Ivan


Mr. Sutherland

English one

15 Oct. 2010

The Central Conflict in the Story

The central conflict in the realistic fiction Novel, “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck most of the conflict in the story is based on the society and the ignorance of people. Lennie one of the two main characters in the story is mentally disabled and in many cases has troubles and is need of help from the other character in the story named George. In his early childhood stages, Lennie had an accident with a horse and soon became disabled. Lennie was in the care of his aunt Clara, and when she passed away, George was the only left and by the side of Lennie. George was forced to be the Parent figure for him and to take care of him. There was no other person that Lennie could take turn to and have a similar or equal relation, like with George The society and people have no consideration for people that are mentally disabled and have difficulties. Whose fault is it that no other family member could take an importance for Lennie? Who should be for the blame?

Many people were not as aware and considerate on how to be able to live and be with someone that has some mental disability, and the great depression added to that and was a factor. Not only were people not willing to share and have lives with people because they were in a hole where they did not have sufficient materials and money for people to support each other. “Well, I never seen one guy takes so much trouble for another guy. I just like to know what your interest is.” George said, “He’s my . . . cousin. I told his old lady id take care of him. he got kicked in the head by a horse he was a kid. He’s awright. just ain't bright. but he can do anything you tell him.” Of Mice and Men, page 22. During the time and era that they lived in the people were not used to seeing someone take care of others for no apparent reason. in this situation and case George was the person that was in the care of Lennie, and that was only because Lennie could not take care of himself and there was no other person that Lennie could count on. In order not to look and stand out, George had to make the decision of making a lie and explaining that he was Lennie's cousin. People could not understand what was the reason for someone to want to have someone beside them to aid and help the.

People’s reaction and interactions with people with disabilities change and they are unable to comprehend that they are different in some ways, including on how they think and may react. “That big son-of-a bitch done it. I know he done it. why-ever’body else was out there playin’ horseshoes.” After Lennie had made a mistake and had take someone’s life and people had found out they were unable to understand what could have happened and reacted in a way instead of coming to a conclusion and learning more about the situation and react in a way that made things worse for everybody. Curly reacted by cursing and not being able understand. In addition, the people had not take the proper care and precaution that was needed to be able to understand what would happen and could happen in a situation similar to that of which happened. The people and the group had no way to understand and know what to do with the situation.

In the final pages of the book, there was a crowd of people chasing after Lennie after the incident with the death of Curly’s wives death. They wanted to punish and kill Lennie since he had taken the life of somebody. People had no other way or thoughts on how to be able to solve the situation. “He pulled the trigger. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again.” There was someone that was going to take the life of Lennie, and it was his friend who had decided to take it for him. He believed that it would be better for him to kill than for someone to just decide to kill him. He wanted his friend to peacefully die.

John Steinbeck 1937 "of mice and men" the struggle had finally come to a but not in the way that they were hoping and wanted to and planned. They had planned that George and Lennie would be able to free of people the money and any other issues by being able to reach an amount of money and buying and or having a farm and being separated from the rest of the other people. The struggles and discrimination that was coming from and towards the people with mental disabilities has not changed and not gone forward in many steps.