Tragic Hero In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
Of Mice and Men
What does it take to be a tragic hero? “A tragic hero is defined as a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat,” (dictionary.com). The character that I think fits this category is George Milton, a migrant farm worker who travels around to earn some money with his friend Lennie Small. Taking care of Lennie is not easy because he is mentally ill and he gets in trouble often. George took the responsibility to take care of him for his Aunt Clara even though he knew it would put his future at risk.
George is a hardworking migrant worker who is trying to earn some money to own a ranch that he and Lennie dream about. Without Lenni it would be possible for George toalready have bought a farm. Lennie just decelerates this by always causing trouble and being fired. Since Lennie is mentally ill, George has to take careof him. However, with his disability and causing trouble, it makes it hard for George and Lennie to keep a stable job. For example, in the book George says, “You get in trouble. You do bad things and i got to get you out,” (Steinbeck 11). To keep Lennie out of trouble, George is always reminding him that they won’t be able to accomplish their dream of owning a ranch …show more content…
and he won’t be able to tend the rabbits if he gets into any trouble. Most people wouldn’t go out of their way to help someone like Lennie, and keep him safe. Although George is a noble man for helping Lennie, there are also a big mistake George caused.
Most people admire George for helping Lennie no matter how much it affects his life because they are best friends. George always has Lennie and Lennie always has George. Even though George is taking responsibilityfor helping Lennie, he made a huge mistake trying to integrate him into society. Since the setting of the novel is during the Great Depression time, society didn’t understand the mind of the mentally ill. Instead of trying to understand the mind, they took them into lab experiments and used them as lab rats. George didn’t want this to happen to Lennie, he kept him by his side on the road and in jobs on the ranch. George is risky for helping Lennie because they are always migrating due to Lennie causing trouble. Most of the time Lennie got into trouble because he didn’t know any better, and wasn’t his fault more than anyone else’s. “ That ranch we’re goin’ to is right down there about a quarter mile. We’re gonna go in an’ see the boss. Now, look- I’ll give him the work tickets, but you ain’t gonna say a word. You jus’ stand there and don’t say nothing. If he finds outwhat a crazy bastard you are, we won’t get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we’re set. Ya got that?” (Steinbeck 6). Lennie gets into trouble when he doesn’t know his own strength and accidentally kills the boss’ daughter-in-law. Even though George kills Lennie at the end of the book, it was for the better.
I would not consider George as a murderer, but rather as a tragic hero.
George thought it would be the best for Lennie to be killed by him than by Curley. If Curley would have killed him, he would have made it a slow and painful death. George realizes his failed attempt to take Lennie into the real world after it was too late. Once Lennie killed Curly’s wife, he realizes and regrets the mistake he had made. George had to commit a horrible act upon his friend out of love. Lennie's death represents manythings.It represents George's release into freedom and responsibility over Lennie. George killing Lennie was better for him and society because now he won't be a threat and he was killed out of
love.
George is tragic hero in a strange way: the heroic deed he does in his life is that he kills his best friend. George prevents Lennie from getting into even more trouble. The murder also shows that George realizes his great flaw because Lennie is just too big a threat for society. He also kills his own dream of starting a farm. He slowed the process of owning the ranch because ithout Lennie it will not be possible to earn enough money. George's big flaw in life is living with Lennie,which has made his life a struggle, and prevents him from achieving what he wants.
What does it take to be a tragic hero? “A tragic hero is defined as a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat,” (dictionary.com). The character that I think fits this category is George Milton, a migrant farm worker who travels around to earn some money with his friend Lennie Small. Taking care of Lennie is not easy because he is mentally ill and he gets in trouble often. George took the responsibility to take care of him for his Aunt Clara even though he knew it would put his future at risk.
George is a hardworking migrant worker who is trying to earn some money to own a ranch that he and Lennie dream about. Without Lenni it would be possible for George toalready have bought a farm. Lennie just decelerates this by always causing trouble and being fired. Since Lennie is mentally ill, George has to take careof him. However, with his disability and causing trouble, it makes it hard for George and Lennie to keep a stable job. For example, in the book George says, “You get in trouble. You do bad things and i got to get you out,” (Steinbeck 11). To keep Lennie out of trouble, George is always reminding him that they won’t be able to accomplish their dream of owning a ranch …show more content…
and he won’t be able to tend the rabbits if he gets into any trouble. Most people wouldn’t go out of their way to help someone like Lennie, and keep him safe. Although George is a noble man for helping Lennie, there are also a big mistake George caused.
Most people admire George for helping Lennie no matter how much it affects his life because they are best friends. George always has Lennie and Lennie always has George. Even though George is taking responsibilityfor helping Lennie, he made a huge mistake trying to integrate him into society. Since the setting of the novel is during the Great Depression time, society didn’t understand the mind of the mentally ill. Instead of trying to understand the mind, they took them into lab experiments and used them as lab rats. George didn’t want this to happen to Lennie, he kept him by his side on the road and in jobs on the ranch. George is risky for helping Lennie because they are always migrating due to Lennie causing trouble. Most of the time Lennie got into trouble because he didn’t know any better, and wasn’t his fault more than anyone else’s. “ That ranch we’re goin’ to is right down there about a quarter mile. We’re gonna go in an’ see the boss. Now, look- I’ll give him the work tickets, but you ain’t gonna say a word. You jus’ stand there and don’t say nothing. If he finds outwhat a crazy bastard you are, we won’t get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we’re set. Ya got that?” (Steinbeck 6). Lennie gets into trouble when he doesn’t know his own strength and accidentally kills the boss’ daughter-in-law. Even though George kills Lennie at the end of the book, it was for the better.
I would not consider George as a murderer, but rather as a tragic hero.
George thought it would be the best for Lennie to be killed by him than by Curley. If Curley would have killed him, he would have made it a slow and painful death. George realizes his failed attempt to take Lennie into the real world after it was too late. Once Lennie killed Curly’s wife, he realizes and regrets the mistake he had made. George had to commit a horrible act upon his friend out of love. Lennie's death represents manythings.It represents George's release into freedom and responsibility over Lennie. George killing Lennie was better for him and society because now he won't be a threat and he was killed out of
love.
George is tragic hero in a strange way: the heroic deed he does in his life is that he kills his best friend. George prevents Lennie from getting into even more trouble. The murder also shows that George realizes his great flaw because Lennie is just too big a threat for society. He also kills his own dream of starting a farm. He slowed the process of owning the ranch because ithout Lennie it will not be possible to earn enough money. George's big flaw in life is living with Lennie,which has made his life a struggle, and prevents him from achieving what he wants.