Of Mice and Men
Socratic Seminar
Sample question
Why is Lennie’s last name both ironic and
symbolic?
Surface answer:
Lennie’s last name (“Small”) is ironic because he is
such a physically large man. It is symbolic because
he has the mind of a child.
“Rolling in the Deep” answer:
Nothing reflects the physiological contrast that is
Lennie – or the conflict that drives John Steinbeck’s
story Of Mice and Men – more than Lennie’s last
name.
“Small” is ironic because Lennie is large and
almost freakishly strong. He is described as a “huge
man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with
wide, sloping shoulders” (2). George tells the boss
that Lennie is “strong as a bull,” capable of lifting a
400-pound bale by himself, and George later informs
Slim that Lennie “can put up more grain alone than
most pairs can” (34). Slim witnesses this during
Lennie’s first day of work in the field, telling George,
“…I never seen such a worker. He damn near killed
his partner buckin’ barley. There ain’t nobody can
keep up with him. I never seen such a strong guy”
(39).
However, it’s Lennie’s inability to control his
super-human strength that constantly lands him and
George in trouble. This is due to Lennie’s childlike or
“small” mind, lending symbolism to his last name.
This is illustrated in the exchange between Slim and
George where Slim observes that Lennie is “jes’ like
a kid ain’t he,” after watching Lennie play with the
puppy. George replies, “Sure he’s just like a kid.
There ain’t no more harm in him than a kid, neither”
(43).
However, while Lennie’s gentle nature preempts
him from ever intentionally hurting anyone, he
nonetheless leaves destruction in his wake due to his
uncontrollable physical strength. This is seen in the
accidental crushing of the tiny mice he is so fond of
petting with his vice-like fingers; his panic-stricken
inability to let go of Curley’s fist during the fight in
the bunkhouse; and the climactic death of Curley’s
wife in the barn by Lennie’s strong hands.
This constant conflict between Lennie’s small
mind but tremendous strength is the driving force in
the novel: the dynamic that dooms George and
Lennie’s dream of getting their own place, and leads
to Lennie’s own death.
1. How does George feel life would be different for him
without Lennie? What comment does it make about
George’s character, then, that he looks after Lennie?
What root reason do you think he has to keep Lennie
around?
George seems to make it clear in chapter one that Lennie is nothing but a burden, and that
life would be so easy if George did not have to constantly take care of and watch Lennie.
He brusquely reminds Lennie of this when Lennie complains that there is no ketchup for
the beans. “Whatever we ain’t got, that what you want! God a’mighty, if I was alone I
could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble. No mess at all, and when
the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever
I want” (11). George also laments that Lennie’s tendency to get in trouble keeps both of
them moving from job to job. However, behind George’s harsh words is the realization
that, despite his frustration, life without Lennie would be empty, just as it is for most of
the ranch men who wander from place to place alone. This is seen in the wistful tone
George uses when telling the story Lennie loves to hear so much: “We got somebody to
talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’ in our
jack because we got no place to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all
anybody gives a damn. But not us” (14). George strengthens this value of companionship
when he tells Slim later in the book that “guys on ranches who go around alone get
mean” (41). Finally, the prospect of life without Lennie hits George full bore after Lennie
accidentally kills Curley’s wife (and George and Lennie’s dream with her). “I’ll work my
month an’ I’ll take my fifty bucks and I’ll stay all night in some lousy cat house. Or I’ll
set in some poolroom till ever’body goes home” (95). In his sadness and melancholy
tone, George makes it clear that he will not only miss his best friend, but also that he is
doomed to a life of loneliness.