George feels responsible for Lennies
saftey, because Aunt Clara asked him to
look after Lennie.
At the beginning of the book, we see the side of George
that doesn't want Lennie, and is stuck with him. At the end
of the book, in the same spot we made this realisation, we
see George shoot Lennie, but for different reasons than
not wanting him.
Lennie, a bit like a child, has a lot of innocence
about him, and doesnt understand whats
happening a lot of the time.
This may also be a wrong impression of Lennie, because of him
breaking Curley's hand, and also killing Curley's wife.
George feels a sense of protection for Lennie, like a
parent for a child.
Slim: "He's jes' like a
kid."
"Me an' him goes ever' place
together."
Lennie, in one sense has no control,
because he can't look after himself, and
without George, would have probably died.
But, in another sense, he has the most
control, not just because of his strength, and
ability to kill Curley's wife so easily, but his
control over Georges, and Aunt Clara's lives.
Appearance: He is "a huge man,
shapeless of face... and he walked... the
way a bear drags his paws. His arms...
hung loosely."
Compares him to an animal; he is simple, but can also be very dangerous.
When George shoots him, it's like he's shooting his pet dog (forshadowed)
Lennie doesn't mean to do harm. He just
doesn't realise his own strength.
"I didn't want
no trouble."
Lennie only sees something as 'good or 'bad', and has no
moral judgement. How he sees things depends on what
George will think of him.
" 'I done a real bad thing,' he said, 'I
shouldn't have did that. George'll be mad.' "