Of Mice and Men Weaknesses and Strength

In the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’, John Steinbeck uses strengths and weaknesses by using the characters to show both their strengths and weaknesses. Irony and foreshadowing play a large roll on how the story ends. Lennie and his habit of harming soft things, not on purpose, but he is a victim of his own strength. George trying to pretend that his feelings for Lennie mean nothing. The entire novel is repetitive in themes and expressed views.

Loneliness and companionship are one of the many themes that are conveyed in the novel Of Mice and Men, By John Steinbeck. Many of the characters admit to suffering from loneliness within the texts. George sets the tone for these confessions early in the novel when he reminds Lennie that the life of living on a ranch is the loneliest job in the world. However Lennie, who is simple holds the idea that living on a farm is the best place to be. "Tending the rabbits" is what Lennie calls it. Often when Lennie is seeking encouragement he asks George to tell him how its going to be. Men like George who migrate from farm to farm rarely have anyone to look to for companionship and protection. George obviously cares a lot for lennie, but dosen’t like to show to it. The feeling of being shipped from place to place leaves George feeling alone and abandoned because he paired up with Lennie who likes to feel soft and pretty things. But his friendly instincts get sidelined because of his strength and looks.

Strengths and Weaknesses play a huge roll within the story. Steinbeck explores different types of strength and weakness throughout the novel. As the novel begins, Steinbeck shows how Lennie possesses physical strength beyond his control, as when he cannot help killing the mouse. Great physical strength is valuable in George and Lennie's circumstances to buck barley and to help with ranch work. Curley, as a symbol of authority on the ranch and a champion boxer, makes this clear immediately by using his bullish vibe to intimidate those who look down on him. Lennie means no harm at all. The reason why George and Lennie had to leave in the beginning of the novel was because it was believed that Lennie attempted to rape a woman there. Rape was not the case at all, when Lennie expressed his love for the touch of soft things, such as a dress or a mouse, this panicked the woman causing a chain reaction, and causing Lennie panic also. When Lennie accidentally kills the mouse, it foreshadows the future of Lennie and Curley's wife. Lennie is trying his hardest to be gentle and still manages to kill the mouse. The same situation leads to the death of Curleys wife when Lennie and her are in the barn and Lennie is feeling the soft cloth of her dress. She panics, then Lennie panics and his brut strength ends up killing her. Curly holds a grudge against Lennie after the confrontation that they had when Lennie almost breaks both of Curly's hands. After Curly finds his wife dead, he knows who had done it. Lennie and George are once again forced to run from authorities. The absolute climax of the story is when Lennie asks George once again to tell him "how its going to be," George proceeds to tell Lennie to face the rabbits and shoots him in the head. Perhaps for the better, Lennie could now be free, and not trapped and handicapped within his own body.