Brotherhood In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

“The greatest gift of life is friendship,” (Hubert H. Humphrey) and George and Lennie both receive that through each other. This brotherhood is essential to their achievements as well as their failures throughout Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” the pairing of George and Lennie lets the reader see George Milton as smart, the leader, a hero. Linnie Small comes off as being mentally handicapped, and hard working, and the troublemaker. An odd pairing but one that is necessary and one that is essential to the story’s plot.
When George and Lennie are first introduced they have a conversation about a dream of owning their own ranch. As well as, stereotyping that “ranchers, are the the loneliest guys in the world.” and “don't belong,” (ch. 1;13) anywhere. This is not the case for George and Lennie however because they have each other and they will always belong. This belief is later confirmed when Slim and George talked about the weird pairing and how Slime has “Never seen two guys travel together.” (ch 3;39) The brotherhood that came to be through Lennie’s aunt Clara's death. After her death, George used Lennie for his entertainment, after time past George became more of his protector and leader. “he ain’t no cuckoo,”
He remembered what Candy said about his dog “I oughtta of shot that dog myself.” so George stole Carlson’s gun and did what he had to do. Finding Lennie where the were first introduced “paradise” where once again George and Lennie talk about their dream and George making it clear that he’s never mad at Lennie. Once again George and Lennie talk about how “ranchers, are the the loneliest guys in the world,” “but not us,” because they have each other and that friendship trumps everything either one could ever do. That being said George knows it was either going to be him or Curley so “(George) pulled the