True Friendship In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Of Mice and Men Analytical Essay
Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and Pooh Bear and Piglet are all pairs of true friends. They are together, helping and caring for each other in both fun and easy times, along with hard and painful times. A true friend is one’s supporter, sidekick, and other half. A true friend is someone who brings the other back up when they’re down and is always there for them to count on. John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, tells the story of two true friends. George and Lennie have traveled together for quite some time. George is a small, lean, quick-witted man who travels with, and cares for Lennie. Lennie is a large, clumsy, childlike migrant worker. George is a true friend to Lennie because he constantly has Lennie’s
best interest in mind, defends him to the best of his ability and reassures the togetherness between the two of them.
Whether making decisions or advising Lennie what he should do, George always has in mind what is best for Lennie because he is a true friend.
For example, George helps Lennie secure and keep a job. George allows Lennie to travel with him and work by his side. The two arrive at a ranch for employment, and George speaks on Lennie’s behalf to earn Lennie and himself a job. When talking to the boss about Lennie, George states, “…He’s sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull” (Steinbeck 22). George speaks for Lennie in this instance and provides an image of a strong, well-suited worker for the ranch. As a true friend, George helps earn Lennie opportunities for work and assists him in keeping them. Moreover, no matter how complex a situation is, George has Lennie’s best interest in mind and this is exactly what George is thinking of when he shoots Lennie at the end of the novel. The situation is a difficult one. Devotion to the overall well-being of Lennie is revealed here because George and Lennie have traveled together as far back as anyone knows and they are each other’s other half. “‘Never you mind,’ said Slim. ‘A guy got to sometimes’” (107). Slim explains that a man has to make tough decisions for the overall wellbeing of oneself and loved ones. Lennie and George are continuously on the run.
The accusations surrounding Lennie force George to make a decision to leave Weed. Swiftly, they run from their current ranch as a result of another incident caused by Lennie. On the ranch, Curley’s Wife, the boss’s son’s wife, is murdered accidently by Lennie. Lennie is harshly playful and in this instance, a death occurred. George realizes that he could no longer protect Lennie from himself and the only humane thing left to do is to end Lennie’s life. George knows that the accidental murder Lennie committed will lead to Lennie’s ultimate death. The only control that remains with George is how his dear friend will die. Overall, George exhibits the characteristics of a true friend because he overlooks his own needs and keeps in mind what is best for his friend. Another way George has Lennie’s best interest in mind is the way he defends Lennie in tough situations.
George standing up for Lennie in tough situations is an example of how George’s true friendship with Lennie is shown. For instance, when George is talking to Slim, who is known as the ‘prince of the ranch’, Slim makes a comment about Lennie being a ‘cuckoo’. With that, George replies:
‘He ain’t no cuckoo,’ said George. ‘He’s dumb as hell, but he ain’t crazy. An’ I ain’t so bright neither, or I wouldn’t be buckin’ barley for my fifty and found. If I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart, I’d have my own little place, an’ I’d be bringin’ in my own crops, ‘stead of doin’ all the work and not getting what comes up outta the ground’ (39).
George is self-deprecating in this instance in an effort to defend Lennie. He wants Lennie to be acknowledged positively and to receive the credit he deserves for being such a hard worker. George is plainly telling the truth to stand up for his friend. In another conversation with Slim, George is faced with a second situation to defend his friend. After George tells Slim the story about being chased out of Weed because Lennie had grabbed the woman’s dress and wouldn’t let go, he adds, “‘’Course he ain’t [mean], and he’ll do any damn thing I—’” (42). George is concise and direct with this statement. He addresses the point in an undeviating manner because it is what it is. If anyone were to ever accuse Lennie of something unjustified, George is, and always will be the first one to bolster his companion quickly. He hurries to tell Slim that Lennie is really a nice guy and is just perceived not to be because of his size. George always stands up for Lennie no matter how challenging the situation.
Not only will George stand up for Lennie, he constantly reassures Lennie that they will always have each other and that he will remain a true friend to Lennie at all times. Regardless of the number of arguments George and Lennie get in, George still says, “‘I want you to stay with me, Lennie’” (13). The two of them can battle all they want, but at the end of the day George still wants Lennie to stay with him and travel with him. Also, George illustrates to Lennie the hopefulness they have together when he says, “‘Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place…. With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us’” (13-14). Though the road ahead is hazy, the companionship they have is touching and real. The way George expresses himself to Lennie in this instance could be considered a model for true friendship. He keeps the road ahead viewed as an optimistic place for Lennie. With that, Lennie is then able to reply to George’s idea of a bright future with, “‘An’ why? Because…because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why’” (14). George is able to convey such a bright future of fellowship with Lennie that Lennie is able to see that potential himself and hold that image strongly in his mind. It is important for Lennie to have this reassurance because of his mental instability. Friendship becomes a strong importance in Lennie’s mind and helps develop a secure environment for him to live in. In conclusion, the vision of togetherness George provides for Lennie exhibits an illustration of true friendship.
In conclusion, George proves that he is a true friend to Lennie. George has Lennie’s best interest in mind at all times. Also, as a true friend, defends Lennie to the best of his ability. Finally, he emphasizes the unique companionship that the two of them share. Seeing George exhibit the characteristics of a true friend adds to one’s interpretation of the novel because in the end, when Lennie is shot, it helps the reader truly understand the reasoning and George’s thought behind the action. George shoots Lennie out of love and care for his friend and the unselfish act exhibits strength and compassion. If George hadn’t shot Lennie, he could be seen as self-centered and just thinking purely about his personal relationships rather than a greater outlook of how Lennie could detriment others. Throughout the novel, George clearly demonstrates that he has the characteristics of a true friend and is a true friend to Lennie.