SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. What weapon does Curley take to hunt Lennie? Analyzes how curley's wife provides the most evident portrayal of hopelessness in of mice and men. ", (John Steinbeck, 1973, p.58), this really impacted Georges decision on giving someone else the ability to shoot him. Lennie, one of the main characters, had a mental disability that made him unable to fully understand his strength. Free trial is available to new customers only. Lennie killed it by snapping its neck because he thought the puppy was going to bite him. Still, George and Lennie are directly responsible but it's easy to sympathize with them, understanding all aspects of the situation. All because he wanted her to be quite. In this chapter, we see a different side of Lennie. But he kills her and the dream too. When Curleys wife visits Crookss stable, she admits in a moment of loneliness that she once dreamed of starring in movies, then quickly attacks each man with derogatory remarks. What happened that made George stop playing tricks on Lennie in Of Mice and Men? All women (and men) have this potential when survival is at stake, the infamous Donner Party's cannibalism being an example. Fig. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. George had to hit him over the head with a fence post to make him let go, and the woman accused Lennie of assaulting her. Lennie is innocent in that he's naive about the ways of the world. Curley's wife has no idea about Lennie's past history of unwitting violence and she certainly would not put herself in danger. "In Of Mice and Men, how and why does Lennie kill Curley's wife?" SparkNotes PLUS In Of Mice and Men, how and why does Lennie kill Curley's wife? I tol you, Min George because hes such a nice fella an good to you. But you dont never take no care. One could argue that Curley's neglect and poor treatment of his wife encouraged her to seek out companionship in the other ranchers; and this is what led to Curley's wife being with Lennie in the first place. When George found Curley's Wife dead, he knew it was Lennie who ACCIDENTALLY killed her. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Because Lennie is confused he grabs her hair and tries to make her stop yelling. Log in here. Question 6 30 seconds Q. It seems unfair to blame George because he was faced with the task of watching Lennie, a grown man, 24 hours a day. In the world of the ranch, one must not be the most vulnerable person in the room. Either way, Curley's wife had no control over it. Do George and Candy still plan to buy the dream farm after Lennies death? You cant remember nothing that happens, but you remember ever word I say. Well, aint you gonna say it? (Steinbeck 47). In his mind, all he knows is that George has told him to stay away from her, so he tries to push her away. What does she ask Lennie to do? He knows George is going to be mad, and he thinks George won't let him tend the rabbits. When Curley's wife attempts to console him, she discovers that he likes to pet soft things and allows him to feel her hair. Now don't you do that." An . 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. View OfMiceandMenPart1_TierraJohnson.docx from ENGLISH MISC at Dreher High. Describe George's physical features. She wants company. 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. When the others find out, Curley heads the hunt to find Lennie and kill him. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. This is largely due to his intellectual disability, which makes it difficult for him to understand other people or anticipate the consequences of his actions. He had a habit of accidentally injuring or killing small animals, and this behavior escalated when he accidentally killed Curley's wife. Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them. Only George, by retelling his dreams about the farm, could spare Lennie from such a fate, and let him die as he lived: blissfully ignorant. Why s Lennie angry at the puppy. Why does George leave and then return to the scene of the crime? Unfortunately, because of Lennies childlike innocence, he doesnt always understand or remember these warnings. Characters seem to find peace in death. He focuses on George who tells him about the dream one more time before killing with him with Carlson's luger. answer choices He is like a child and therefore, his guardian (or parent) should not have allowed him to be in such a situation where something like this might happen. Lennie originally was in the barn mourning the death of his puppy. The cause for much of the pain in the novella is Lennie. He doesn't understand his own strength, however, and the force of his efforts breaks her neck, killing her instantly. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. In many ways, George is like a parent telling their child not to touch something hot because it will burn them. He says he's not supposed to talk to her. He runs to get the others. The death of Curley's wife is a very sad time in indeed. To save Lennie from Curleys wrath, possible imprisonment, and perhaps years of suffering, George takes Lennies. This is evident early on in the novella when he accidentally kills one of Georges mice. The slaying of Curley's wife is not a mercy killing, but it's interesting that it resulted in some kind of peace. Lennie, Crooks, Candy and Curley's wife all live a life led by isolation. George misdirects the hunters, telling them to look for Lennie in the wrong direction. Throughout the story The Scarlet Ibis, Brother was always disappointed by Doodle no matter how hard Doodle tried. She struggles, and he holds her down, eventually breaking her neck. eNotes Editorial, 30 Nov. 2020, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/in-of-mice-and-men-how-and-why-does-lennie-kill-162143. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). George and Lennie were best friends, and have been since they were little. That too is what Of Mice and Men is all about. Why did Lennie kill Curley's wife? It depends on the edition. Thas what he said.. The novella suggests that this is how the power of oppression works: not directly, but by creating oppressive circumstances and situations which force vulnerable peoplewomen, the working-class, Black people, and disabled peopleto hurt each other when they are at their weakest. Lennie kills Curley's wife by shaking her so hard that her neck breaks -- remember, he is a big strong man. with a dum-dum and a dead dog. She is not prepared for Lennie's heavy petting and is ill equipped to handle his powerful hold. Lennie does a little confiding of his own: he got into this trouble because he likes to pet soft things. Did her mother steal it, or did the guy simply get her hopes up? He knows he has done something wrong but only views it within the prism of what George will think. Why did Lennie kill Curley's wife? Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying. False. Candy says, "maybe that's why curley's pants is full of ants" (Steinbeck 28). 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. More books than SparkNotes. For each symbol, write down Hes gonna beat hell outa you an then go away an leave you.. She's happy about what he did because she doesn't like Curley or this place. George, George made the right decision to kill Lennie because they were best friends and it would hurt George even more if he had to know someone else did it. He has no future. Yet they have formed a "family," clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation. By registering you get free access to our website and app (available on desktop AND mobile) which will help you to super-charge your learning process. This chapter gives us a complete perspective of the characters who have dreams. In this chapter, Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife while they are alone in the barn. Georges decision to kill Lennie was ultimately for his benefit. How does Steinbeck present the barn in chapter 5 of Of Mice and Men, and why is it important to the novel? If Lennie was killed by Curley, he would have been shot in the guts, and died painfully as he bled out. In this frame, some of the responsibility lies in the unfortunate outcome of the social situation. George had done the right thing. A third possibility is that Lennie simply didnt understand his own strength. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, Emancipation from British Dependence Poem, Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral. George could not take it anymore, therefore he killed him. Was Slim right after all when it comes to mercy killing? Why did Curley's wife come to see Lennie? Mostly the victims of Curley's cruelty were people he didn't like. Why does Curley wear a glove on one hand? When George arrives Lennie believes George will "give him hell." | Although Curley's wife initiated the interaction by starting a conversation with Lennie and allowed him to pet her hair, she was completely unaware of his history and had no idea that he lacked self-control. He simply knows that he needs to be careful in the future so that he doesnt make George mad. he said . When someone dies 99.9% of the time you feel sad and mourn for that person. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? When she started to complain, he panicked. Curleys wife explains that she hates Curley because he spends all his time sayin what hes gonna do to guys he dont like, and her marital dissatisfaction manifests as flirtatiousness with the other men on the ranch. This could very well be what happened with Curleys wife. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. The chapter opens with Lennie alone in the barn. Lennie actions continued to get miserable. The responsibility belongs to Lennie and George. Curley's wife married Curley because she had nowhere else to go. Lennie's puppy died because he handled it too roughly. George kills him so he does not feel like Candy who felt very bad after letting a stranger kill his dog. Chapter 1 1. Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife by shaking and breaking her neck. Latest answer posted November 30, 2020 at 4:09:18 PM. Your email address will not be published. What is his reaction? New User? In her final encounter with Lennie, she cornered him and began touching his face. She is yelling because he is holding on to her hair and won't let go. Explains that george used luger's pistol to kill lennie and put the dream to rest for good. While the rest of the workers are playing horseshoes, Lennie laments to himself inside the barn about accidentally killing his puppy. Category: The second instance is when he kills Curley's wife. You'll also receive an email with the link. Why Did Lennie Kill Curleys Wife? Over the course of the book Lennie has either killed or hurt somebody or something on a Summary In this essay, the author George's shooting of Lennie is foreshadowed throughout Of Mice and Men. Curley's wife talks about how she might have become a movie star. Love. Discount, Discount Code This confuses Lennie because he doesnt understand why she would do this if she already has a husband. First, Curley's wife insists on talking with Lennie even after he warns her that he "ain't supposed to" because "George's scared [he'll] get in trouble." He thinks that Lennie had taken it to the meeting place. 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. Unfortunately, in his confusion and panic, he ends up breaking her neck and killing her. At the same time, Carlson thinks Lennie took his luger, but it seems clear that someone else pocketed it. answer choices She was going to get him fired for busting Curley's hand He got confused and went into a panic while touching her hair He was petting her dress and things got out of control She was about spoil their American Dream Question 2 30 seconds Q. Or was there something more to it? I think there were several contributors to her death including Curley, George, Lennie, Slim, Crooks, and the world around her and herself. "I don't want you to yell. We learn about the dreams of Curley's wife. He pulled the trigger (Steinbeck 106). At first he thinks she is sleeping. However, no letter came. He likes animals and any small, soft thing that he can pet. Why was Curley mad at Lennie? Curley's wife is about to scream because she begins to panic. of the users don't pass the Of Mice and Men Chapter 5 quiz! Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Latest answer posted November 19, 2020 at 6:35:21 PM. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. What does the title Of Mice and Men mean. for a group? What quotes show that Crooks is lonely in Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck? 2016, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-does-lennie-think-and-do-after-he-kills-649037. Lennie and George, disparate types, are all against good reason, friends. Mercy Killing or Murder: A Moral Dilemma Regarding the Death of Lennie in Of Mice and Men December 2022 Authors: Ting-Xuan Shen Ya-huei Wang Abstract This study aims to analyze the death of. He pets it in frustration. His guilt, however, is only about what George will think. The Dark Secret Behind Rins Death: What You Need to Know. They share a good dream. In the previous chapters, there had always been the possibility that things would be okay. He is only shaking her like that because he wants her to stop yelling. The time when Lennie killed a small mouse foreshadowed similar upcoming events. Analyzes how lennie didn't want to kill the dream or her. Overall, Curley's wife was not . When the others find out, Curley heads the hunt to find Lennie and kill him. Lennie accepts the invitation and begins petting her hair. Hes gonna be mad. Unfortunately, death by Georges hands was the best option for Lennie. With all of George, He is gone. Seeing this as a way to flirt with him, Curley's wife puts his hand on her hair, which is very soft. The main reason George killed Lennie is because Lennie would have killed somebody again. george ended up shooting him in the back of the head or curley would have done worse. The point was that they had nobody to depend on but themselves. Lennie kills Curley's wife by shaking her so hard that her neck breaks -- remember, he is a big strong man. She asked him to stroke her hair but then he grabbed in a bit. He is only shaking her like that because he wants her to stop yelling. Lenny actions showed again that he was a tough working person. On the other hand, Of Mice and Men argues that it is not a specific person who is to blame for Curleys wifes death, but the isolation and fear imposed by the harsh conditions of migrant working. Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan. Lennie escapes the barn. "I guess maybe way back in my head I did." 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Essential Quotes by Character: Lennie Small. Secret Between Dumbledore & Snape. Why did Steinbeck choose the title Of Mice and Men? Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Lennie 's world basically revolves around George. Also, one cannot blame Curley's wife for forcing a conversation with Lennie because of her loneliness on the farm. He almost killed the girl in weed if he had gone any further. They could 've just let him go to jail but he would suffer. Accessed 2 May 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. They are an unlikely pair: George is "small and quick and dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Contrary to Georges hopes, having Lennie in prison would be inhumane. Without George to steer him, though, he doesn't stand a chance at refusing her. She asks him why he's so obsessed with rabbits anyway. In the end, Curley's wife . Why did Lennie kill the puppy? She may be lonely; she may be happy to sit down and pour her heart out to Lennie; but that's about as far as she's prepared to go. He tells the body of Curley's wife that she shouldn't be sleeping in the barn, only to realize she's dead. Throughout the novel, George has been Lennies only friend and protector; without George, Lennie would be lost. He snaps her neck when attempting to silence her. He is mad at the puppy because it died and he throws the puppy at the wall. Unfortunately, Lennie isn't mentally developed enough to have learned from his mistakes. The severity of the ranch-hands world is seen most clearly when the characters with less powerintellectually disabled Lennie, Black Crooks, disabled Candy, and Curleys wife, who isnt even given a nameare pitted against one another. Either way, she ended up marrying Curley. The quote shows that If George did not have Lennie, maybe he could have a better life more than this because he does not have to take care of Lennie and he can live his life without get in trouble. Consider this as you continue into the final chapter. He could either die in jail by other inmates, get executed if he resisted. She eventually starts screaming, and Lenny covers her mouth and starts shaking her to make her stop. Her death is therefore a tragedy, and symbolizes the end of Lennie's carefree life. Aside from wearisome wives, Of Mice and Men offers limited, rather misogynistic, descriptions of women who are either dead maternal figures or prostitutes. In the first instance, he throws his dead puppy, blaming it, thinking George won't let him tend rabbits because he killed it. One such situation occurs when he accidentally kills Curleys wife. However, Lennie doesn't simply kill herseveral unfortunate events lead to her death. He does, but his big, clumsy fingers start to mess it up, and she angrily tells him to let go.