of mice and men ch.5

Lenny doesn't know his own strength. He kills the pup by petting it too hard and inadvertently breaking its neck. Lenny has once again killed something that he loves. Lennie cannot process cause and effect. He is sad about his puppy but is more afraid that George won't let him "tend the rabbits" at their dream farm. The death of the puppy foreshadows something much darker. This speaks to the major limitations that Lennie has in a world that does not understand Lennie's disability: a disability that makes it virtually impossible for Lennie to survive without constant supervision.