How does working on the ranch affect Lennie in Of Mice and Men?

Along with George, Lennie is one of the main characters in John Steinbeck's depression era novella Of Mice and Men. Lennie is mentally challenged and depends on George to lead him through life. He and George are hoping to "get a stake together" so they can purchase their own farm. For Lennie the dream of the farm means he can "tend rabbits."

Working on the ranch is at first a blessing for the two men....

Along with George, Lennie is one of the main characters in John Steinbeck's depression era novella Of Mice and Men. Lennie is mentally challenged and depends on George to lead him through life. He and George are hoping to "get a stake together" so they can purchase their own farm. For Lennie the dream of the farm means he can "tend rabbits."

Working on the ranch is at first a blessing for the two men. Lennie is, as George puts it, "a hell of a good worker" and is right at home wrestling grain bags and "bucking barley." Not only do they have steady jobs but they also meet the old swamper Candy who, because he lost his hand in a ranch accident, has enough money to help the men purchase their dream farm.

Unfortunately for Lennie this story is a tragedy and working on the ranch leads directly to his death at the end of the story. In usual Steinbeck fashion he provides plenty of foreshadowing to indicate things will not work out for Lennie. Lennie had always gotten in trouble in the past and during the men's last job in Weed Lennie and George had to hide in order to avoid being captured by men looking for them because Lennie had touched a girl's dress. George warns Lennie to "hide in the brush" if he gets in trouble again.

Even the simple minded Lennie recognizes the danger on this ranch and, after meeting Curley and Curley's wife, he doesn't want to stay. He says,

“I don’t like this place, George. This ain’t no good place. I wanna get outa here.” 

The best thing that happens to Lennie is meeting Candy who immediately becomes his friend and figures out how Lennie can make money "tending rabbits." The reader gets the feeling that all could indeed be perfect if George, Lennie and Candy could really go off and live on that "little piece 'a land."

Ultimately, however, Lennie falls into a familiar pattern and winds up accidentally strangling Curley's wife in the barn. Because George fears Lennie will be tortured, or simply won't understand the punishment, he takes Carlson's Luger and kills his friend in an act of mercy. Thus, in the long run, the ranch affects Lennie in the most negative of ways.