Why Is Lennie Small Insane
Ryan Nelson
9/21/2010
Criminology
Short Paper 1
In my opinion Lennie Small is not guilty of homicide due to insanity pertaining from his lack of cognitive ability, which can be determined by the irresistible impulse test. Lennie knew that murder was wrong but could not stop himself. Lennie is a gentle soul and would never harm anyone on purpose. He didn't know how to act when Curley's wife threatened to tell George that he touched her hair, which in turn would take his beloved rabbits away from him. In Lennie's mind there was no way that a future without his rabbits was possible.
In order to understand why Lennie was unable to stop himself from killing Curley's wife we need to examine the factors that made him the way he was. George Milton, Lennie's traveling partner, is the main influence on why Lennie's irresistible impulse was so severe. From what we know about George he is a very cynical and controlling person. He himself has basically taken away Lennie's freedom of choice between right and wrong. Maybe George Milton should be the one on trial today. Take for instance the conversation they had before trying to get employment at …show more content…
the Ranch, “We're gonna go an' see the boss. Now, look-I'll give him the tickets, but you ain't gonna say a word. You jus' stand there and don't say nothing.” (Steinbeck, 6). George had belittled Lennie so much mentally that he was not even letting him talk.
Another reason why Lennie Small was not able to stop himself from killing Curley's wife is his mental fixation with rabbits. The only thing Lennie can seem to remember or even feel any emotion for is rabbits. His entire life all he has wanted is a few rabbits to pet. Think about if it was only possible for you to think about one thing. If someone tried to take that one thing away from you. It would be your natural instinct to do anything to get that back, and with a mental handicap it would be impossible to stop yourself from doing so. Lennie's mental handicap is also another reason why not guilty by reason of insanity due to irresistible impulse is the right verdict for this case.
Leonard Small is a very gentle soul, and he also has a mental handicap. It's hard for him to realize what's going on around him at some points. Whenever Lennie has attacked someone previously it has always been in self defense. Like when Curley attacked him and he didn't even defend himself until George instructed him to, “Lennie's hands remained at his sides; he was to frightened to defend himself. George was on his feet yelling “Get him, Lennie. Don't let him do it!”(Steinbeck, 63). It wasn't until this point that Lennie used any sort of force to defend himself, which is another reason why George Milton has played a large role in the development of Mr. Small's irresistible impulse.
Another factor in this terrible situation is the way in which Curley's wife almost egged on Lennie.”You're nuts. But you're a kinda nice fella. Jus' like a big baby. But a person can see kinda what your mean. When I'm doin' my hair sometimes I jus' set an' stroke it 'cause it's so soft.”(Steinbeck, 90) Lennie is a simple person who has a mental fixation with rabbits, especially how soft their pelt is. The way in which Curley's wife presented herself to Lennie was one that left her open for physical attention from Lennie. She set Lennie up for failure and I believe that she intended for Lennie to become agitated. Someone with a mental handicap such as Lennie isn't totally in control of their actions, especially when placed in situation such as that one.
Another reason why Lennie Small is not guilty due to insanity is because of the hallucinations that he was having right before he was “apprehended”.
Right before Lennie was caught people reported hearing him talking to himself. Only he thought that he was talking to his “Aunt Clara”. An eye witness heard Lennie saying “I tol' you, 'Min' George because he's such a nice fella an' good to you. But you never take no care. You do bad things. I tried, Aunt Clara, ma'am. I tried and tried” (Steinbeck, 101). If Lennie was hallucinating right after he killed Curley's wife then how do we know that he wasn't hallucinating when he killed her. In my opinion someone who is hallucinating probably isn't in control of their actions. Even if they are in control of their body it doesn't mean they are in control of their
mind.
There are many reasons why Lennie Small should be acquitted. He is obviously not in control of his actions. If Lennie could have stopped himself from killing Curley's wife I'm sure that he would have, he is gentle loving soul his tenderness towards animals as well as other people prove this. I think that Lennie is a prime case of irresistible impulse. He knows that killing is wrong but he cannot physically stop himself in times of duress. Lennie Small may have committed a horrible crime but in no way intended for it to actually happen and is an innocent man.
9/21/2010
Criminology
Short Paper 1
In my opinion Lennie Small is not guilty of homicide due to insanity pertaining from his lack of cognitive ability, which can be determined by the irresistible impulse test. Lennie knew that murder was wrong but could not stop himself. Lennie is a gentle soul and would never harm anyone on purpose. He didn't know how to act when Curley's wife threatened to tell George that he touched her hair, which in turn would take his beloved rabbits away from him. In Lennie's mind there was no way that a future without his rabbits was possible.
In order to understand why Lennie was unable to stop himself from killing Curley's wife we need to examine the factors that made him the way he was. George Milton, Lennie's traveling partner, is the main influence on why Lennie's irresistible impulse was so severe. From what we know about George he is a very cynical and controlling person. He himself has basically taken away Lennie's freedom of choice between right and wrong. Maybe George Milton should be the one on trial today. Take for instance the conversation they had before trying to get employment at …show more content…
the Ranch, “We're gonna go an' see the boss. Now, look-I'll give him the tickets, but you ain't gonna say a word. You jus' stand there and don't say nothing.” (Steinbeck, 6). George had belittled Lennie so much mentally that he was not even letting him talk.
Another reason why Lennie Small was not able to stop himself from killing Curley's wife is his mental fixation with rabbits. The only thing Lennie can seem to remember or even feel any emotion for is rabbits. His entire life all he has wanted is a few rabbits to pet. Think about if it was only possible for you to think about one thing. If someone tried to take that one thing away from you. It would be your natural instinct to do anything to get that back, and with a mental handicap it would be impossible to stop yourself from doing so. Lennie's mental handicap is also another reason why not guilty by reason of insanity due to irresistible impulse is the right verdict for this case.
Leonard Small is a very gentle soul, and he also has a mental handicap. It's hard for him to realize what's going on around him at some points. Whenever Lennie has attacked someone previously it has always been in self defense. Like when Curley attacked him and he didn't even defend himself until George instructed him to, “Lennie's hands remained at his sides; he was to frightened to defend himself. George was on his feet yelling “Get him, Lennie. Don't let him do it!”(Steinbeck, 63). It wasn't until this point that Lennie used any sort of force to defend himself, which is another reason why George Milton has played a large role in the development of Mr. Small's irresistible impulse.
Another factor in this terrible situation is the way in which Curley's wife almost egged on Lennie.”You're nuts. But you're a kinda nice fella. Jus' like a big baby. But a person can see kinda what your mean. When I'm doin' my hair sometimes I jus' set an' stroke it 'cause it's so soft.”(Steinbeck, 90) Lennie is a simple person who has a mental fixation with rabbits, especially how soft their pelt is. The way in which Curley's wife presented herself to Lennie was one that left her open for physical attention from Lennie. She set Lennie up for failure and I believe that she intended for Lennie to become agitated. Someone with a mental handicap such as Lennie isn't totally in control of their actions, especially when placed in situation such as that one.
Another reason why Lennie Small is not guilty due to insanity is because of the hallucinations that he was having right before he was “apprehended”.
Right before Lennie was caught people reported hearing him talking to himself. Only he thought that he was talking to his “Aunt Clara”. An eye witness heard Lennie saying “I tol' you, 'Min' George because he's such a nice fella an' good to you. But you never take no care. You do bad things. I tried, Aunt Clara, ma'am. I tried and tried” (Steinbeck, 101). If Lennie was hallucinating right after he killed Curley's wife then how do we know that he wasn't hallucinating when he killed her. In my opinion someone who is hallucinating probably isn't in control of their actions. Even if they are in control of their body it doesn't mean they are in control of their
mind.
There are many reasons why Lennie Small should be acquitted. He is obviously not in control of his actions. If Lennie could have stopped himself from killing Curley's wife I'm sure that he would have, he is gentle loving soul his tenderness towards animals as well as other people prove this. I think that Lennie is a prime case of irresistible impulse. He knows that killing is wrong but he cannot physically stop himself in times of duress. Lennie Small may have committed a horrible crime but in no way intended for it to actually happen and is an innocent man.