He is unaware of how strong and powerful he is, and a theme of trouble and tragedy resulting from this uncontrollable strength emerges throughout the book. Already a member? In Chapter Six, Lennie is hiding in the bushes next to the clearing he and George stayed in at the start of the book. What does the title Of Mice and Men mean? Explains that george used luger's pistol to kill lennie and put the dream to rest for good. What page is Chapter 5 inOf Mice and Men? Lennie then flees the ranch because Curley wants to kill him for what he did to his wife. George felt he needed to stop any further harm from happening to Lennie or. 1d4chan elector counts > capresso coffeeteam ts troubleshooting > quotes that show george killed lennie to end his suffering. George didn 't want Lennie to suffer .So he decided to just shoot him. His guilt, however, is only about what George will think. Of Mice and Men. Curley's wife is hardly a femme fatale or a seductress. Why does George kill Lennie in Of Mice and Men? Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. He had small, Curley's wife married Curley because she had nowhere else to go. Lennie creates fights and causes death. http://www.enotes.com/of-mice-and-men/q-and-a/only-chapter5-how-why-does-lennie-kill-curleys-162143. Thats a thing I want ya to know (Steinbeck 106). Mostly the victims of Curley's cruelty were people he didn't like. She is not prepared for Lennie's heavy petting and is ill equipped to handle his powerful hold. She is yelling because he is holding on to her hair and won't let go. However, because of his mental handicap, he doesn't realize his own strength; and, when he panics, he simply doesn't know what he's doing. He had a habit of accidentally injuring or killing small animals, and this behavior escalated when he accidentally killed Curley's wife. Lennie unintentionally killed Curley's wife and did not recognize his own strength when he attempted to shut her up. This is evident early on in the novella when he accidentally kills one of Georges mice. While some readers may see Lennie as nothing more than a brute, there is actually some motivation behind his actions in Of Mice and Men. Firstly, its important to understand that Lennie is not in full control of his mental faculties which leads him to act impulsively without understanding the consequences of his actions. Immediately after he kills Curleys wife, Lennie says I dont want ta hurt you, making it clear that Lennie does not know he has killed her and therefore could not have intended to. The responsibility belongs to Lennie and George. They got ran out of Weed(the old farm they used to work at) for harassing a girl and not letting her go. When she starts to yell, Lennie think George will hear and will be mad that he is communicating with the woman, so he covers her mouth. Throughout the novel, George has been Lennies only friend and protector; without George, Lennie would be lost. George had strictly directed Lennie to stay away from her. Even Slim said You hadda,George. Why do George and Lennie travel together? In the passage, Of mice and men, lennie says I dont want ta hurt you (Steinbeck 91). What is his reaction? Required fields are marked *. George and Lennie were best friends, and have been since they were little. The most ironic thing about this scene is that her death is that it is preceded by a moment of human connection. Although Lennie is the one who physically kills Curleys wife, Of Mice and Men consistently shows that Lennie is not to blame for her death. George did Lennie a favor by giving him a merciful death before Curley killed him in cold, This conclusion cannot be drawn directly, but Georges words during Lennies final moments imply that George did not kill his best friend for malicious reasons. Then Lennie grew angry. Lennie is afraid of Curley's reaction if he finds out that Lennie has hurt Curley's wife, and so he shakes her to stop her yelling, leading to her death. So Lennie and George are not the only one to experience dreams and shattered dreams. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. When Curleys wife threatened Georges safety, Lennie may have felt he had no choice but to act. This incident in Weed foreshadows Lennie's tragic interaction with Curley's wife later in the story. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. for a group? In this frame, some of the responsibility lies in the unfortunate outcome of the social situation. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Lennie is innocent in that he's naive about the ways of the world. While the initial reaction to her death is a manhunt led by Curley, her death eventually leads to Lennie's death at the hands of George. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Lennie had to be killed because he didnt know his own strength. You ain't no good now, you lousy tart.". Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates. Lennie became scared and hung on tighter. He may have been confused about what was happening and acted without thinking through the consequences of his actions. ", (John Steinbeck, 1973, p.58), this really impacted Georges decision on giving someone else the ability to shoot him. Analyzes how george raised the gun and steadied it, and brought the muzzle close to the back of lennie's head. He picks it up again and pets it. Curley's wife has no idea about Lennie's past history of unwitting violence and she certainly would not put herself in danger. He says he's not supposed to talk to her. In Of Mice and Men, how and why does Lennie kill Curley's wife? Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Latest answer posted December 31, 2020 at 3:22:45 PM. Lennie's world basically revolves around George. "I guess maybe way back in my head I did." On the surface, Lennie crushes Curley's hand because George tells him to fight back. He never realizes the serious nature of his actions and what the consequences will be. Here is a chart of the characters and their dreams. Curley's wife came to see Lennie because she figured out that he crushed Curley's hand and wouldn't be afraid of Curley anymore-he was the most likely candidate for her advances at this time. Curley's wife is portrayed as a lonely, depressed woman, who left her dream of becoming an actress to live a secure life with a rather ornery man. This is what happened in John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men. In self-defense, Lennie may have acted instinctively and grabbed her neck to protect himself, not realizing his own strength. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. This adds extreme tension to the story. One could argue that Lennie is more responsible for the death of Curley's wife. She tries to comfort him and allows him to stroke her hair which leads to him being overcome with he pleasure of the experience. The point was that they had nobody to depend on but themselves. When she started to complain, he panicked. A third possibility is that Lennie simply didnt understand his own strength. Lennie 's world basically revolves around George. He took Lennies life because he believed that he needed to kill Lennie in order to put him out of his misery, to be merciful. However, he got angry at her because she was trying to scream. The death of Curley's wife is a very sad time in indeed. When the others find out, Curley heads the hunt to find Lennie and kill him. In response, Slimwho is presented as a godlike source of moral authoritydecrees that Lennie aint mean, solidifying Lennies innocence. Ever'body knowed you'd mess things up. Learn how your comment data is processed. Lennie went with George because he had no one else. When she came into the barn, she was brandishing a deadly weapona broken bottleand she was clearly intent on doing him harm. The same can be said for his interactions with Curleys wife. Inevitably, the day came when George made the decision to take Lennie's life. Lennie and George, disparate types, are all against good reason, friends. Why did Lennie kill Curley's wife? He has done it without knowing how strong of himself. Lets take a closer look. However, whether Lennie meant it or not, George was worried that Curley would find out and. I shouldnt of did that. Hm, says Curley's wife. From the opening section, when George explains that Lennie has a habit of accidentally killing mice while petting them, the novella prepares the reader to view the death of Curleys wife as an accident; Lennie simply cannot help himself. Lennie is the mentally handicapped best friend of George. joe garagiola cause of death; minoan columns are unusual because the shafts: best vintage brands on thredup; optima biltmore lawsuit. Dreams of settling down, maybe with a girl, Hindered by caring for Lennie, a lack of money, Hindered by his inability to care for things, Dreams of having friends and being treated equally, Hindered by controlling mother and husband. He was afraid that George would not let him be part of the dream anymore if Curley's wife got mad at him. The hand shook violently, but his (George) face set and his hand steadied. $24.99 This is also unfortunate that the blame is theirs because both are in an awkward situation. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Seeing this as a way to flirt with him, Curley's wife puts his hand on her hair, which is very soft. Lennie kills Curleys wife because he likes to pet soft things.He is mourning the death of his puppy also by his own hand when Curleys wife enters the barn. Latest answer posted December 31, 2020 at 3:22:45 PM. Central Idea Essay: Who Is to Blame for the Death of Curley's Wife? When Lennie gets to the "brush" in chapter six, he has two hallucinations. This changes what happened at death. The quote which states how Lennie dies also shows that George was nervous and hesitant in killing Lennie. Curley's wife's death is a symbol of loss of innocence. Curleys wife had been coming on to him for days, despite his repeated attempts to rebuff her advances. Unfortunately, he does not understand his own strength or how to control his emotions, and this leads to yet another tragedy through the accidental killing of Curley's wife. When Lennie explains that he likes to pet soft things, Curley's wife reveals that she too likes to feel silk and velvet, and she invites him to feel her hair, which is very soft. Fig. She is able to connect with Lennie for a brief moment based on their shared love of soft things, such as animals and her own hair, but when Lennie pets her hair longer than she would like, she starts getting agitated. Lennie only meant to keep her quiet , not kill her. In the first instance, he throws his dead puppy, blaming it, thinking George won't let him tend rabbits because he killed it. Will you pass the quiz? Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. He knows George is going to be mad, and he thinks George won't let him tend the rabbits. George does not want to pull the trigger, but he knows that the further consequences of Lennies actions will only worsen. And that is to say that the ranch was not an ideal place for a woman and although Lennie was an incredible worker, he did not fit in socially; so it was not an ideal place for him either. How does Steinbeck present the barn in chapter 5 of Of Mice and Men, and why is it important to the novel? Let us know in the comments below! George pulled the trigger, shot one bullet to end Lennies life. Georges decision to kill Lennie was ultimately for his benefit. Continue to start your free trial. "All the time he coulda had such a good time if it was not for you (Steinbeck). He does not kill her on purpose. In Of Mice and Men, how and why does Lennie kill his puppy? Socratic Seminar Prep - OMAM 1)Record two different symbols and their meanings from this novella. You gonna get me in trouble jus' like George says you will. Later, Curleys wife lets down her guard alone with Lennie in the barn, talking to him about her broken dreams, eventually trusting Lennie to touch her hair and dying tragically in her moment of vulnerability. He does not kill her on purpose. Secondly, his relationship with George serves as a key motivation for why he killed Curleys wife; because George told him multiple times not to interact with her, Lennie may have felt like he was doing something wrong by even speaking to her which ultimately led to tragic consequences when they struggled over whether or not she would tell anyone about their conversation.. Understanding these motivations helps us to see Lennie not as a villain but as a victim of circumstance who acted out of confusion and fear rather than malice or intent. Well, I wasn't gonna stay no place where I couldn't get nowhere or make something of myself, an' where they stole your letters, I ast her if she stole it, too, an' she says no.". Shortly, Curley's wife came into the barn where Lennie was standing. Her hair is soft. In this chapter, Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife while they are alone in the barn. It depends on the edition. The other workers are knee-deep in a horseshoes game, and she wants some company. He knew that if Lennie was still alive, he would suffer greatly for two reasons: Curley wanted to avenge his wife and eventually Lennie would be sent to jail. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. However, Lennie doesn't simply kill herseveral unfortunate events lead to her death. He has accidentally killedthe dog through stroking it too hard and is worried that George will find out and stop him from looking after the rabbits when they get their farm, so he tries to hide it under some straw. Throughout the book, Lennie accidentally kills animals because of his strength and lack of understanding. You can view our. She was even brazen enough to enter the bunkhouse uninvited while the men were taking a break. He can't stop thinking about what to do with the dead puppy in order to get George's approval to tend the rabbits. Ace your assignments with our guide to Of Mice and Men! Having married Curley, she resents the fact that she has to stay cooped in the house listening to Curley's bragging. For each symbol, write down Identify your study strength and weaknesses. Candy comes by. He didnt mean to harm, or scare her. George also frequently tells Lennie what he should and shouldnt do. Unfortunately, death by Georges hands was the best option for Lennie. 2016, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-does-lennie-think-and-do-after-he-kills-649037. Or was there something more to it? George has to take care of Lennie because he has a mental disability. The fact that Lennie has a history of "assaulting" women and is unable to loosen his grip when asked indicates that he is more responsible for Curley's wife's death. 1 - Curley's wife is dissatisfied with how her life has panned out. Chapter 1 1. her promiscuous demeanor draws lennie's attention and causes george to feel uncomfortable. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. Create and find flashcards in record time. What is Lennie doing in the barn by himself? Latest answer posted August 09, 2017 at 8:49:59 AM. Explains that after lennie killed curley's wife he fled from the ranch to his and george's safe spot. He feels guilty over what he has done. Still, George and Lennie are directly responsible but it's easy to sympathize with them, understanding all aspects of the situation. Lennie kills Curley's wife by shaking her so hard that her neck breaks -- remember, he is a big strong man. Steinbeck paints her sympathetically, and she only got married to Curley to get away from her controlling mother. In addition, there would have been no guarantee that Lennie would avoid capital punishment, for murder of a woman and many animals alongside the assault of Curley would be a sufficient charge to warrant the death penalty. He thinks that Lennie had taken it to the meeting place. Through the characters of Lennie, Crooks, Candy, and Curley's wife, Steinbeck is able to fully illustrate how isolation influences one's attitude towards life. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Describe George's physical features. Curley's wife presents herself in a negative way. More books than SparkNotes. Curley's wife can't represent all women except to the extent that insecurity and deprivation can drive one past the boundaries of social decorum and ethical behavior. George had done the right thing. It begins about 75% through the novella. You wasn't no good. He's so scary because he can kill people. There is no one correct answer to the question of why Lennie killed Curleys wife in Of Mice and Men. Who does Carlson think has stolen his Luger pistol? Lerne mit deinen Freunden und bleibe auf dem richtigen Kurs mit deinen persnlichen Lernstatistiken. As evidenced by the events of Chapter 6, Curleys men were able to independently get near Lennie, and were likely to approach him even without George as the shouts of men got louder and louder. Do George and Candy still plan to buy the dream farm after Lennies death? The cause for much of the pain in the novella is Lennie. There is very little he can do, which means that in some sense the fault in this story lies in the unfairness and cruelty of life itself. bucknell class of 2024 profile March 20, 2023 | 0 bucknell class of 2024 profile March 20, 2023 | 0 He doesnt mean any harm when he does things like kill animals or break things, but he doesnt realize his own strength and ends up causing damage nonetheless. Log in here. Her death is therefore a tragedy, and symbolizes the end of Lennie's carefree life. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Why is he so angry at what had happened? He simply knows that he needs to be careful in the future so that he doesnt make George mad. Immediately after accidentally killing Curley's wife, he thinks about George and he remembers his friend's instructions about going back to the spot between the Gabilan Mountains and Salinas River which was the setting of chapter one. Does slim flirt with Curley's wife? Either way, she ended up marrying Curley. Lennie, Crooks, Candy and Curley's wife all live a life led by isolation. The rabbit comes alive and scolds Lennie telling him he isn't fit to tend rabbits and threatening that George will leave him because he does too many "bad things." I believe this because if George didn't kill Lennie then someone else would have. What Led the Bella Twins to Leave WWE After 17 Years. Curley's wife came to see Lennie because she figured out that he crushed Curley's hand and wouldn't be afraid of Curley anymore-he was the most likely candidate for her advances at this time. So, she does go out and talk to the other men. View OfMiceandMenPart1_TierraJohnson.docx from ENGLISH MISC at Dreher High. What weapon does Curley take to hunt Lennie? Brie Bella and Nikki Bella WWE Departure. He starts messing up her hair, tangling it. I don 't think George was Lennies true friend because they both didn 't like Curley. The reason George has warned Lennie against speaking to Curleys wife is because Curley is jealous and cruel, so once again, Curley is the one ultimately responsible for the circumstances that bring about his wifes death. George shot him in the temple of his head for a quick and painless death. What does the title Of Mice and Men mean? Analyzes how john steinbeck utilizes george, crooks, and curley's wife to present the overwhelming battle between companionship and loneliness.
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