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…
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
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…
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