Final answer:
Lennie's fascination with soft textures and his uncontrollable strength lead to trouble in Weed when he would not release a girl's dress he found soft, being misunderstood as an assault.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie's uncontrollable physical strength and his fascination with soft textures often land him in trouble. The incident in Weed involved Lennie's tactile curiosity, where he was so enticed by the feel of a girl's soft dress that he grabbed onto it, and wouldn't let go even as she struggled. This led to panic as Lennie's strong grip caused the girl to scream, and a sequence of misunderstandings ensued where Lennie was accused of attempted assault, forcing him to flee with George.
Lennie's tendency to touch soft things, combined with his immense strength and lack of understanding, set the backdrop for the tragic events of the story, establishing an important theme that explores the consequences of innocence and ignorance in a harsh world.