Lennie is one of the most important characters in the novel Of Mice and Men. Lennie is described as having a developmental disability, although it is unclear what this is exactly.
Throughout the novel, Lennie shows that he is a sensitive and generally kind person. However, he can also show a violent streak. One of the examples of this violent nature is seen when George talks about their future ranch. In this section of the story, George tells Lennie that they need to watch out for cats and dogs that might hurt rabbits. Lennie responds by saying that if the cats and dogs try anything, he will kill them with a stick. This is an example of the violence that is present in the book, and that reflects the tense situations and many difficulties people faced during the Great Depression.