Of Mice and Men Summary(Mental Retardation)
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- Category: English: Novels
- Date Submitted: 02/25/2010 06:08 PM
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Mental Retardation in our Western World Today
“Yo mamma's so retarded, she thinks yo mama jokes are funny” (unknown). People in the Western World are constantly criticizing the mental handicaps, much like in the novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. In this novel the mentally challenged character Lennie, is referred to as a crazy, dependant person. People also verbally and sometimes physically harass him, just to have a laugh.
Mental retardation in the novel Of Mice and Men, plays a big role because one of the main characters has this condition. Lennie, the main character, has to be reminded constantly not to do some of the things he wants to do. While walking to the ranch, George yells, “’Lennie for God’ sakes don’t drink so much‘” (Steinbeck 3). Lennie is forgetful and is unable to take care of his own life. Lennie enjoys touching soft things, and admits to George, that with the mouse, “‘I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along‘” (6). Lennie is easily pleased and the simplest thing can make him happy. Everyone makes Lennie do harmful things but he doesn’t know that they are making fun of him. George confesses, “’I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with ’im.. Used to play jokes on ’im ’cause he was too dumb to take care of ’imself‘” (40). People do not respect Lennie because he is not “normal”, and people are taking advantage of him because he is impressionable. It would be very hard on Lennie if he did not have George around to take care of him.
Metal Retardation is a very serious condition, and it greatly impacts our Western World today. According to the American Association on Mental Retardation, even if you are mentally ill, your life should not have a major impact from it, “Mental retardation shouldn’t affect the lives of anyone…they can live a normal life with the cooperation of others” (AAMR 1). With the help of the public, mentally retarded people are able to be successful and live the lives they’ve always wanted. Most mental...
“Yo mamma's so retarded, she thinks yo mama jokes are funny” (unknown). People in the Western World are constantly criticizing the mental handicaps, much like in the novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. In this novel the mentally challenged character Lennie, is referred to as a crazy, dependant person. People also verbally and sometimes physically harass him, just to have a laugh.
Mental retardation in the novel Of Mice and Men, plays a big role because one of the main characters has this condition. Lennie, the main character, has to be reminded constantly not to do some of the things he wants to do. While walking to the ranch, George yells, “’Lennie for God’ sakes don’t drink so much‘” (Steinbeck 3). Lennie is forgetful and is unable to take care of his own life. Lennie enjoys touching soft things, and admits to George, that with the mouse, “‘I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along‘” (6). Lennie is easily pleased and the simplest thing can make him happy. Everyone makes Lennie do harmful things but he doesn’t know that they are making fun of him. George confesses, “’I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with ’im.. Used to play jokes on ’im ’cause he was too dumb to take care of ’imself‘” (40). People do not respect Lennie because he is not “normal”, and people are taking advantage of him because he is impressionable. It would be very hard on Lennie if he did not have George around to take care of him.
Metal Retardation is a very serious condition, and it greatly impacts our Western World today. According to the American Association on Mental Retardation, even if you are mentally ill, your life should not have a major impact from it, “Mental retardation shouldn’t affect the lives of anyone…they can live a normal life with the cooperation of others” (AAMR 1). With the help of the public, mentally retarded people are able to be successful and live the lives they’ve always wanted. Most mental...