The first, being Lennie’s nature. Lennie is an incredibly strong man, however, he seems to be a ‘child trapped in mans body’. This is because he is constantly petting, and stocking things that only a child would pet, as it says “Lennie reluctantly reached into his pocket… ‘I don’t know why I can’t keep it… I wasn’t doin’ nothing bad with it, George. Jus’ stroking it’”. He also causes trouble in weed where he wanted to touch the girl’s red dress, as he wanted to feel it, very similar to what small children like to do. In result, the girl accuses him of raping her and men on the ranch lynch him. George, being his best friend, takes him to Soledad to escape from the men. Another thing that Lennie does is that he used to kill the mice that Aunt Clara used to give him earlier and also kills a mouse and a pup by petting them so hard. These events also relate back to his capability of getting in trouble. In addition to that, Lennie also breaks Curley’s wrist, which highlights his physical strength and how can he potentially harm a person without even knowing about it. “Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand. Curley sat down, looking at in wonder at his crushed hand.” This quote shows us that how Steinbeck chooses to introduce this event to foreshadow the forthcoming trouble by Lennie.
In context to Lennie’s behaviour to other characters, he is presented as a very polite and soft person. He considers important enough to listen to and follow George and his instructions; “Of course, George, I can remember that. I am gonna hide in the brush till you come.” This quote reveals Lennie’s faith and dependence on George and tells us that he does not have the ability to keep him safe from trouble. Therefore his personal behaviour and characteristics contribute effectively towards the serious trouble, which Lennie will get in to later in the novel.
The author tends to be keen while setting up Lennie and the ways in which he tries to make Lennie’s death unavoidable. Repetition of Lennie doing bad things one after another and increasing trouble from time to time represents the serious trouble, which Lennie might get in to very soon. Lennie killing mice and a pup shows his own ability of killing a living organism; “You always kill ‘em. Lennie said, ‘They was so little.’ I’d’ pet’em, and pretty soon the bit my fingers and I pinched their heads a little and they were dead.” The quote highlights Lennie’s unawareness of his physical strength, which is the major reason for most of his own created troubles. Furthermore, Steinbeck tries to come across the following key point in the novel. Lennie prefers to panic when in case of trouble instead of using his mind to know what to do. His inability of using his mind in different situations shows that trouble is almost inevitable for him.
Another factor which could have lead to Lennie’s death is Curley’s wife, and her nature. This shows isolation, as she has no friends on the ranch, and even her husband “owns” her, as she is only known as “Curley’s wife”. She seeks attention, through appearing in the bunkhouse, as it says “Both men glanced up for the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off”. Curley’s wife is attracted to Lennie’s petting tendencies, showing she is soft, and although jailbait, is also purity as it says “Curley’s wife laughed at him. ‘ You’re nuts,’ she said. But you’re a kinda nice fella.’”
The structure of the novella is also very fateful for Lennie. The incident in Weed took place early on in the novella. This is because this was the reason for George and Lennie had to move to Salinas. The relationship with George highlights precarious position for Lennie – he has no place in society. From the very beginning in fact, the very title of the novella symbolises doom for Lennie. Burns’ poem, is about is about a mouse, whose home is ruined by a farmer ploughing a field. The mouse then dies over the winter, having no protection.
All these previous events of Lennie foreshadows that his death is unavoidable as he could do anything for pleasure to get in trouble without even knowing about what he has done. All these things also give us a clue that all his activities would end him up in big trouble and probably lead him to his death. George always feared for Lennie as he thought that Lennie could end up in big trouble for himself and for him too. He also tries to prevent him from any possible trouble to his best. Despite of George’s protection from trouble, Lennie at last kills Curley’s wife by twisting her neck. This event secures Lennie’s destruction and promotes death for him, which he cannot choose to avoid. During this tragic event, Steinbeck shows that Lennie panics and breaks Curley’s wife’s neck accidentally instead of using his brain to know why is she screaming. “‘Don’t you go yellin’, he said, and shook her; and her body flopped like a fish, for Lennie had broken her neck.” This quote highlights how Lennie’s inability of using his mind and how using his physical strength, which he is not aware of, leads him to the serious trouble, which the author tries to present and emphasise in the novel.
In conclusion, the main factor that led to Lennie’s was in fact Steinbeck’s fundamental message. Also, intolerance, and misunderstanding in society did not help Lennie, as he has been given no place, and people don’t know how to treat Lennie, as he is so misunderstood. The structure also leads to Lennie’s death. We see his death as inevitable, due to the main title of the novella, and also how it is organised. Lennie’s death was not unexpected, especially when we have read the last chapter, with Lennie’s visions. The giant rabbit tells us that Lennie has done wrong, and that he will be punished for it, by not having George and his dream ranch, and him tending the rabbits. Lennie’s innocence and his inability to use his mind, secures his inevitable destruction. These factors all point, very obviously throughout the novel; hence Lennie’s death was inevitable.
