Kaye Anne & Malina - Lennie Characteristics

Lennie is a kind-hearted soul with a mindset of a kid. He is not fully functioned and in the brain, but it doesn’t make him a less of a person because he is a genuinely good human being. Lennie, at most times, forgetful but it is not intentional. “I tried not to forget. Honest to God I did, George”. There was also a quote in the book indicating of George pushing Lennie away, “I got you! You cant keep a job and you lose me ever’ job I get. Jus’ keep me shovin’ all over the country all the time. An’ that ain’t the worst. You get in trouble. You do bad things and I got to get you out.” With all the cruel words George has said to Lennie, he remained loyal towards George and never left his side. Also, as much times as George tries to hurt Lennie physically and emotionally, Lennie would never return those actions towards George. (Page 4 & 11)

Lennie is big and powerful guy, but rarely uses those traits towards others. With his skyscraping height, he has a big advantage to other guys. There was a passage in the book stating, “George was on his feet yelling. “Get him, Lennie. Don’t let him do it”.” It was a fight scene between Lennie and Curly, but since Lennie doesn’t naturally have a non-violet nature in him, Lennie does not fight back towards Curly but instead defends himself by grabbing Curly’s in able to make Curly stop swinging at him. “I didn’t want too, Lennie cried. I didn’t wanta hurt him.” It shows how Lennie did not intentionally want hurt him but had no other choice. (Page 63 & 64)