Lennie displayed animal-like characteristics in Of Mice and Men. Unfortunately for Lennie, these attributes were the cause of his untimely demise. His hindrance made it virtually impossible for Lennie to function as a normal human being. Some examples of Lennie's attributes would be his massive strength and limitless loyalty towards George. George was in a very real sense Lennie's master and guide. Whatever it was the George wanted Lennie to do, Lennie would try to do his best to please him.
The first act Lennie committed that would suggest animal-like characteristics was when he and George arrived at the river and Lennie dunked his face in to drink: "His (George) huge companion (Lennie) dropped his blankets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse" (3). Lennie's actions are something one would expect an animal to do, unlike humans who cup their hands to drink water. Lennie also had a tendency to panic and not think things through in a situation. When he and George worked at Weed, Lennie reached out to touch a girl's dress because he liked to touch soft things. The girl tried to get away, and when she did Lennie panicked and hung onto her dress. His instincts did not allow him to reason his way through the situation and release her dress: "Well, he seen this girl in a red dress he wants to touch ever'thing he likes. He just wants to feel it So he reaches out to feel this red dress an" the girl lets out a squawk, and that gets Lennie all mixed up, and he holds on "cause that's the only thing he can think to do" (41). Unfortunately, a similar incident occurred with Curley's wife. Lennie began stroking her hair, but did it too roughly. She began scrambling, and Lennie tried to silence her, but, unfortunately, he snapped her neck in the struggle. .
Lennie's massive strength is what caused this mishap.