preview

Of Mice And Men And The Curious Incident Of The Dog

Decent Essays

In the novels of Of Mice and Men and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Lennie and Christopher both suffer from mental disabilities that affect their ability to function independently and interact with others, and both also have problems with impulse control, causing them to be abusive. Lennie is mentally challenged, having memory problems and a childlike mind, and his obsession with touching soft things combined with his physical strength leads him into conflicts, especially with women. Similarly, Christopher, who is autistic, physically lashes out at others when he becomes distressed or overwhelmed. Despite their disabilities, both characters have impressive strengths: Lennie’s brawn allows him to be the best worker in …show more content…

Later in the novel, after accidentally breaking Curley’s wife’s neck to get her to stop screaming and attracting attention, none of the other men, including George defend him. Curley, upon seeing his dead wife, is furious and swears to punish Lennie: “‘I’m gonna get him. I’m going for my shotgun. I’ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself’” (Steinbeck 96). Lennie is shown absolutely no mercy after the crime, emphasizing how society treats the mentally challenged with significantly less understanding and respect. Even Crooks, the stable buck, mocks Lennie, taunting him that if George is gone, “[t]hey’ll take ya to the booby hatch. They’ll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog” (Steinbeck 72). This is proof of the unjust treatment of those with mental disabilities, as most people during this time care less about helping others and more about themselves. Mark Haddon’s Christopher Boone is similar in some respects to Lennie, as he is also unable to act completely normal in public situations. His mother recalls a memory of him making a huge scene in a department store while Christmas shopping, because there were too many people around him he did not know: “‘you just lay on the floor and screamed and banged your hands and feet on the floor’” (Haddon 107). Christopher cannot

Get Access