, but it doesn't protect the people around him.