Text Analysis 'of Mice and Men'
In the excerpts George and Lennie are two friends, one smart the other intellectually disabled, both on a ‘mission’ to achieve the American dream. Their journey reveals a lot about the two. Lennie is a follower, in that he follows and imitates George’s every move. Lennie also suffers from a mental disability. It is also understood that they are from a working class upbringing.
In the case of Lennie, it becomes very clear throughout the novel that he is a ‘follower’. He follows George everywhere he goes, even going to the extent of imitating George, “Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly”, (11-17). This clearly and blatantly shows and supports the ‘follower’ notion, while at the same time showing Lennie’s insecurity. Through his imitating George, Lennie feels a sense of security, he feels like he is able to fit in, however, in imitating George exactly there is also revealed a lack of independence caused by Lennie’s mental disability. “Even in the open, one stayed behind the other” (1-8) clearly displays Lennie’s insecurity and lack of independence. It states that even when they are in an open area, which would obviously be able to facilitate walking side by side, Lennie still remains behind George. Still the ‘follower’ and insecure; an insecurity spouting from Lennie’s mental state. Lennie has lost his independence, another factor, which has contributed to his insecurity.
It is clear that Lennie suffers from a mental disorder. It can be seen throughout the novel in many situations involving his attitude and inability to remember things, but mainly through his speech. “Aw, leave me have it, George” (11-17) is but one example. The completely incorrect use of words, and grammar show that Lennie has mental problems. While it can be said that the dialogue is correct for the time, it must be said that even for the time in which the novel is set, the grammatical errors in Lennie’s speech far outweigh simple ignorance and occur too often to be chance
In the case of Lennie, it becomes very clear throughout the novel that he is a ‘follower’. He follows George everywhere he goes, even going to the extent of imitating George, “Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly”, (11-17). This clearly and blatantly shows and supports the ‘follower’ notion, while at the same time showing Lennie’s insecurity. Through his imitating George, Lennie feels a sense of security, he feels like he is able to fit in, however, in imitating George exactly there is also revealed a lack of independence caused by Lennie’s mental disability. “Even in the open, one stayed behind the other” (1-8) clearly displays Lennie’s insecurity and lack of independence. It states that even when they are in an open area, which would obviously be able to facilitate walking side by side, Lennie still remains behind George. Still the ‘follower’ and insecure; an insecurity spouting from Lennie’s mental state. Lennie has lost his independence, another factor, which has contributed to his insecurity.
It is clear that Lennie suffers from a mental disorder. It can be seen throughout the novel in many situations involving his attitude and inability to remember things, but mainly through his speech. “Aw, leave me have it, George” (11-17) is but one example. The completely incorrect use of words, and grammar show that Lennie has mental problems. While it can be said that the dialogue is correct for the time, it must be said that even for the time in which the novel is set, the grammatical errors in Lennie’s speech far outweigh simple ignorance and occur too often to be chance