Of Mice and Men is story about two traveling migrant workers who journey throughout America searching for work that isn't an easy find with these unique characters. This story takes place during the Great Depression when work is a tumble weed in the desert and George and Lennie have the worst luck. Lennie, is an interesting fella, supposedly having mental retardation, he often gets himself and George fired from jobs that George works so hard to keep. Due to work being so slim, they have to travel far and often just to keep their bellies full and have plentiful pockets. In 1930s, California the main source of work was farm labor, which is exactly where George and Lennie found their greatest success of work. However, due to the fact that Lennie had mental retardation, it was hard for them to keep their job on a farm for too long. This took a huge toll on George's life, it became twice as hard for him to find successful work with Lennie linked at his hip. With Lennie's condition, he had aggressive behavior, and childish skits that drove George even further away from good work. For example, Lennie loved soft things so he would pet nice fluffy animals often. Sadly his big hands distressed the animals so they bit Lennie which caused him to squeeze the animal tight, breaking their neck, leaving Lennie unaware with what he he'd done. However, even with a huge obstacle George wasn't planning on leaving Lennie in the dust and thus creating a story between the two that can only be described as unforgettable.
Lennie is unlike any character i've read about, however their is one that reminds me greatly of him; Arnie Grape. Arnie Grape is a small town guy who lives with is family in a big house with hidden secrets and disturbing memories. Like Lennie, Arnie too had mental retardation and looks to his brother Gilbert for support and guidance in his world like Lennie does George. Lennie although described as big and undefined, he has such small expectations in his life that make him lovable and appreciable. He has one love in the whole world, and would do anything just to achieve that, soft things. Such as Arnie who has a love to watch all the trailer cars go through his town every summer as they pass by through the interstate and continue on their road trip. Both characters have a beautiful simplicity to them, they only ever ask their companions for one thing in the whole world and nothing else. "Tell me- like you'd done before" Lennie would ask George pertaining to their ranch dream. Where as most of us who tend to have "normal" friends who spend a lifetime asking us for one thing after another where as Lennie and Arnie would be content with the soft things and trailer cars forever. Even though they both share a mental condition they still bring a sense of joy to George and Gilbert that most of us can't find in friends that lack that sense of childish aurora that Lennie and Arnie portray in both stories, and can bring a smile to a lot of faces.
Lennie grinned with relief "I...I thought I put it inside my pocket." George hated how Lennie always tried to pet soft things and keep them even when they are dead and Lennie would often "save them" for later by tucking them away in his pocket. Even through getting scolded by George for holding the tattered old mouse, he still finds a way to smile because he got his moment with his favorite thing, and much like a child, he is proud of himself. "Don't say a word" George would often snap at Lennie in fear that if he talked, it would lose him and Lennie the job. Just like Gilbert's attitude towards Arnie, George and Gilbert strongly believe that Lennie and Arnie will never be able to take care of themselves. This too can define the way Lennie and Arnie are, constantly dependent and never wanting to be alone for too long. In the story with Arnie and Gilbert, Gilbert went out on a date leaving Arnie in the bathtub thinking he would finish washing himself, however, when he returned home the next morning, Arnie was still in the tub waiting for Gilbert to finish washing him. Another example of the constant dependency is when Lennie asked George to tell the ranch dream story even though Lennie knew the entire story and was capable of telling it himself. Therefore most of who Lennie is, is defined by his mental state and by the people around him. Even still, one things stays clear that he only expects one thing in the world and will be forever content with it...soft things, and people can appreciate him for that.
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