Abounding Relations In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
Abounding Relations The novel “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, is a work of fiction that depicts two very opposite characters sharing an unusual relationship with one another. The two men depend on each other to get through the tough times that they encounter while working as ranch-hands on a farm. Of the two men, Lennie is the most dependent. Due to his mental disability, Lennie relies entirely on George, a small, quick-witted man who considers himself as the caretaker of Lennie. The two characters not only comfort and protect one another, but they also share a dream of one day owning their very own ranch where they can grow their food, and tend their own livestock. As the story progresses, the author reveals the unique relationships shared between the two men. In the story “Of
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Mice and Men,” John Steinbeck illustrates a father-son relationship, a lively friendship, and a dominant-submissive relationship between George and Lennie. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck portrays George as a fatherly figure who protects, comforts, and serves as Lennie’s conscience. As the two men meet and greet with the other ranch-hands on the farm, they come across the confrontational Curly who is eager to start a fight with Lennie.
“Lennie squirmed under the look and shifted his feet nervously. Curley stepped gingerly close to him. ‘You the new guys the old man was waitin' for?’ ‘We just come in,’ said George. ‘Let the big guy talk.’ Lennie twisted with embarrassment. George said, ‘S'pose he don't want to talk?’Curley lashed his body around. ‘By Christ, he's gotta talk when he's spoke to. What the hell are you gettin' into it for?’ ‘We travel together,’ said George coldly. ‘Oh, so it's that way.’ George was tense, and motionless. ‘Yeah, it's that way’” (Chap 3). George quickly realizes that the situation is leaning towards hostility and as soon as he sees Curly’s “look” as, “…calculating and pugnacious…” he immediately goes on the defense in order to protect Lennie from any altercation. Another incident in which George displays his paternal characteristics is when Lennie seems to have difficulty getting accustomed to the new environment. “Lennie cried out suddenly- ‘I don't like this place, George. This ain't no good place. I wanna get outa here.’ ‘We gotta keep it till we get a stake [said George]. We can't help it, Lennie. We'll get out jus' as soon as we can. I don't like it no
better than you do’” (Chap 3). George’s compassion and ability to understands how Lennie feels allows him to comforts Lennie by reminding him that they will leave this horrible place behind as soon as they get the money for what they both dream of one day owning, a ranch of their own. Not only does George protect and comfort Lennie, but because of Lennie’s mental limitations, George also serves as Lennie’s conscience, differentiating the right from wrong. Early in the novel, Steinbeck reveals to the reader that Lennie has a fetish for touching soft things. During their trip to the ranch where they are to meet their new boss, George finds Lennie hiding a dead mouse in his pocket. “‘What you got in your hand- hidin' it?’ ‘I ain't got nothin', George. Honest.’ ‘Come on, give it here.’ Lennie held his closed hand away from George's direction. ‘It's on'y a mouse, George.’ ‘I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along," said Lennie’” (Chap 1). Lennie’s childish behavior leads George to install rules and guidelines on Lennie so that he may better understand which actions are suited for specific situations. Visiting the new boss and having a dead mouse in Lennie’s pocket would definitely, if not certainly, reduce their chances of working on the ranch. Steinbeck illustrates George’s parenting skills which give way to George and Lennie’s unique father and son relationship; this allows the two men to be able to comfort, and depend on one another. Steinbeck composes a unique companionship between George and Lennie by allowing George to feel responsible for Lennie’s welfare, and the love that the two men share for one another. Even though George reiterates to Lennie that he despises having him in his presences, he admits to Slim the true reason why he cares for and looks after Lennie. "‘I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with 'im. Used to play jokes on 'im 'cause he was too dumb to take care of 'imself… I had fun… Why he'd do any damn thing I tol' him…He never got mad about it, neither. I've beat the hell outa him…but he never lifted a finger against me.’ One day a bunch of guys was standin' around up on the Sacramento River... I turns to Lennie and says, 'Jump in.' An' he jumps. Couldn't swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get him. An' he was so damn nice to me for pullin' him out… Well, I ain't done nothing like that no more’” (Chap 3). George feels guilty for all the times he took advantage of Lennie’s mental disability and treated him unfairly, consequently he vows that he will always be there for Lennie and stick alongside him like a good friend. One incident, in which Steinbeck illustrates the love the two me share for one another, is when George scolds Lennie and tells him that his life would be so much better off without him, and Lennie replies by saying he would run away and leave George to live his life happily. “‘When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace.’ Lennie still knelt. He looked off into the darkness across the river. ‘George, you want I should go away and leave you alone?’…George looked quickly and searchingly at him. ‘I been mean, ain't I?’ ‘If you don' want me I can go off in the hills an' find a cave. I can go away any time.’ ‘No- look! I was jus' foolin', Lennie. 'Cause I want you to stay with me. Trouble with mice is you always kill 'em.’ He paused. ‘Tell you what I'll do, Lennie. First chance I get I'll give you a pup’” (Chap 1). Lennie’s response quickly melts George’s anger and he realizes Lennie’s innocence and quickly apologizes for getting angry with him. Steinbeck allows these two men to share this unique companionship in which guilt and love bind this relationship very tightly and this union allows the two men to rely on one another and have a strong friendship. Another unique relationship between the two men that is made visible throughout the book is a dominant-submissive relationship. This type of relationship is exemplified through verbal abuse, commands from George to Lennie, and sheer dominance made visible by the killing of Lennie. Throughout the book, George is continuously harassing Lennie with criticism and defamation. “Lennie looked timidly over to him. ‘George?’ ‘Yeah, what ya want?’ ‘Where we goin', George?’ The little man jerked down the brim of his hat and scowled over at Lennie. ‘So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you're a crazy bastard!’” (Chap 1). Steinbeck makes it clear by all the verbal abuses George lashes on Lennie, that George seems to have dominion over Lennie and this authority allows George to control Lennie’s actions. George is able to dictate to Lennie any instructions or commands and Lennie simply abides to them without challenging or questioning George. “‘You know God damn well what. I want that mouse.’ Lennie reluctantly reached into his pocket” (Chap 1). With just one quick yell from George, Lennie fearfully gives his precious, soft mouse to George. This indicates to the reader the fear George has installed in Lennie which allows him to control and dictate Lennie’s actions. Another good example which Steinbeck uses to illustrate how George considers himself superior to Lennie, is through the comparison of the shooting of Candy’s dog and Lennie’s death. As George and Candy talk to each other, Candy tells George that, “‘I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog”’ (Chap 3). When Lennie flees to the meeting place where George had told him to come to in a case of any trouble, George comes to meet Lennie with the intention of killing him. He doesn’t allow the other men to kill Lennie because he considers what Candy had previously said to him about the shooting of his dog. As a result, George agrees to Candy’s belief and believes that rather than letting a “stranger” shoot Lennie, he would kill Lennie himself. This proves that George considers himself as the master and Lennie as the faithful dog, as was in the case of Candy and his old dog. Steinbeck’s use of fear and power allows George and Lennie to share a relationship where George holds authority and Lennie behaves obediently. The author creates several different relationships throughout the novel, and these individual relationships serve as the foundation for the book, which in turn gives rise to such dynamic characters as George and Lennie. Steinbeck’s depiction of the different relationships shared between the two men allows the reader to understand in depth the qualities of both George and Lennie. The two men share several different relationships, each helping the two men grow in their own way. Whether it is in the form of a parental role that helps guide Lennie along a safe path, a companionship that ensures the safety and comfort of the two men, or simply a relationship that indicates the authoritative from the passive, these relations help shape both men into the unique characters that they are.
Mice and Men,” John Steinbeck illustrates a father-son relationship, a lively friendship, and a dominant-submissive relationship between George and Lennie. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck portrays George as a fatherly figure who protects, comforts, and serves as Lennie’s conscience. As the two men meet and greet with the other ranch-hands on the farm, they come across the confrontational Curly who is eager to start a fight with Lennie.
“Lennie squirmed under the look and shifted his feet nervously. Curley stepped gingerly close to him. ‘You the new guys the old man was waitin' for?’ ‘We just come in,’ said George. ‘Let the big guy talk.’ Lennie twisted with embarrassment. George said, ‘S'pose he don't want to talk?’Curley lashed his body around. ‘By Christ, he's gotta talk when he's spoke to. What the hell are you gettin' into it for?’ ‘We travel together,’ said George coldly. ‘Oh, so it's that way.’ George was tense, and motionless. ‘Yeah, it's that way’” (Chap 3). George quickly realizes that the situation is leaning towards hostility and as soon as he sees Curly’s “look” as, “…calculating and pugnacious…” he immediately goes on the defense in order to protect Lennie from any altercation. Another incident in which George displays his paternal characteristics is when Lennie seems to have difficulty getting accustomed to the new environment. “Lennie cried out suddenly- ‘I don't like this place, George. This ain't no good place. I wanna get outa here.’ ‘We gotta keep it till we get a stake [said George]. We can't help it, Lennie. We'll get out jus' as soon as we can. I don't like it no
better than you do’” (Chap 3). George’s compassion and ability to understands how Lennie feels allows him to comforts Lennie by reminding him that they will leave this horrible place behind as soon as they get the money for what they both dream of one day owning, a ranch of their own. Not only does George protect and comfort Lennie, but because of Lennie’s mental limitations, George also serves as Lennie’s conscience, differentiating the right from wrong. Early in the novel, Steinbeck reveals to the reader that Lennie has a fetish for touching soft things. During their trip to the ranch where they are to meet their new boss, George finds Lennie hiding a dead mouse in his pocket. “‘What you got in your hand- hidin' it?’ ‘I ain't got nothin', George. Honest.’ ‘Come on, give it here.’ Lennie held his closed hand away from George's direction. ‘It's on'y a mouse, George.’ ‘I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along," said Lennie’” (Chap 1). Lennie’s childish behavior leads George to install rules and guidelines on Lennie so that he may better understand which actions are suited for specific situations. Visiting the new boss and having a dead mouse in Lennie’s pocket would definitely, if not certainly, reduce their chances of working on the ranch. Steinbeck illustrates George’s parenting skills which give way to George and Lennie’s unique father and son relationship; this allows the two men to be able to comfort, and depend on one another. Steinbeck composes a unique companionship between George and Lennie by allowing George to feel responsible for Lennie’s welfare, and the love that the two men share for one another. Even though George reiterates to Lennie that he despises having him in his presences, he admits to Slim the true reason why he cares for and looks after Lennie. "‘I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with 'im. Used to play jokes on 'im 'cause he was too dumb to take care of 'imself… I had fun… Why he'd do any damn thing I tol' him…He never got mad about it, neither. I've beat the hell outa him…but he never lifted a finger against me.’ One day a bunch of guys was standin' around up on the Sacramento River... I turns to Lennie and says, 'Jump in.' An' he jumps. Couldn't swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get him. An' he was so damn nice to me for pullin' him out… Well, I ain't done nothing like that no more’” (Chap 3). George feels guilty for all the times he took advantage of Lennie’s mental disability and treated him unfairly, consequently he vows that he will always be there for Lennie and stick alongside him like a good friend. One incident, in which Steinbeck illustrates the love the two me share for one another, is when George scolds Lennie and tells him that his life would be so much better off without him, and Lennie replies by saying he would run away and leave George to live his life happily. “‘When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace.’ Lennie still knelt. He looked off into the darkness across the river. ‘George, you want I should go away and leave you alone?’…George looked quickly and searchingly at him. ‘I been mean, ain't I?’ ‘If you don' want me I can go off in the hills an' find a cave. I can go away any time.’ ‘No- look! I was jus' foolin', Lennie. 'Cause I want you to stay with me. Trouble with mice is you always kill 'em.’ He paused. ‘Tell you what I'll do, Lennie. First chance I get I'll give you a pup’” (Chap 1). Lennie’s response quickly melts George’s anger and he realizes Lennie’s innocence and quickly apologizes for getting angry with him. Steinbeck allows these two men to share this unique companionship in which guilt and love bind this relationship very tightly and this union allows the two men to rely on one another and have a strong friendship. Another unique relationship between the two men that is made visible throughout the book is a dominant-submissive relationship. This type of relationship is exemplified through verbal abuse, commands from George to Lennie, and sheer dominance made visible by the killing of Lennie. Throughout the book, George is continuously harassing Lennie with criticism and defamation. “Lennie looked timidly over to him. ‘George?’ ‘Yeah, what ya want?’ ‘Where we goin', George?’ The little man jerked down the brim of his hat and scowled over at Lennie. ‘So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you're a crazy bastard!’” (Chap 1). Steinbeck makes it clear by all the verbal abuses George lashes on Lennie, that George seems to have dominion over Lennie and this authority allows George to control Lennie’s actions. George is able to dictate to Lennie any instructions or commands and Lennie simply abides to them without challenging or questioning George. “‘You know God damn well what. I want that mouse.’ Lennie reluctantly reached into his pocket” (Chap 1). With just one quick yell from George, Lennie fearfully gives his precious, soft mouse to George. This indicates to the reader the fear George has installed in Lennie which allows him to control and dictate Lennie’s actions. Another good example which Steinbeck uses to illustrate how George considers himself superior to Lennie, is through the comparison of the shooting of Candy’s dog and Lennie’s death. As George and Candy talk to each other, Candy tells George that, “‘I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog”’ (Chap 3). When Lennie flees to the meeting place where George had told him to come to in a case of any trouble, George comes to meet Lennie with the intention of killing him. He doesn’t allow the other men to kill Lennie because he considers what Candy had previously said to him about the shooting of his dog. As a result, George agrees to Candy’s belief and believes that rather than letting a “stranger” shoot Lennie, he would kill Lennie himself. This proves that George considers himself as the master and Lennie as the faithful dog, as was in the case of Candy and his old dog. Steinbeck’s use of fear and power allows George and Lennie to share a relationship where George holds authority and Lennie behaves obediently. The author creates several different relationships throughout the novel, and these individual relationships serve as the foundation for the book, which in turn gives rise to such dynamic characters as George and Lennie. Steinbeck’s depiction of the different relationships shared between the two men allows the reader to understand in depth the qualities of both George and Lennie. The two men share several different relationships, each helping the two men grow in their own way. Whether it is in the form of a parental role that helps guide Lennie along a safe path, a companionship that ensures the safety and comfort of the two men, or simply a relationship that indicates the authoritative from the passive, these relations help shape both men into the unique characters that they are.