Friendship In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
Friendship There exist two kinds of friendship – the good and the bad. A bad friendship being one which involves someone who does not truly care for the other, feels indifferent towards the friend, and lacks showing any kind of emotion or compassion towards the other friend. Moreover, this type of friendship would ultimately burn out. By contrast, a good friendship would be someone who honestly cares, has the best intentions for the other, and knows about the imperfections and flaws of their friend yet continues to stay with them. In John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men, one can find an example of a good type of friendship. In the story, one will find out that the characters, Lennie and George, have been long-time friends who have gone
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through good and bad times. After reading the novella, I conclude that George was overall a good friend even though George killed his own friend in the story.
In the book, George generally cares about Lennie and his well-being. We find out in the story that both characters have been friends for a long time, and in the process of their friendship, George knows there is something odd about Lennie. In other words, he knows that Lennie is not normal and that he is basically a man child, yet he continues to stick around and essentially takes care of him. Towards the end of section 1, after George had previously scolded Lennie for all his wrong-doing, he regrets it and repeatedly says to Lennie that he wants him to stay with him (Steinbeck 13). This act shows that George is willing to take care of him and that he wants Lennie’s company. Similarly, this is what a true friend would do to the other after a dispute or fight.
Another reason that supports George being a good friend is not only does he talk good about him, but he also decides what is best for him (Steinbeck 39). Although Lennie’s mental intelligence is not very great, his potential strength is. George is very familiar with this and worries he might unintentionally hurt somebody, but when he was getting beat up by a wrestler named Curley, George commends Lennie to defend himself – for Lennie only does what he is told by George (Steinbeck 63). After this incident, George speaks for Lennie saying he never means to cause harm nor anything wrong – he even defends Lennie throughout every bad situation (Steinbeck 39, 65, 95). All in all, what his actions reflect about him is proving that he is a good friend. It is more convenient and better when there is a friend who looks out and has their back for the other in times of troubles; this strengthens the friendship bonding and emotions between anybody. Furthermore, when a friend worries about the other, this shows that they sincerely care and only want the best for them.
It is true that at the end of the book George kills Lennie (Steinbeck 106).
Of course, one will argue that George was never a good friend due to the fact that he shot his own best friend, and that it was not an act of a true, good friend. There are times when people come across a situation in their life in which they have to make a very tough decision in which effects their loved ones, but they do it for the best intentions. Likewise, George was one of these people who had to face a difficult choice in which he could end Lennie’s life, he even had second thoughts about it (Steinbeck 106). Although there existed alternative ways to solve the situation that the characters were going through, in George’s mind, he did it for the good of Lennie. Knowing that Lennie had unintentionally just killed a woman and that a mob of the ranchers were going after him, George thought it was better to end his life (Steinbeck 92, 96-98). In other words, he did him the favor of saving him from the pain and suffering that could have been brought to him by the men. Even if they ran away from the ranch and changed their identities, they cannot keep running away from all the things Lennie keeps on messing up; it would have only gotten to a point in which it could have been worse and eventually they would have been caught at some point in their lives. Additionally, I find that based on the circumstances that they found themselves in, that it would have only
exacerbated.
To summarize, George has always been a true, good friend to Lennie. He was the only friend Lennie had that looked out for him throughout every problem and had enough patience to do so. He never killed him because he was tired of him, nor any other reason that contradicts him for being a good companion, otherwise why did he continue to go on with his friendship with Lennie. A true friendship involves mutual trust and support between friends, and that is what essentially George did overall. Not once did George show hatred nor the need to kill Lennie before the incident of the killing of the woman. It was not until after the incident when George finally decided to end Lennie’s existence because he would rather let him die short and to the point instead of the unnecessary torture that could have been followed by the angry mob of ranchers. There is no book that states what a good friendship truly is. No one would want their best friend, the one that you trusted, to kill you, but no one would want their best friend to suffer as well.
through good and bad times. After reading the novella, I conclude that George was overall a good friend even though George killed his own friend in the story.
In the book, George generally cares about Lennie and his well-being. We find out in the story that both characters have been friends for a long time, and in the process of their friendship, George knows there is something odd about Lennie. In other words, he knows that Lennie is not normal and that he is basically a man child, yet he continues to stick around and essentially takes care of him. Towards the end of section 1, after George had previously scolded Lennie for all his wrong-doing, he regrets it and repeatedly says to Lennie that he wants him to stay with him (Steinbeck 13). This act shows that George is willing to take care of him and that he wants Lennie’s company. Similarly, this is what a true friend would do to the other after a dispute or fight.
Another reason that supports George being a good friend is not only does he talk good about him, but he also decides what is best for him (Steinbeck 39). Although Lennie’s mental intelligence is not very great, his potential strength is. George is very familiar with this and worries he might unintentionally hurt somebody, but when he was getting beat up by a wrestler named Curley, George commends Lennie to defend himself – for Lennie only does what he is told by George (Steinbeck 63). After this incident, George speaks for Lennie saying he never means to cause harm nor anything wrong – he even defends Lennie throughout every bad situation (Steinbeck 39, 65, 95). All in all, what his actions reflect about him is proving that he is a good friend. It is more convenient and better when there is a friend who looks out and has their back for the other in times of troubles; this strengthens the friendship bonding and emotions between anybody. Furthermore, when a friend worries about the other, this shows that they sincerely care and only want the best for them.
It is true that at the end of the book George kills Lennie (Steinbeck 106).
Of course, one will argue that George was never a good friend due to the fact that he shot his own best friend, and that it was not an act of a true, good friend. There are times when people come across a situation in their life in which they have to make a very tough decision in which effects their loved ones, but they do it for the best intentions. Likewise, George was one of these people who had to face a difficult choice in which he could end Lennie’s life, he even had second thoughts about it (Steinbeck 106). Although there existed alternative ways to solve the situation that the characters were going through, in George’s mind, he did it for the good of Lennie. Knowing that Lennie had unintentionally just killed a woman and that a mob of the ranchers were going after him, George thought it was better to end his life (Steinbeck 92, 96-98). In other words, he did him the favor of saving him from the pain and suffering that could have been brought to him by the men. Even if they ran away from the ranch and changed their identities, they cannot keep running away from all the things Lennie keeps on messing up; it would have only gotten to a point in which it could have been worse and eventually they would have been caught at some point in their lives. Additionally, I find that based on the circumstances that they found themselves in, that it would have only
exacerbated.
To summarize, George has always been a true, good friend to Lennie. He was the only friend Lennie had that looked out for him throughout every problem and had enough patience to do so. He never killed him because he was tired of him, nor any other reason that contradicts him for being a good companion, otherwise why did he continue to go on with his friendship with Lennie. A true friendship involves mutual trust and support between friends, and that is what essentially George did overall. Not once did George show hatred nor the need to kill Lennie before the incident of the killing of the woman. It was not until after the incident when George finally decided to end Lennie’s existence because he would rather let him die short and to the point instead of the unnecessary torture that could have been followed by the angry mob of ranchers. There is no book that states what a good friendship truly is. No one would want their best friend, the one that you trusted, to kill you, but no one would want their best friend to suffer as well.