George and Lennie’s American Dream

In the book Of Mice and Men I never expected it to end in a tragedy. Lennie is a large,strong ,lumbering, and simple-minded man. Who is unaware of his surroundings and his actions. He loves to pet soft things and to talk to people. Lennie can’t remember things as well or think for himself but he’s kind and a hard worker. When we first met Lennie him he has a dead mouse in his pocket that he is petting with his thumb. Lennie did not achieve his American Dream because he disabled, big, and died.

Lennie was disabled/simple-minded. “Sure he’s jes’ like a kid. There ain’t no more harm in him then a kid neither, except he’s strong.” Lennie is nothing more than a kid (a person who thinks like a kid). Lennie can work like most man if it takes no thinking. “Jus’ tell him what to do and he’ll do it if it takes no figuring. He can’t think of nothing to do himself, but he sure can take orders.”. Lennie can’t think for himself but he can work and take orders like other men. Lennie forgot a lot of things and couldn’t remember things as well. “Good boy. That’s swell. You say that over two,three times so you won’t forget”. George told Lennie when Lennie forgot what to say when they get to the ranch.

Furthermore Lennie was big. “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes,and wide sloping shoulders”.Lennie was bigger than most men. Since Lennie was disabled being big wasn’t more help it was a problem because he didn’t know his strength. “I didn’t wanta….I didn’t want to hurt him” Lennie cried when he broke Curley’s hand. Lennie had killed a mouse, dog,and Curley’s wife and broke Curley’s hand he didn’t mean to/want to intentionally he just can’t help/think about his strength.

Finally Lennie died. George had killed Lennie, after Lennie accidentally killed curley’s wife. “Lennie jarred and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay w/o quivering.”. George had shot Lennie in the back of his head. George had killed Lennie to stop curley from making him suffer. “I’m gonna get him. I’m going for my shotgun. I’ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I’ll shoot ‘im in the guts. Come on, you guys.” Said curley when he found out Lennie killed his wife. I feel like curley should’ve handled the situation better instead of seeking revenge on a guy who didn’t have a clue what was going on.

In summary, Lennie did not achieve his American dream because he he was disabled, big, and died. The story could havecould’ve ended differently, as it that was really a surprise/unexpecteding ending. Lennie had it tough, for real he barely was aware of his surroundings and of his actions. They could have’ve handled everything differently and lightened up on Lennie. He might have been a man but he was still a kid if you look at it. I believe Lennie is innocent through the whole story it’s not like everything he did wrong was intentional he was aware of his strength. I think Lennie could have reached his American Dream if George defended and protected him at the end of the story. He could have helped Lennie escape and worked his last two months to buy his own plantation with candy and Lennie. But I think George was tired of taking care of Lennie and got tired of cleaning up Lennie mess. But still Lennie wasn’t a bad guy he just didn’t know better. All he wanted to do is live a happy life with George and get to tend rabbits, “An live off the fatta the lan'.”

Cite this page