Lennie

Intro

• cognitively impaired

• vulnerability can’t survive in the world dictated by economic hardship, discrimination and futile American dream

plan:

• Symbol of vulnerability

• Importance of companionship

• Discrimination

• American dream

point 1

• “huge men” “like a terrier who doesn’t want to bring a ball back to its master”

• - zoomorphism childlike loyalty and total dependance

• G.D- - 18 million unemployed - fierce job competition

• In the world where survival depended on self-sufficiency, Lennie who can’t sustain himself deemed “useless”

• “Horse” “bear” - great physical strength despite dependance

• Manual labour high in demand

• Contrast makes a tragic figure - strong to work but mentally to vulnerable

point 2

• companionship

• “i got you an you got me”

• Unusual interdependent friendship as contradicted the solitary lifestyle of migrant workers

• A.D - individualism and self made success

• Steinbeck challenges - friends more meaningful

• Other characters isolated and lonely

• G and L highlight how human connection could protect people emotionally in the world full of hardship and alienation

point 3

• victim of discrimination

• “cuckoo” or “nuts”

• silence mistreated as a threat

• shows how difference was treated with suspicion

• Lack of education - widespread unawarness

• Cages - 20 years

• As a marginalised doesnt belong to the SOF

• axiom - fated to die

• Fauna- beak swallows a little snake

• Weakest cant survive in the harsh environment

point 4

• Like many believes in american dream

• Repeatedly asks to tell about the rabits, favourite part of the fatta the land

• Landownership - popular dream

• Dust bowl - low wages - desire for being independent

• Lennie - desire to pet soft things

• But hamartia - inability to control his strength kills Curley’s wife

• A.D - fragile especially for vulnerable

Conclusion

• Shows hardship ppl suffered

• Critique of the world that offers no protection for innocence