In John Steinbeck's novella "Of Mice and Men," Lennie Small is a central character whose childlike innocence and simple-mindedness are both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. Despite his intellectual limitations, Lennie's kind nature and deep love for animals make him a sympathetic and endearing figure. Throughout the novella, several characters express their thoughts and feelings about Lennie, and their quotes reveal a range of emotions from frustration and anger to compassion and affection.
One of the first quotes about Lennie comes from his companion and protector, George Milton. As they travel together, George frequently scolds Lennie for his inability to control his actions and follows him around to clean up the messes he leaves in his wake. In one instance, George says, "Jesus Christ, you're a crazy bastard. You gotta remember that, Lennie. You gotta remember not to get in trouble." Despite his frustration, George's words reveal his deep love and concern for Lennie, as he knows that Lennie's simple-mindedness often leads him into dangerous situations.
Another character who has strong feelings about Lennie is Curley's wife, who is lonely and isolated on the ranch. When she encounters Lennie in the barn, she is initially kind and sympathetic towards him, telling him, "You ain't so bright. I can tell that. But you ain't mean." Lennie's innocent nature and lack of guile make him a safe confidant for Curley's wife, and she confides in him about her dreams of a better life. However, as the novella progresses, Lennie's inability to control his strength leads to a tragic ending for Curley's wife, and her feelings towards Lennie turn to fear and resentment.
Other characters on the ranch also have mixed feelings about Lennie. Candy, an old swamper, initially sees Lennie as a burden and a liability, saying, "I ain't much good with one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. I hadda quit workin' a long time ago. They give me a job swabbin' out the bunk house, but I can't swing a cat. I ain't much good to nobody." However, as Candy and Lennie spend more time together and Candy sees Lennie's love and loyalty towards George, he begins to see Lennie in a different light and eventually offers to contribute to the dream of buying a farm that George and Lennie share.
Ultimately, the quotes about Lennie in "Of Mice and Men" reveal a complex and nuanced portrayal of a character who is both deeply flawed and deeply lovable. Lennie's childlike innocence and simple-mindedness are both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness, and the various characters in the novella reflect this duality in their feelings towards him.
