Apparently, in the chapter with Crooks, the elderly, the black, the women and the mentally disabled were forbidden from going to wherever the men were going to in the chapter. What if there was an elderly black woman who was mentally disabled on the ranch? Would she be EXTRA discriminated against?
Yes.
To piggy-back off the previous troper's answer, yes, she would have been. Actually, she likely wouldn't have been allowed to work on that farm to start with and, most likely, she would have been tossed in a mental hospital by that point. If she would have been allowed to work on the farm, she'd probably be a maid but she wouldn't last very long in her job position (It's the 1930s and the hypothetical character being asked about is black, elderly, and mentally disabled, do the math).
What I never got is why Lennie's death means George still can't have his dream farm. He still had his own wage, Candy was helping him. All it meant was that they would have to wait a little longer to afford the land.
It might be more indicative of the fact that George did care for Lennie, that in the end the dream just isn't the same without Lennie. It feels more empty and hollow.
If George didn't care for Lennie, he would have abandoned him long ago. It's a real Big Brother Instinct he has for him. Part of the dream is that there's a place where Lennie won't be in danger - and there's no one to misunderstand him. And George's rant says that the two are better because they have each other. The image of him and Lennie living off the land together will never be realised.
Adding to this, Lennie's strength was an asset, something that could be useful when it comes to tending a farm, and, because of his association with Lennie, he might have to be on the run after Lennie's death.
Why didn't George just buy Lennie a teddy bear? You can't exactly break a stuffed animal's neck.
Because a teddy isn't alive. Lennie would likely always wonder why the teddy never moved and worry over it. That and the fact that a grown man with a teddy would be a joke in 1930s US and Lennie would likely break from mockery or go overboard to try and get the men to stop laughing. Also given how much they have to move around, a teddy likely wouldn't last long.
Lennie mentions to Curley's wife that his Aunt Clara gave him an equivalent once (a square of velvet to carry in his pocket) but Lennie, being Lennie, lost it. He'd likely do the same with the bear.
Not just that, it was mentioned that he had a rubber mouse and Lennie, quote, found it "no good to pet", in which case, he might feel the same about a teddy bear.
It's the Great Depression. They can barely afford to get by as it is. George probably doesn't want to waste money on something Lennie would inevitably lose or destroy.
Because Lennie would find some way to break it no matter what. The universe hates these two, in case you haven't noticed.
