Of Mice And Men: George And Lennie's Interaction

Question: What does the reader learn about the characters of George and Lennie and the way they interact with each other?
Throughout Steinbeck’s novel, there’s a lot to learn about the characteristics of the two leading protagonists – George and Lennie. During their days of migrating and living on the ranch, their personas and the way they interact with one another have been made explicit to the reader; giving the reader justified interpretations of the conduct in their companionship and of them as individuals.
Whilst reading the novel, the character of Lennie appeared to be particularly intriguing. His almighty frame juxtaposes his childlike mentality; which leads the reader to decipher that Lennie is extremely premature for his age and build. Lennie begins indicating childlike behaviours when he attempts to hide the mouse from George on the way to the ranch. George’s tenacious instincts urge him to continuously probe Lennie as to what he had in his hand. Lennie replied by expressing to George: "I could pet it with my thumb while we walked along," The word “pet” in this case suggests that it’s ordinary to harbour and nurture a mouse; taking into account that mice usually connote squalid and unsanitary conditions. Moreover, in that era it’s more likely that those alleged conditions were seen as habitual to migrant workers, or even less fortunate families who were
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