Lennie Smalls Essay
John Snively
English 10B
3/27/12
Lennie Smalls is a barley bucker. Hidden behind his enormous size, he is very innocent. He doesn’t understand how things work. He has a very pure mind and hasn’t adopted any evils of the world. For example, in the book, Lennie finds himself in Crooks’ room, which few people have ever been in,primarily because he is black. Crooks reluctantly lets Lennie into his room and tells him to set down. They get into conversation and find themselves talking about how Crooks is not allowed in the bunkhouse. Lennie says, “Why ain’t you wanted?” The reason behind this, in everyone else’s mind, is quite obvious. However, Lennie is so innocent he doesn’t understand that being black means Crooks must be separated from the white people of the ranch. Lennie shares this virtue with young children, and like young children, he is very childish. Perhaps the best of example of Lennie’s juvenile behavior comes in the beginning of the book when George explodes on Lennie after he says he likes his beans with ketchup. George goes on about how better off he’d be alone, not having to take care Lennie. Lennie’s response to this is “If you don’t want me, you only just gotta say so, and I’ll go off in those hills and live by myself. And I won’t get no more mice stole from me.” Like any child, if you tell them they’re not wanted somewhere or you get them upset, they will try to make you feel guilty and threaten to leave. Lennie’s babyish behavior extends farther than this. As a result of his child-state-of-mind, Lennie is also very touchy. He likes to feel and touch everything that interests him. For instance, towards the beginning of the story, Lennie and George are arguing over Lennie’s habbit of holding mice and petting them. George brings up the rubber mouse that Lennie’s Aunt Clara gave him. Lennie refused to keep it because “It was no good to pet.” Lennie likes touching anything soft or interesting, much like children in grocery stores. Even though
English 10B
3/27/12
Lennie Smalls is a barley bucker. Hidden behind his enormous size, he is very innocent. He doesn’t understand how things work. He has a very pure mind and hasn’t adopted any evils of the world. For example, in the book, Lennie finds himself in Crooks’ room, which few people have ever been in,primarily because he is black. Crooks reluctantly lets Lennie into his room and tells him to set down. They get into conversation and find themselves talking about how Crooks is not allowed in the bunkhouse. Lennie says, “Why ain’t you wanted?” The reason behind this, in everyone else’s mind, is quite obvious. However, Lennie is so innocent he doesn’t understand that being black means Crooks must be separated from the white people of the ranch. Lennie shares this virtue with young children, and like young children, he is very childish. Perhaps the best of example of Lennie’s juvenile behavior comes in the beginning of the book when George explodes on Lennie after he says he likes his beans with ketchup. George goes on about how better off he’d be alone, not having to take care Lennie. Lennie’s response to this is “If you don’t want me, you only just gotta say so, and I’ll go off in those hills and live by myself. And I won’t get no more mice stole from me.” Like any child, if you tell them they’re not wanted somewhere or you get them upset, they will try to make you feel guilty and threaten to leave. Lennie’s babyish behavior extends farther than this. As a result of his child-state-of-mind, Lennie is also very touchy. He likes to feel and touch everything that interests him. For instance, towards the beginning of the story, Lennie and George are arguing over Lennie’s habbit of holding mice and petting them. George brings up the rubber mouse that Lennie’s Aunt Clara gave him. Lennie refused to keep it because “It was no good to pet.” Lennie likes touching anything soft or interesting, much like children in grocery stores. Even though