Lennie's Weakness in Of Mice and Men Essay Sample

Through Steinbeck’s portrayal of minorities on the ranch, many characters in Of Mice and Men are presented as weaker than others. During the Great Depression in Salinas Valley, California, protagonists Lennie and George work at a ranch and meet many different people who come from diverse backgrounds. Lennie is a large, simple-minded man who is unaware of many of his actions. Candy is an old ranch worker who works as a swamper or cleaner on the ranch. Although it can be argued that Candy is weak, Lennie is Steinbeck’s most inferior character due to his mental dysfunction.

Lennie is the weakest of all the characters in the novel “Of Mice and Men”. He is a childlike, migrant worker, who is dependent on his companion George to manage his days for him. Lennie struggles with a mental disability causing him not to have the ability of understanding what he is doing entirely. In chapter 3, George reveals that he used to play jokes on him. When George and Lennie were out with some friends near the river, George told Lennie to jump in. Lennie knows that he can not swim, and he will drown, but he jumps anyway because relies on George's instruction of what to do. When George realizes that Lennie is drowning he runs in and saves him. Lennie thanks George for saving him after, even though George was the one who told him to jump in the first place. Lennie is demonstrated as an inferior character because he can't survive on his own. There are multiple examples provided in the novel that illustrates how he depends on others, specifically George to get through everyday activities. Lennie's weakness is demonstrated in the novel when he and Curley's wife are talking outside the barn and he is not in control of his behavior. Curley’s wife opens up to Lennie because he is the only person she has to talk to. Lennie is listening to her, but only thinking about himself.  After a while, Lennie mentions he enjoys petting soft things. Curley's wife tells him to pet her hair. Lennie, not knowing his own strength, gets too rough. Curley's wife starts screaming in pain and fear because Lennie is pulling her hair. He doesn't want to get in trouble with George, so Lennie starts shaking her to calm her down. Being so big and strong he accidentally breaks her neck. After not getting another response from Curley's wife, he realizes what he has done. This proves Lennie is vulnerability because he doesn't know the size of his strength. He doesn't understand that his actions have consequences, Lennie could not control his body. Lennie’s weakness negatively impacts his life and causes a long line of problems for both Lennie and George. 

Some would argue that Candy is a character who is inferior at times. Candy is an elderly man with a missing hand. Due to his age and disability he always feels unhelpful and has a fear of being fired. It can be argued that Candy is at a disadvantage when he lets Carlson kill his dog for him. When People start talking about how Candy’s dog is too old and reeking of odor, Candy decides to let Carlson kill him. Afterwards, Candy is full of regret. He wishes that he would have done it himself. Candy chooses to be a weak character in many ways. He allows others to be unkind and mistreat him due to his physical disability. He cannot stand up for himself and let others decide that it is time for him to take his only possession (his dog) away from him. Although Candy is at his most vulnerable moment, it is still no match for Lennie’s poor actions. Candy can take over his emotions while Lennie can not. Candy knows what's going on around him, but Lennie is unaware of what is happening. Lennie’s struggles are greater than Candy’s. Overall, Lennie is weaker than Candy as a consequence of his intellectual disability.

Many characters in Of Mice and Men are seen as weaker than others due of Steinbeck's representation of minorities on the ranch. Steinbeck’s depiction of physical and mental disabilities demonstrating weakness is evidenced in the characters of Candy and Lennie. Candy’s missing hand and trusting nature makes him eager to please others. Lennie’s mental disability makes him oblivious of his actions. Even when Candy is at his weakest, he is no match for Lennie's behavior. Lennie doesn't  have the ability to control his emotions, whereas Candy does. Candy is aware of what is going on around him, while Lennie is clueless of what is going on. Because of his mental impairment, Lennie's challenges are higher than Candy's.