Similarities Between "The Scarlet Ibis" and "Of Mice and Men": The Value Of Respect

Scarlet Ibis and Of Mice and Men are two very similar and two very different groundbreaking novels. In Scarlet Ibis Doodle is very dependent and relies on everyone else to help him while in Of Mice and Men Lennie is also very dependent but he is shapeless and acts like a child. Lennie is described as an innocent character who would never hurt anything or anyone but that is switched when he commits his first sin. Doodle is a very creative character and is always so determined.

The two books Scarlet Ibis and Of Mice and Men have different turning events and different textual evidence that makes the books seem very alike and makes the two characters Doodle and Lennie have many comparisons and differences. As you can see they both share many characteristics and traits due to them both having a disability and not much independence they both also have a child's creativity. Lennie and Doodle share a similarity in them both having a disability. Even though the challenges they have are different they both have challenges. Doodle has a weak heart and mental disabilities while lennie is more challenged in his head. The text states “he talked so much we all quit listening to what he said”(Hurst 51). This shows how doodle would ramble and kept going on with he was saying because he could not control himself. In the book Of Mice and Men the text states “Tried and tried [to remember]…. but it didnt do not good” (Steinbeck 15). This quote shows that lennie couldn't remember what he was going to say and was having a hard time with it. As you can see Lennie and Doodle both are similar due to them having difficulties.

A difference between the two were there physical strengths while Lennie was very strong and could walk and talk perfectly fine, Doodle could barely walk or talk. In the novel Of Mice and Men, Lennie states “There ain't nobody can keep up with him. God awmighty i never seen such a strong guy”(Steinbeck 39). This quote examines how strong Lennie is for having a disability and struggling. Than in the book Scarlet Ibis the text states “Trembling, he’d push himself up, turning first red, then a soft purple, and finally collapse back onto the bed like an old worn-out doll”(Hurst 317). This quote from Scarlet Ibis shows me that Doodle is very weak and just by standing up his body couldn't handle it and his heart was to unhealthy and unsafe for his body and actions. Doodle and Lennie both are strong characters but when it comes to the physical state Lennie wins in this category because Doodle is more weak due to his heart than Doodle was.

Although their challenges are different they both share similarities in being dependent on someone else but also very loyal to whoever it is. In Of Mice and Men Lennie is very loyal and dependent to George while in Scarlet Ibis Doodle is very dependent on Brother and loyal to him. Doodle shows this when he says “Doodle was frightened of being left. Dont leave me brother. (he cried)”( Hurst 318). This shows how much lennie loves brother and doesn’t want to be left alone without him. When George and Lennie were talking about having ketchup Lennie said “But I wouldn't eat none, George. I'd leave it all for you. You could cover your beans with it and I wouldn't touch none of it”(Steinbeck 94). To me this quote explains how Lennie is trying to keep George to himself and make him as happy as he can with bribes.

Even though Doodle and Lennie seem very slow and unintelligent they are very loyal to their best friends but are also super dependent on them and always need their help. Ultimately these major examples all point to one common theme. In the two stories Of Mice and Men and Scarlet Ibis Doodle and Lennie both have many of the same character traits and at the same time they both share many differences.

While Scarlet Ibis and Of Mice and Men are two amazing and breathtaking novels the similarities and differences between the characters are beyond compare. Lennie and Doodle are alike in both being loyal and having a disability. Than on the other hand they are very different in their physical strength and the state of mind they are at. We could use the 2 messages from the story Scarlet Ibis and the novel Of Mice and Men to showcase better judgement and to treat everyone kindly. These books taught me as a person to always respect everyone because you never know who they are, where they come from, what they have going on or what their story is.