Of Mice And Men Weak Analysis

The lack of interaction between the ‘weak’ ones of the ranch in the film version of Of Mice and Men results in the obscuring of the theme of handicaps that is present throughout the novel. In the film, the scene begins with Lennie approaching Crooks as the rest of the men are in the nearby town. They discuss Lennie’s desire to tend rabbits and later on, Lennie makes it clear his intention for George and he to be together till the end. George comes in, escorts Lennie out of the room where they encounter Curley’s wife as she complains of her unhappy marriage and runs away. The book varies in the way that Curley’s wife and Candy are both in the room as they all talk. As Candy, Lennie, and Crooks discuss the promise of a brighter future, Curley’s wife is quick to crush their dreams
It is important to notice in the novel that each character has their own handicap, whether it is age, gender, race, mental capability, or physical capability; although they show strength even with their weak descriptions, the purpose of the theme is to convey the low tolerance their society has of handicaps. For example, Crooks, even being a bitter man, latches onto their dream of the little house for the promise of companionship, but because of his race and the prejudice during the time period, Curley’s wife makes sure he knows that he will never be accepted. Although the handicaps are physically portrayed in the film, they are not reinforced well enough because there isn’t as big of a power difference between Lennie and Crooks as there is between them and Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife may be handicapped as her loneliness makes her desperate, but she has the ability to take away any hope they have. Also, in the novel, Curley’s wife mentions that the men left the three ‘weak’ ones at home. This comment serves to further describe the time period as there is never enough protection for the weak from the