John Steinbeck's Analysis

Steinbeck could have many purposes in publishing his novel, Of Mice and Men. One of them was getting his readers to love disabled people through Lennie. People didn’t understand what someone with a disorder was going through in the 30’s. Because of this they saw them as mistakes, outcasts. Steinbeck knew otherwise and wanted to have that idea reversed by creating a lovable character like Lennie Small. “If you don’t want me I can g off in the hills an’ find a cave. I can go away any time.”(Steinbeck 102). After an altercation Lennie offers to leave his only friend just to make him feel good. A reader that is paying attentive attention could pick up on two things. Lennie’s friend George didn’t do something that really affected Lennie, but Lennie
The 30’s was a time where people saw others who were different but didn't know what was wrong and what to do about them, so they expected them to do regular things. People in this time didn’t know what to expect from someone with a disability. Because of this, there was cruel backlash for those who couldn't comply to everyday needs. "Shut up now. The guys'll be comin' in." (Steinbeck 166). George talks to his friend harshly throughout this novel, as did many in this time period. Telling him to shut up because he knows he can’t talk for himself is a cruel way to talk to Lennie, that might hurt him. People also didn’t know how a disabled person might act, and in the case of Lennie, it was like he was five. “I’d pet them and pretty soon they bit my fingers and I pinched their heads a little and then they was dead.”(Steinbeck 79). Lennie is so innocent, he accidentally kills little puppies he loves. He is very strong and does not understand his own strength. He doesn't understand he shouldn't pinch a little puppies head. Writing this in the 30’s could’ve also taught you how to treat a challenged person, how to approach them. People in this time didn’t know how to properly treat a disabled kid. “Sure, you ain't done nothing wrong”(Steinbeck 268). This is George telling Lennie he can still tend his rabbits after Lennie thought he had done something wrong. All Lennie wants through the
He purposely has a character who is different than others to show how life for him will always be. To show the problems that he will have to face on an everyday basis. Steinbeck also portrays how this lifetime views him, and the thoughts they have entitled to them. He has the other characters to make Lennie's life hard, and show how people of the 30’s viewed these disabled people. Think about how Lennie would be perceived in this time, and what challenges would he face, if