Chapter 5 and 6 Summary Questions

1. What three things does Lennie do or say that show he is mentally retarded? List at least three specific acts or incidents.
During his conversation with Curley's wife, he doesn't react or respond to anything she says about herself. He doesn't follow the conversation and all he can think about is the rabbits. Another example is when he kills her. He does this unintentionally, trying to keep her quiet by covering her mouth and ending up breaking her neck. He doesn't know how to control himself, his anger or his strength. Finally, the degree of his retardation is shown in his relationship with George. He listens to whatever George tells him to do, no matter what and even at his moment of death. He just looks ahead across the lake because George tells him to and allows himself to be shot.
2. a. Is George's treatment of Lennie fair? Explain.
It is not fair because Lennie is not the way he is or does the things he does by choice. It is just the way he is and doesn't have control over it.
b. Is George's treatment of Lennie understandable? Explain.
It is understandable because it must get frustrating and hard to always worry about not only yourself, but also another human being. It is particularly hard because of Lennie's mental condition.
c. Could he have helped him more? How?
It was much harder to help mentally retarded people back then. They weren't given any special treatment and were expected to function and work like everyone else. I don't think there was much else George could do for him. Maybe telling and explaining to Lennie the situation might have worked, though.
3. How do these characters treat Lennie and why? Give one incident for each that shows his/her treatment of Lennie.
a. Candy - Candy feels compassion for Lennie and stands up for him. When Curley's wife starts interrogating Lennie, he tells her to leave him alone and not mess with him.
b. Curley's wife - She likes talking to him because he doesn't interrupt, hears her even if he isn't really listening, and she knows that he won't say anything about it to anyone else. In the barn, she tells him all about herself and how she could've become someone famous instead of living on the ranch.
c. Crooks - I think he accepts Lennie because he is someone he can relate to. Like Crooks, people see him differently. However, Crooks takes advantage of this in a way. For example, he taunts Lennie, almost scaring him by telling him that George is out spending all their money for the farm.
What do they all have in common? (Why do they all talk to him?)
They all talk to him because it is easy for them to. Lennie won't judge them.
4. Why does Lennie kill the puppy and later the girl?
Lennie kills the puppy by accident because he stroked it too hard. He gets angry, saying that it wasn't big enough to start with and shouldn't have died since it wasn't as small as the mice. He is also worried that George won't let him tend the rabbits anymore because of it. He also kills the girl unintentionally because she starts yelling when he strokes her hair. He covers her mouth and once again gets angry when she doesn't stop. He ends up breaking her neck.
5. Do you think Lennie had to be shot? What were some other alternatives? What would have happened to Lennie if George hadn't shot him?
Lennie did not have to be shot. They could have run away again some place else, like they did in Weeds. It would be pointless though and only temporary because Lennie would get in trouble again wherever they went next. If Curley or any of his men found him, then they would have probably shot him. I think the best and easiest solution was what George did: to shoot him.
6. How is the killing of Lennie similar to the killing of Candy's dog? Why do you think George killed Lennie himself instead of letting the men do it?
Lennie, like Candy's dog, had nothing good coming for him. It was what was best for him. He was weak. George killed Lennie because he felt like it was his duty and his responsibilty. It was he who shared a special friendship with Lennie, not anyone else. He knew how much Candy regretted not doing it himself and knew that it was the right thing to do.