Lennie in chapter 5

In chapter 5 we get a deeper insight about Lennie's character. We find out what he is really like, how clumsy and how much he has to be treated like a young child. He has the mind of a child; but not the body! He doesn't know his own strength and what he is capable of. This is proved by the incident that happened in the barn with the young pup and Curley's wife.

Steinbeck sets the scene in the barn first with the pile of hay taking up most of the barn, however in the corner was a manger where the pups were kept. Lennie sat looking over the manger like a god, staring at a dead pup. Then famously he quotes the line "Why do you got to get killed. You ain't so little as mice. I didn't bounce you hard." This backs up the point I made previously of how Lennie doesn't know his own strength. "I didn't bounce you hard" This backs up my point of him having the mind of a child as he doesn't know how to act or treat around animals.

Soon after the incident with the pup Curley's wife then enters the barn. "She came very quietly, so that Lennie didn't see her." This shows she tries to creep up on Lennie and that she treats him like a child, also this might suggest that she is trying to take advantage of him for her own entertainment. This is how Steinbeck describes what she is wearing and looking like while in the barn. "She wore he bright cotton dress and the mules with the red ostrich feathers. Her face was made-up and the little sausage curls were all in place." She has obviously made an effort for Lennie as she is on a barn in the country side with no bars, clubs, restaurants etc. I believe that she done this to try and seduce/entice Lennie to do what she wishes. Lennie previously mentioned that he believed Curley's wife to be "purty", therefore Lennie could be recognized as gullible

Of Mice and Men character homework

*George - George is "small & quick". This suggests that he is small in height and is quick to act in situations and in decisions. He also has strong, sharp features. "Restless eyes" are one of the quotes taken from the book, this suggests he can never settle or stay still. He may be like this because of his responsibility of looking after Lennie.

*Lennie - Lennie is a tall, very muscular man but he couldn't intentionally hurt any living thing. He likes to touch what he sees, this was why they were chased out of weed because he was touching a woman's skirt and wouldn't let go. He has the mind of a child (mentally disabled), therefore he is very forgetful. He is that big he is referred to as an animal at some point in the book. His hand is referred to a "paw".

*Curley - Curley is a "little guy" with a short temper who likes to pick fights with bigger men than he is. He always wins in a fight not matter the outcome because if he wins it makes him look tougher, however if he looses the victor will get stick for not picking on someone his own size. He is also the boss's son, of the person who owns the farm. The book uses the word "scrappy" to describe him which might suggests he is always up for a fight. As he is the boss's son he practically untouchable to any of the workers, because if they did touch him they would get the sack. "Head of tightly curled hair".

*Curley's Wife - She is not secretive about the way she looks. This is proved by a quote in the book "she ain't concealing nothing". "She had full rouged lips" this suggests that she takes pride in her appearance. She is a tart "seems like she cant keep away from guys". George in under they impression she try to ensnare men. "she's a rattrap if i ever seen one".

*Slim - "Authority was so great his word was taken on any subject". This shows he is seen as wise by others and that he is the leader among them. "Walks like royalty" this backs up my point of him being the leader. "Tall man stood in the doorway". "Combed his long black hair straight back".