Disabilities In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

How do you think society in the 1930s treated people with disabilities like Lennie? I was treated differently in sixth grade when i was bullied for being “fat.” This relates to Lennie because just like myself, we were both treated differently. In John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men set in the 1930’s in Salinas Valley, California we meet the static character Lennie Smalls and his best friend George. While it is obvious to the reader that Lennie has a mental disability because of his actions, it is never directly stated. However, when he… “Aunt Clara was gone, and from out of Lennie’s head there came a gigantic rabbit.” (Steinbeck 101). Steinbeck implies that Lennie has a mind of a child. Lennie imagines a rabbit and his Aunt Clara scolding him in his voice. This shows that Lennie can’t even remember his Aunt’s voice. Lennie cannot do many things on his own and he has disabilities. Society doesn't accept things that are slightly different than what they believe is normal.
People in the novel did not accept Lennie because he was slower than the rest. Lennie had problems but these
George is almost like a savior to Lennie because he gets him out of every bad situation Lennie puts them in. George somehow finds jobs for him and Lennie and keeps him in check. Of Mice and Men would be different without George because without him, Lennie wouldn’t know what to do and people would treat him horribly. George protects Lennie from people that do not understand Lennie’s disabilities. Also, George told Lennie “When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace.” (Steinbeck 12) George says mean things like saying that he would have a better life without Lennie but in reality, George needs Lennie in his life. He is taught life lessons on how to deal with things from the stuff Lennie does. He also teaches Lennie things about life and how to act the proper