Lennie Flashcards
‘Why do you got to get killed?’
Backed up with ‘I don’t want ta hurt you’
This rhetorical question shows how Lennie can’t understand and control his own physical power and strength. However, this also foreshadows what will happen later in the novella, building tension and suspense for the reader.
‘I didn’t know you’re get killed so easily’
Backed up with the simile ‘Her body flopped like a fish’
This quote also shows how Lennie’s violence is accidental as he doesn’t understand his power. Whereas Curley is violent on purpose to try to artificially gain respect from the ranch workers.
‘I got you and you got me’
This chiasmus shows how they have a friendship that not many people have in American society. This also gives them a purpose in life, as they both want to achieve their dream of having their own land. This was a huge contrast to society as due to the Great Depression men were selfish and in competition with each other instead of friends with each other. Steinbeck includes George and Lennie’s friendship to show his ideal society.
‘another bad thing’
After Lennie kills Curley’s Wife he says this however he fails to understand the difference between killing an animal and killing a human. The repetition of this phrase highlights how his violence is unintentional.
Curley’s wife’s words ‘tumbled out in passion’
This verb shows how she uses Lennie as a person too confide in due to his lack of intelligence. This shows how due to the Great Depression people became extremely lonely.
