LENNIE NATURE

 Compared to the other characters, Lennie reveals an unintentional violence. He does not even think to  Steinbeck shows the world of nature to be a beautiful and peaceful one, but threatened by
fight back when Curley attacks him, but when he does; it is with immense and uncontrollable force. the actions of men.
 He has so little control over his own strength that he accidentally kills his puppy, and then minutes later  The beginning of the novel sets this pattern, as the creatures at the pool are disturbed by
snuffs out the life of Curley's wife. George and Lennie's approach.
 Lennie’s actions on these occasions are compared to those of an animal, powerful but thoughtless.  At the end of the novel the heron eats the water snake, showing violence in nature.
Ironically, Curley's wife is attracted to him because of the violence he had shown in crushing her husband's  The ranch and its buildings, being created by men, are in contrast with the natural world.
hand. Notice that the bunkhouse, for example, is quite bare and stark.
 It is the threat of violence to be used against Lennie that causes George to take the final step of killing his  Even more unnatural is that Candy and Crooks are both deformed and unnatural in
friend. appearance.
 Lennie has kind of a man-child’s violence about him “They were so little”, it’s clear he knows the result of  Contrasted to these two characters is Lennie, who almost seems a part of the natural world as
his being too rough is that things die. Still, rather than adjust his roughness, Lennie just hopes to find he is described in animal terms.
bigger animals. Again, it’s unclear whether Lennie grasps the danger and risk of violence. Though he’s as  In fact, one of Lennie's dreams is to go and live by himself in a cave. Maybe this would be the
big as he is, he’s like a child in being unable to figure out when playful roughness becomes dangerous only way in which the natural world of Lennie would not come into conflict with the world of
violence. men.
 After Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife and buries her in the hay, George notes that Lennie "never done
it in meanness”. Lennie kills out of cuddling, or blind panic. He loves things to death. CARELSON
 Carlson is another character associated with violence.
CURLEY  He is unconcerned about killing Candy's dog (and in fact callously cleans the gun in Candy's
 Curley is the most obviously violent character. Whenever he appears there is a feeling of presence). Unknown to him, that he is causing Candy increased distress
tension. Violence  He goes to watch the fun when Curley thinks Slim may be with his wife, and later goads Curley
 Curley is described as pugnacious when we first meet him, and causes George to remark more, threatening to '... kick your head off.'
 '...what the hell's he got on his shoulder.‘ in  Later he is very keen to get his gun to join in the hunt for Lennie.
 Candy explains that Curley often picks on big guys ( a sure sign of trouble for Lennie). We
 The last words in the book belong to Carlson, and it is little surprise that they reveal his
are prepared for Curley's later anger, which culminates at the end in his wish to '... shoot
him in the guts.'
OF MICE complete inability to understand George's feelings about the death of Lennie.
 It is significant that Steinbeck ends the novella, with this complete lack of understanding as it
 Literally from the moment Curley first lays eyes on the guys, he’s itching for a fight "I’ll try
to catch him," said Curley.. The violence practically seethes out of him, and it seems a
AND highlights the fact that nothing has changed.
 There’s obvious violence against Candy’s dog, but the men in the bunkroom silently watch
foregone conclusion almost from this point that Curley means to make trouble for
Lennie, and big trouble at that.
MEN Candy because they know this violence is also directed against him. Given how brutish and
 a "mean" person is, like Curley, petulant, nasty, bullying. Both George and Lennie brusque they seem, their silent discomfort is an interesting reminder that they’re capable of
express their distaste for this sort of man. George says that he "don't like mean little sensitivity, even if they don’t show it with overt sympathy or empathy.
guys" . Curley's relish for violence and his constant urge to pick fights contrasts directly
with Lennie's comparatively "innocent" violence. CURLEY’S WIFE AND CROOKS
 Curley is a "mean little guy." The word "mean" can also refer to the average, the petty,  Curley’s wife threatens to have Crooks lynched “I could get you strung up”. Regardless of whether the woman would
the small. Curley, in other words, is small not in size alone, but also in his petty actions. ever carry through with this threat, what she’s really guilty of is psychological terror. She taps into a long history of
He is of average size and terribly anxious about that. Thus he, the mean one, takes out mental violence Crooks has surely endured for most of his life to "put him in his place." You can fight back in physical
his frustrations on Lennie, who is anything but average. violence, but when someone preys on your worst fears and all your insecurities – when someone commits violence
 2stepped over to Lennie like a terrier” against the mind – there is little to be done in response.
 Curley gets into a fight, he means to get into a fight. His violence is premeditated and  Crooks tries to oppress Lennie, as he is intellectually limited. “S’pose George doesn’t come back” He gains enjoyment
calculating. in making Lennie upset, but quickly stops when Lennie become threatening, as he realizes he is even weaker than
 Superior mentality and his lack of size. Curley's insecurities cause him to suspect Lennie.
everyone of everything, making him extremely violent. His superior mind-set causes him
 Both Crooks and Curley’s wife take the opportunity to oppress weaker characters in the novella.
to believe that he is better than everyone else; he does not hesitate to pick a fight with
 This is the idea that those who bully have been bullied in the past.
anyone. Curley's lack of size somehow gives him a reason to pick on larger men.
 He particularly enjoys entering into altercations with larger men because he believes it
 Those who are discriminated against are often targets of violence.
will always result in a win-win situation. Candy explains this idea when he says," S'pose  The Boss gives Crooks “hell” because he is a nigger, so has power over him.
Curley jumps a big guy and licks him. ..”  The strong always prey over the weak, showing the predatory nature of human beings.

Sherifa Issifu 11.5