The Role Of Violence In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Violence takes a major role in most famous works of writing. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Lennie took the life of Curley’s wife away without realizing it. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor’s creation controlled him to the point of willing to make another, but he soon changed his mind. Quick decisions can change the course of a character’s life as seen through the choices of Lennie and Victor. Lennie’s mistake leads him to his sudden fate. Lennie’s childlike and innocent persona shows other characters that he never does anything for malicious reasons. Even after George tells Lennie to “Get ‘im, Lennie!” (Steinbeck 60) after Curley attacked him, Lennie “Watched in terror the flopping little man whom he held” (Steinbeck 60) in his hands. Lennie never meant to hurt Curley, but he cannot control his strength. He does not understand when to stop once he starts. Later, Curley’s wife approaches Lennie. Lennie refuses to talk to her, but she approaches him anyway. “I like to pet nice things” (Steinbeck 85), Lennie tells Curley’s wife, so she offers to have him touch her soft hair. He starts to stroke her hair, but without realizing his strength, he starts to stroke the hair harder and harder. Afraid of George being angry with him, Lennie quickly covers
When Curley finds his wife dead, he says “I know who done it…I know he done it.” (Steinbeck 92). Curley knows Lennie has killed his wife because he knows from experience of his strength. Curley wants to kill Lennie immediately and leaves the ranch to find him. George finds Lennie and speaks with him, but he soon “raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head” (Steinbeck 101-102) and shoots, leaving Lennie dead in the sand. George wants Lennie to be at peace, rather than suffer the consequences of his actions. He thinks that it is better for Lennie’s best friend to kill him, rather than it being someone