Image: Shmoop (cropped) Lennie is a physically strong but mentally childlike man who relies entirely on George for guidance and protection. His love for soft things, like animals,
often leads to trouble because he doesn’t understand his own strength. Lennie’s innocence and inability to grasp the consequences of his actions make him both endearing and tragic.
His dream of tending rabbits on a farm with George represents his longing for safety and belonging. However, Lennie’s accidental killing of Curley’s wife
shatters this dream. In the final moments of the story, Lennie is confronted by George, who reassures him with their shared dream before shooting him.
Lennie’s death marks the end of his innocence and the collapse of the dream he and George had worked toward. His character embodies both the purity of hope and
the inevitability of tragedy.
