The Relationship Between Lennie In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
In chapter one of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men George is protective over Lennie, which means that George cares for him. In a conversation that George and Lennie have, Lennie questions if he should stay with George. George responded by saying “‘Where the hell would you go?’” (Steinbeck 12). Even though George sounds a little rude or harsh to Lennie, he really does not want Lennie to leave him. George also says “‘I was jus’ foolin’, Lennie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me.” (13). George realizes that he was being mean to Lennie, even though he was joking, and he wants Lennie to know that George still likes him and wants him to stay. The way George treats Lennie makes me think that George is protective over him and that George really does
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care for Lennie. George is protective over Lennie, which means that George cares for him, almost as if George was related to Lennie in some way, although some may argue with that statement.
One may argue that George is rude and mean to Lennie, which a relative wouldn’t treat their family that way. In chapter one Lennie says, “‘You want I should go away and leave you alone?’” (12) which could be used to say that George does not like Lennie and is not a family member to Lennie. George can also be very protective over Lennie and can be kind to him. George said “‘I been mean ain’t I?’” (12). That shows that George knows that he has not been treating Lennie like he should but he figures out that he was wrong and he needs to change. In chapter two George protects Lennie from the boss by saying “‘He's my … cousin.’” (22). Before George and Lennie met the boss, George told Lennie to not say a word and to let him to all the talking because when Lennie talks he sometimes says or does the wrong things. When the three of them were talking the boss kept trying to get Lennie to speak to him but George kept answering for him. The boss started to get angry at them and started to question them and accuse them so George had to lie to protect Lennie so that they would not get in trouble. If George really didn't care for Lennie he wouldn't have protected him from thee boss. Yes, George can be harsh on Lennie but everyone has those days. If someone loves you, they would protect you no matter what you
did. In this book George usually finds it hard to open up to people, but he was able to open up to Slim easily. Slim is another person who works on the farm with Lennie and George. After George ranted to Slim about how he felt and dreamed about, Steinbeck made sure to write “He wanted to talk. Slim neither encouraged nor discouraged him.” (39). George trusts Slim because if he did not trust him he wouldn't have wanted to keep telling Slim all about himself. In this conversation George goes more in depth, explaining more about his life and how he met Lennie. “Him and me was both born in Auburn. … When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’.’” George was telling Slim (40). George is telling Slim important personal information which seems very different than how he was acting in the first two chapters. George might be changing for the better now. Maybe George is learning to open up to people.
care for Lennie. George is protective over Lennie, which means that George cares for him, almost as if George was related to Lennie in some way, although some may argue with that statement.
One may argue that George is rude and mean to Lennie, which a relative wouldn’t treat their family that way. In chapter one Lennie says, “‘You want I should go away and leave you alone?’” (12) which could be used to say that George does not like Lennie and is not a family member to Lennie. George can also be very protective over Lennie and can be kind to him. George said “‘I been mean ain’t I?’” (12). That shows that George knows that he has not been treating Lennie like he should but he figures out that he was wrong and he needs to change. In chapter two George protects Lennie from the boss by saying “‘He's my … cousin.’” (22). Before George and Lennie met the boss, George told Lennie to not say a word and to let him to all the talking because when Lennie talks he sometimes says or does the wrong things. When the three of them were talking the boss kept trying to get Lennie to speak to him but George kept answering for him. The boss started to get angry at them and started to question them and accuse them so George had to lie to protect Lennie so that they would not get in trouble. If George really didn't care for Lennie he wouldn't have protected him from thee boss. Yes, George can be harsh on Lennie but everyone has those days. If someone loves you, they would protect you no matter what you
did. In this book George usually finds it hard to open up to people, but he was able to open up to Slim easily. Slim is another person who works on the farm with Lennie and George. After George ranted to Slim about how he felt and dreamed about, Steinbeck made sure to write “He wanted to talk. Slim neither encouraged nor discouraged him.” (39). George trusts Slim because if he did not trust him he wouldn't have wanted to keep telling Slim all about himself. In this conversation George goes more in depth, explaining more about his life and how he met Lennie. “Him and me was both born in Auburn. … When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’.’” George was telling Slim (40). George is telling Slim important personal information which seems very different than how he was acting in the first two chapters. George might be changing for the better now. Maybe George is learning to open up to people.