However, whether Lennie meant it or not, George was worried that Curley would find out and. So I think George shouldnt have killed him. Why Did Ty Leave Heartland Know The Exact Reason? Who does Curley blame for the murder? In this chapter, Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife while they are alone in the barn. Lennie accidentally killed his puppy after it: Lennie instantly agrees to talk to Curley's wife. Also, one cannot blame Curley's wife for forcing a conversation with Lennie because of her loneliness on the farm. 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. Dont have an account? He is only shaking her like that because he wants her to stop yelling. In Weed, Lennie touched a woman's red dress and refused to let go when she panicked. He has done many thing that make George get into trouble and It is better if Lennie has to die because of George shoot him not the other. 1 - Curley's wife is dissatisfied with how her life has panned out. At times when Lennie did something wrong, George would tell him off calling him 'you crazy fool' he would whimper and quiver his lip like a child. Ace your assignments with our guide to Of Mice and Men! Lennie panics when Curley's wife begins to scream and accidentally breaks her neck while attempting to silence her. They share a good dream. what did curley's wife tell lennie? How did Curley's wife die? A third possibility is that Lennie simply didnt understand his own strength. This adds extreme tension to the story. Let us know in the comments below! The second is of a giant rabbit, which some critics have said is symbolic of Lennie's animalistic nature, but also reflects his obsession with petting soft things. 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. When she discovers Lennie's affinity for petting soft things, she does not take into account Lennie's strength or inability to control his emotions, which is not her fault. Curley's wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. He picks it up again and pets it. Required fields are marked *. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. She slapped Lennie, and it startled him. So, there's no argument to suggest that she is responsible for her own death. "In Of Mice and Men, how and why does Lennie kill Curley's wife?" However Lennie is going to die in someday and It is better choice if Lennie gets killed by George not the other, In the book Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, I believe that George did make the right decision to shoot Lennie, because of the relationship that they had. Latest answer posted August 09, 2017 at 8:49:59 AM. 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. Fig. "What does Lennie think and do after he kills Curley's wife?" Lennie and George, disparate types, are all against good reason, friends. Curleys wife had been coming on to him for days, despite his repeated attempts to rebuff her advances. 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. Explains that crooks, curley's wife, and lennie are all outcasts on the ranch because of their differences. One possibility is that he was simply trying to protect himself. When George arrives Lennie believes George will "give him hell." of the users don't pass the Of Mice and Men Chapter 5 quiz! Lennie became scared and hung on tighter. 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. 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 may have been confused about what was happening and acted without thinking through the consequences of his actions. Curley's wife immediately recoils from Lennie's touch. How is Lennie different from the other men? This is very much in keeping with the novel's themes, though, because Lennie lacks control over his actions more than anyone else. I swear you hadda. Meaning if he didnt Lennie would have messed up and killed somebody or something, In the novella, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, Georges decision to kill Lennie at the end of the novel was justified. What happens between Lennie and Curley's wife in chapter 5? Curleys wife is lonely, but the ranch-hands are scared Curley will catch them speaking to her, which further isolates her. When George scolds him, Lennie doesnt fully grasp why he did something wrong. A brother 's keeper watch out for them, does what 's best for them, and it 's part of their responsibility because we care for them. She is not prepared for Lennie's heavy petting and is ill equipped to handle his powerful hold. She wants 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. loneliness is caused by social isolation and physical isolation. What does the title Of Mice and Men mean? She was going to lie to Curley and say that Lennie was flirting with her. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. There's no indication one way or another, but it's interesting to imagine what happened to that letter. In the first chapter of Of Mice and Men, what does George say to Lennie about how his life could be better without him? George tells Slim that in their last town, Lennie got in trouble after touching a girls dress and was falsely accused of raping her. She is purposefully flirtatious. It was this strange quirk of his that got Lennie and George into serious trouble back in Weed, after Lennie terrified a girl by touching her dress. Explains that george used luger's pistol to kill lennie and put the dream to rest for good. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. when . George felt he needed to stop any further harm from happening to Lennie or. Lennie displays several instances of anger in the chapter. 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. Do George and Candy still plan to buy the dream farm after Lennies death? Curley's wife had previously dreamed of being an actress. While the rest of the workers are playing horseshoes, Lennie laments to himself inside the barn about accidentally killing his puppy. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. So when she wouldnt stop touching him, he reacted the only way he knew howby hitting her in self-defense. "I guess maybe way back in my head I did." She asked him to stroke her hair but then he grabbed in a bit. She flops like a fish in his arms: bitterly reminiscent of Curleys actions earlier in the novel when Lennie crushes Curley's hand. Reasons, Why Itachi Uchiha Had to Kill His Own Clan? George didnt want to kill Lennie. Curley's wife thinks her mother hid the letter from her. Already a member? Lennies childlike innocence can be both a strength and a weakness. 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. The first is of his dead Aunt Clara who admonishes him for not listening to George. George kills him so he does not feel like Candy who felt very bad after letting a stranger kill his dog. Lennie kills Curley's wife because he 'likes to pet soft things'.He is mourning the death of his puppy - also by his own hand - when Curley's wife enters the barn. Hm, says Curley's wife. Will you pass the quiz? Curley's wife presents herself in a negative way. After Curley finds out that his wife has died, he becomes determined to kill Lennie gruesomely for revenge. Curley's wife calls him "nuts" and like a "big baby." Hiding the dead puppy and in frustrated spirits, Lennie tells her that he's not supposed to talk to her. For a man with such a low IQ, this must have been incredibly confusing and scary. They wanted to get a farm together with many animals. Lennie ends up crushing his hand, which makes Curley hate him even more. In the brush till he come. However, any hope for her or Lennie evaporates when Lennie kills her. what did curley's wife tell lennie? When the others find out, Curley heads the hunt to find Lennie and kill him. Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife by shaking and breaking her neck. What was Lennie's reaction. He feels guilty over what he has done. You do bad things.. "Now don't," he said. Georgell be mad. Because she never received the letter promised. That too is what Of Mice and Men is all about. I believe this because if George didn't kill Lennie then someone else would have. Have all your study materials in one place. 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. 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. This ultimately leads to tragic consequences when he kills Curleys wife despite George telling him multiple times to stay away from her. One reason George should not have killed Lennie because everything that happened, was an accident. Unfortunately, Lennie is too rough with her hair, and Curley's wife tells him to let go. This changes what happened at death. We have seen the inevitibility of the scenario with Lennies strength and Curleys wifes desire for affection and attention. For each symbol, write down Learn how your comment data is processed. Lennie, Crooks, Candy and Curley's wife all live a life led by isolation. What is the meaning and significance of the last line in Of Mice and Men: "Now what the hell do you suppose is eatin' them two guys?" Analyzes how george raised the gun and steadied it, and brought the muzzle close to the back of lennie's head. 2016, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-does-lennie-think-and-do-after-he-kills-649037. 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. Slim states that if they lock him [Lennie] up an strap him down and put him in a cage it aint no good, since Lennie, if he was in prison, would be subject to a life confined to dark cages, misery and being oppressed by others (Steinbeck 97). There is a fine line between her loneliness and any flirting she does for affection or to get the men in trouble with Curley. 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. 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.". Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Curley's wife's death is a symbol of loss of innocence. Curley's wife has transmitted diseases and passed them onto curley. Curley's wife talks about how she might have become a movie star. When Curley's wife allows Lennie to be comforted by stroking her hair, he then becomes overwhelmed by the feelings of the moment and begins grabbing her hair too hard. Consider this as you continue into the final chapter. Lennie kills Curley's wife completely by accident. What happened to Lennie's puppy? Lennie killed Curley's wife by accident. When Curleys wife threatened Georges safety, Lennie may have felt he had no choice but to act. Finally, he shakes her and her neck snaps. This first quote comes from the conversation between Lennie and Curley's wife. Why does Curley wear a glove on one hand? Hes gonna be mad. This comment shows that George is not the type of person to hurt anyone else. Lennie was petting her soft hair until she got frightened and tried to pull away. But he kills her and the dream too. 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. If Lennie killed her, they would be forced to flee, but at least they would be together. Lennie isn't attentive to any of this, though. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Essential Quotes by Character: Lennie Small. Why was Curley mad at Lennie? Many of the male characters on the ranch feel threatened by her, calling her jailbait because she is flirtatious. Nie wieder prokastinieren mit unseren Lernerinnerungen. What do you think? They could 've just let him go to jail but he would suffer. What happened that made George stop playing tricks on Lennie in Of Mice and Men? on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% He focuses on George who tells him about the dream one more time before killing with him with Carlson's luger. 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 actions continued to get miserable. This leads her to talk about how she ended up here. Lennie didn't mean to kill Curley's wife. Her understandably horrified reaction at Lennie's touching her hair unnerves Lennie, so much so that he loses control and ends up killing Curley's wife. Throughout the novel, George has been Lennies only friend and protector; without George, Lennie would be lost. What are the powers and the weakness of Deadpool. But that is an indirect line of responsibility that goes along with the social structure of ranches in general. She eventually starts screaming, and Lenny covers her mouth and starts shaking her to make her stop. Sniveling selfishly at this tragic, senseless loss of life, the reader should dismiss Candy's assessment. Who controlled Curley's wife's life before Curley did? For his part, Lennie simply wants to avoid gettin in trouble with George and doesn't understand how his actions will be interpreted. Covering her mouth and shaking her, he breaks her neck. Secret Between Dumbledore & Snape. Analyzes how crooks is different from the other ranch hands, and curley's wife is also an outcast. He's petting his dead puppy. They had no family and traveled together. To save Lennie from Curleys wrath, possible imprisonment, and perhaps years of suffering, George takes Lennies. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Who does Candy blame for the death of Curley's wife? This chapter gives us a complete perspective of the characters who have dreams. Who was really responsible for her death, Lennie or Curley's wife?" Why isnt Curleys wifes name ever revealed? He will also do anything George or what most others would tell him to do. What quotes show that Crooks is lonely in Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck? Throughout the book, Lennie accidentally kills animals because of his strength and lack of understanding. George had to kill Lennie, unless he wanted Curley to get to Lennie. What does she ask Lennie to do? Lennie's world basically revolves around George. StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. Latest answer posted December 31, 2020 at 3:22:45 PM. He is often confused and does not always understand the consequences of his actions. . Lenny actions showed again that he was a tough working person. Overall, Curley's wife was not aware of Lennie's history, was simply looking for companionship, and was unaware that Lennie would not let go of her hair. She gets angry What did she tell Lennie? Latest answer posted August 09, 2017 at 8:49:59 AM. Why did Curley's wife come to see Lennie? At the same time, Carlson thinks Lennie took his luger, but it seems clear that someone else pocketed it. In Of Mice and Men, how and why does Lennie kill Curley's wife? Historical Context Essay: The Great Depression, John Steinbeck and Of Mice and Men Background. Slim confirms her neck is broken. The more she struggles, the more Lennie is afraid that he is going to get int trouble with George. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Not affiliated with Harvard College. Why is Crookss room set apart from the others? 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. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Log in here. He can't stop thinking about what to do with the dead puppy in order to get George's approval to tend the rabbits. Upload unlimited documents and save them online. What Led the Bella Twins to Leave WWE After 17 Years. 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. She starts screaming, and he covers her mouth. Despite the fact that Lennie rebuffs Curley's wife's initial attempts at having a conversation, one cannot blame Curley's wife for searching for companionship. 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. 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. George Milton took Lennie Smalls life. You ain't no good now, you lousy tart.". The hand shook violently, but his (George) face set and his hand steadied. She asks him to feel her soft hair. They got ran out of Weed(the old farm they used to work at) for harassing a girl and not letting her go. Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife after he begins shaking her so violently that he breaks her neck. Seeing this as a way to flirt with him, Curley's wife puts his hand on her hair, which is very soft. But as far as individual responsibility, Lennie and George share it. In Chapter Six, Lennie is hiding in the bushes next to the clearing he and George stayed in at the start of the book. Lennie is by far the most menacing he has ever been, and he gets mad twice in this chapter. Getting Crooks's shotgun, he leads away the men in search of Lennie. However when Curley's wife was killed no one mourned, no one was sad. Either way, Curley's wife had no control over it. Does slim flirt with Curley's wife? George finds Lennie . The most ironic thing about this scene is that her death is that it is preceded by a moment of human connection. 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. May 1, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 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. He's sad and he's angry. To be our brothers and sisters keeper means that we have to watch out for them and care about even if it 's not our favorite thing to do but we do it because we care about them.John Steinbeck wrote this book in 1937, The book is about two farmers who had dreams of having their own farms and one of the characters named george looks out for Lennie because he has a mental disability. He says he's not supposed to talk to her. Lennie kills Curley's wife because of his inability to control his own strength and emotions. For example, when they first arrive at the ranch where theyll be working, George tells Lennie to stay hidden in the bushes until he can scope out the situation and make sure its safe. What happens in chapter 5 in Of Mice and Men? There are a number of possible explanations for why Lennie killed Curley's wife. Even though the action was bad, George decided it was best to kill Lennie to protect him. Why does George kill Lennie in Of Mice and Men? He starts messing up her hair, tangling it. He has no future. George had strictly directed Lennie to stay away from her. Contact us Or was there something more to it? Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. In the previous chapters, there had always been the possibility that things would be okay. 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. He knows he has done something wrong but only views it within the prism of what George will think. And she continued to struggle, and her eyes were wild with terror. One interpretation is that Lennie was simply acting in self-defense. I think there were several contributors to her death including Curley, George, Lennie, Slim, Crooks, and the world around her and herself. What quotes show that Crooks is lonely in Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck? George was a small man with a dark face and restless eyes. Lennie Small, a large childish man's death is a mercy killing because he can't control his strength and as a result he hurts a lot of living things. 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! What does the title Of Mice and Men mean. Lets take a closer look at each of these three possibilities. There are a number of possible explanations for why Lennie killed Curleys wife. Curley is always trying to start fights, so when Lennie, a very large man, shows up at the ranch he tried to assert his dominance. 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. Thas what he said.. You done it, di' n't you? The others are playing horseshoes. Lennie only meant to keep her quiet , not kill her. . What do you think? She asks him why he's so obsessed with rabbits anyway. One possibility is that he was simply trying to protect himself. Toward the end of the story, Lennie kills Curley's wife by accident . So, she does go out and talk to the other men. In Of Mice and Men, how and why does Lennie kill Curley's wife? Lennie can be very clueless and forgetful. What does she ask Lennie to do? This is important, and it shows that Lennie is actually quite scary. He could either die in jail by other inmates, get executed if he resisted. George Milton and Lennie Smalls, two migrant farmers, great friends, and companions that looked out for one and other. She is yelling because he is holding on to her hair and won't let go. She asked him to stroke her hair but then he grabbed in a bit. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them. Throughout their journey, the author acquainted us with Lennie's tendency of stroking and petting soft things. One of the most controversial questions surrounding John Steinbecks novel Of Mice and Men is why did Lennie kill Curleys wife? Before Candy leaves, he curses at Curley's dead wife, saying this is all her fault. what did curley's wife tell lennie?-evolution golf cart forumevolution golf cart forum Lennie had to be killed because he didnt know his own strength. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. In this frame, some of the responsibility lies in the unfortunate outcome of the social situation. Lennie kills Curley's wife by shaking her so hard that her neck breaks -- remember, he is a big strong man. She tries to. For example when Carlson killed Candys, Some people might think in the opposite side that George should not killed Lennie because Lennie did not mean to anything. Lennie touched her hair and since he liked the way it felt, he grabbed on her hair and did not let go. Chapter 1 1. He starts messing it up, which sends Curley's wife into a tizzy. What does George say to Lennie before he shoots him? Lennie 's world basically revolves around George. I shouldnt of did that. George's decision to kill Lennie was justified . Please wait while we process your payment. Even though shooting Lennie wasnt planned I think George knew it was going to have to be done sometime in the future because, Lennie ruins all of George 's chances of keeping a steady job. Her death is therefore a tragedy, and symbolizes the end of Lennie's carefree life. A femme fatale is a stock character: an attractive woman who causes the downfall of a man with whom she has a relationship. Immediately after killing Curley's wife, Lennie travels back to his hidden meeting spot by the river and waits for George while Curley leads a lynch mob after him. (one code per order). 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.