Friendship In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

In English class we recently read Of Mice and Men. I had read it before, but that that was a few years ago, and I didn’t really understand it then. I was surprised to learn that I actually like the book, and looked forward to reading it. This essay is about friendships and the ways in which Steinbeck illustrates them in his novel. This is a very traditional five-paragraph essay, and I personally like my creative writing better, but. . . Enjoy!

Friendships Throughout Time

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same” –Anonymous. Friends are truly so important in our lives. This has been true all throughout history, although sometimes friendships were encouraged more than others. The conditions during the Great Depression simultaneously fostered and discouraged friendships. John
Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men clearly illustrates the natures of friendship during the Great Depression. The author does an exemplary job of showing the strength of friendship, the lack of friendship, and the prevention of friendship and how they were present each and every day in the lives of the people during the Great Depression.

In special circumstances, the Great Depression fostered commitments. “Guys. . . they ain’t got nothing to look ahead to,” was a typical attitude in Of Mice and Men. “But not us. . . because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why,” (p.14). Lennie’s delightful proclamation sums up the friendship between the two. John Steinbeck gave example after example of them sticking up for each other. George gave Lennie advice, “Look Lennie. You try to keep away from him, will you? Don’t never speak to him. . . will you do that Lennie?” (p.29). George was looking out for Lennie again and again, running away to keep him safe, protecting him, talking for him, and making sure he was okay. Lennie really cared about George and would have done anything to make sure he was safe, “Who hurt George?” he demanded. . . “Ain’t nobody goin to talk no hurt to George” (p.72). Lennie might not have known much, but he had a big heart and would have done anything to protect what he loved, like George. The times during the Great Depression might have been tough, but those times created strong bonds of friendship that could last forever.

John Steinbeck illustrated the lack of friendship. Slim captured this thought with “Funny how you an’ him string along together.
. . I hardly never seen two guys travel together” (p.39). Nowadays it is rare to find someone traveling by themselves, so when Slim said this, the lack of friendship became immediately apparent. The thought that it would be surprising to find two people traveling together definitely is a sad thought, especially when considering, “I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. . . After a long time they get mean” (p.40). To have no company for such a long time that one would turn mean is a very sobering thought. Slim’s comment and George’s response show that friendships really weren’t very common during the Great Depression. It was also really tough for racial or religious minorities. Crooks had no friends, “there wasn’t another colored family for miles around. And now there ain’t a colored man on this ranch” (p.69). He knew he couldn’t be friends with white people and he was such a minority that there just weren’t people that he could have been friends with. The absence of friendship was a big theme in Of Mice and
Men.

The lack of friendship was one thing, but the Great Depression also prevented friendships. It says a lot when a mans best friend was his dog, “. . . had him since he was a pup” (p.44). Candy was a perfectly nice man, friendly to everyone and didn’t seem to get in anyone’s way. There was no reason he shouldn’t naturally have had plenty of friends. Unfortunately, people were so accustomed to going to a job for just a little bit and then moving on. It was too hard to risk getting attached, just for that person to move on a few months later. Candy held on to his dog because he knew the dog would always be there for him. The group of workers were friendly, but they weren’t super close. In fact, even when they knew how Candy felt about his dog, and how he would have felt if he was shot, they still pressured him to let Carlson kill the dog. “Carl’s right, Candy. That dog ain’t no good to himself” (p.45). Slim was the unofficial leader, and when he said that, the peer pressure became too much, and Candy caved. If circumstances had not prevented it, Candy might have had a friend who would could have stood up for him.

Overall, the Great Depression was hard for everyone. It was tough on families, it was tough on businesses, and it took a toll on friendships. Friendships, whether you have one or not, are a big part of everyone’s life. As Crooks said so accurately, “it’s just bein’ with another guy. That’s all” (p.69). As one is reading Of Mice and Men, one might notice a point John Steinbeck made. It is not the things you have, or places where you are, but the people with whom you are with, that matter. In the end, a thought for everyone is, how can we, as a people, ensure that friendships are always encouraged, seldom lacking, and never prevented?