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OF MICE AND MEN

Lennie does not have the potential to be smart, Lennie has the potential to be a hard worker; however, Lennie's strength did not work with him and the result was fatal. Lennie is an extremely large man who had the strength of a bull. With the use of his strength, he was a great worker but did not understand how strong he was. George explains Lennie's strength by "that big b*****d can put up more grain alone than most pairs can," Through his size and his enormous amount of strength, Lennie could out work the other men of the ranch by himself. By using Lennie's strength he became a great worker who knew nothing more than to work. Lennie uses his abilities to work hard, but does not understand how strong he is. Without George, Lennie does not understand what to do. Lennie, who gets frightened and uses his strength to hold on to objects, is just like a child. He will do whatever George tells him to: "Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie's hand". George slapped Lennie in the face repeatedly and still Lennie held on. Through Lennie's actions we can see that Lennie is very similar to a child. Lennie's first instinct when he is frightened is to hold on. Just as a little kid holds on to its mum or dad when they become frightened, Lennie holds on to objects.
Because of Lennie's inability to understand his strength, he becomes frightened and tries to silence Curley's wife, and, as a result, she ends up being killed: "She took Lennie's hand and put it on her head...And then she cried angrily...Lennie's fingers closed on her hair and hung on...He shook her and her body flopped like a fish...And then she was still". Lennie did not understand his strength and became frightened, and again, just like just like a little child, he held on. But he ended up breaking Curley's wife neck. As a result of his actions Lennie, ended up dead. Lennie had an extremely great ability to use his strength and become a great worker. However, his difficulty to understand his strength lead to his death.