Q21
The novel, "Of Mice of Men" portrays the deep relationship of George and Lennie. As the book progresses, the reader plunges deeper into their relationship. The curiosity of George and Lennie friendship is intriguing for the reader and is very thought-provoking for the reader as it very complex and full of twists and turns. Undoubtedly, George has come to like Lennie and feels a sense of duty and responsibility towards him. Lennie needs George, but it is equally true that George needs Lennie as well. George was also a harsh, mean and derogatory to Lennie, however, it is also very evident that George never left Lennie despite his life would have mean much easier without him. Lennie is George's hardship, but George loves him regardless.
Since the death of Lennie's Aunt Clara, George took it upon himself to take responsibility of him and his special needs by finding him jobs, feeding him, and making sure he is safe. Their mutual dependence on one another is what keeps George and Lennie together. Lennie stays with George because he has no other option. His only family,
When evaluating the relationship of George and Lennie, keep in mind the influential external factors. The setting takes place during the time of the Great Depression and the Dust bowl. Lennie and George are both migrant workers and depend on farm work for money at a time when America's economy was the weakest and its farms were struggling to keep animals and crops alive. In addition, the Unites States is filled with intense prejudice towards races, sexes, and outcasts. There are a number of relationship pairs to evaluate throughout the story so keep the setting complications in mind.
Through figurative language and characterization used in chapter one, Steinbeck reveals the characteristics of both George and Lennie. Lennie has a mental disability and is a regular burden on George; he has lost jobs because of his inability to control his strength and is regularly badgering George with questions. Because of his strength, however, Lennie is able to impress farm owners who desire capable physical laborers. On the other hand, George has the wit and instinct to navigate from farm to farm and find new areas to work.
While George sacrifices job stability and independence, he gains companionship at a time when the rest of world is indifferent to him. Likewise, Lennie sacrifices some personal dignity (George regularly casts crude, demeaning remarks on Lennie) and gains a protector, provider, and friend.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
The relationship between george and lennie had their ups and downs, Lennie’s problems would always seem to get them in trouble. Lennie wasn’t the smartest in the world so he often needed help with his…
- 500 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
George and Lennie have a strong relationship because they both continue to stay with each other. George shows that he is willing to continue to stay with Lennie when he tells him a future plan. George tells Lennie that they…
- 611 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Steinbeck uses many techniques to present the characters of Lennie and George in ‘Of Mice and Men’. This in turn then reveals many insights into what may happen to the two characters as the novel progresses. The reader can tell lots about Lennie through the description of his character’s physical looks and actions ‘opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face.’…
- 498 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck tells the story of two best friends living life on the run, struggling to keep a steady job working as ranch hands. George and Lennie are faced with many obstacles throughout the course of this book, beginning with Lennie and his slow mindedness, George is always side by side with Lennie, practically holding his hand to coach him through life. The story begins with the two men running away from Weed, the ranch they were previously employed at; we later find that George and Lennie had to flee after Lennie had touched a ladies dress and made her feel uncomfortable. Upon arrival at the new ranch, George had told Lennie to stay away from Curley’s wife, Lennie disobeyed George and similar trouble has followed them.…
- 628 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Although Steinbeck’s insistent foreshadowing of these characteristics makes Lennie a rather simple character, Lennie’s simplicity is essential to Steinbeck’s idea of the novel. Since the tragedy depends upon the outcome seeming to be expected, we as the reader must know from the start that Lennie is doomed, and must be sympathetic to him. Steinbeck achieves these two feats by creating a character who earns the reader’s sympathy because of his utter helplessness in the face of the events that unfold. Lennie is totally defenceless, he cannot avoid the dangers presented by Curley, Curley’s wife, or the world at large, ‘Curley’s fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it.’ Representing his tragic flaw this extract clearly shows that Lennie has no control over his strength which is making the ending more foreseeable. But he is a character whom Steinbeck sets up for disaster, a character whose innocence only seems to ensure his inevitable destruction.…
- 696 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
George is a sympathetic, companionable and a very supportive man who had promised Lennie’s aunt Clara that he would look after Lennie before she died.…
- 1115 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Opener - The relationship between George and Lennie is very close throughout the book. Of mice and men is set in the 1930s depression years in America. This means that their relationship was under a lot of strain. It was unusual in those times to be able to sustain friendships because life was all about living for the moment after America's great loss.…
- 969 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Lennie is mentally disabled and so always ‘does bad things’, because of this, he constantly depends on George to protect him and get him out of trouble. For example, in Weed, Lennie constantly ‘wants to touch ever’thing he sees’ and this causes him to rip a girl’s dress. Soon, Lennie is accused of rape and only with the help of George is he able to escape imprisonment or maybe even death. Lennie also requires George for simple day to day needs. George helps to keep Lennie in good health, making sure that what he eats and drinks are safe and clean, ‘Lennie for God’ sakes don’t drink so much, I ain’t sure tha’s clean water’. In their relationship, George does almost all the talking to other people as Lennie never really understands what is going on and is not very smart. This is shown when George and Lennie are talking to the boss and George tells Lennie to ‘not say a word’. Without George, Lennie would never have any employment and would not live long. Lastly, George is there for Lennie as a friend and companion. George begins to spend time with him because of a promise to Aunt Clara but a friendship soon grows from that. We know that George really does care for Lennie as in the conclusion of the novel, George confesses that ‘I ain’t angry, I never been angry’ which tells the readers that George didn’t look after him out of guilt or a promise, but that he actually did like him.…
- 751 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Lennie and George are always looking out for eachother in different ways, are very dependent on eachother…
- 363 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Regardless to the fact Lennie is considered one of the principle characters in ‘Of Mice and Men’, he is arguably the least exciting. Throughout the novel he seems to be the same person as on the first pages, enduring no development, growth or significant changes. His character is very simple, in most scenes he is in, it is reinforced that he is very strong, he enjoys petting soft things and is devoted to George and the American Dream, that he and George will someday own a farm. It is this simplicity and helplessness in everyday life that earns the readers sympathy, and also forms the idea in the reader’s mind that Lennie is doomed. The powerful impact is created by the inevitability of Lennie’s death, so the reader’s sympathy and understanding…
- 440 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
The relationship between Lennie and George is very complex and changes greatly throughout Of Mice and Men. George throughout the novel struggles with his feelings for Lennie as they change greatly from event to event as George tries to think of ways to deal with Lennie. However, Lennie's character seems to be the least prone to change showing little diversion either in personality or in thoughts and feelings. Their friendship transforms through the novel because of the fact that George is holding onto Lennie not becuase he wants to care for him but becuase he needs him, the occurrences in which George realizes Lennie will always be the same and get into the same troubles, and the reality they both had become interdependent on each other in…
- 894 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In the book “Of Mice and Men” set in the 1930’s, has a lot of different conflicts. Some have to do with two close friends, a wife and husband, a mouse and an boy. The one that sticks out the most is the conflicts between the two friends. They have had a lot of conflicts between them because lennie is ill. George tries to help Lennie a lot with everything so Lennie won't get into any trouble. Every once and awhile Lennie just cannot handle his illness and he gets in trouble.…
- 499 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
“Of Mice and Men” deals with many facets of human responsibility and love. The main moral conflict deals with George's responsibility to Lennie, and to the rest of the group. There were major conflicts in this story line, Lennie had a problem with his self-control, he couldn't control his actions. He touched a women's dress once and she cried for help accusing him of rape. The townspeople chased George and Lennie out of town because they believed what that girl had said. Lennie was a “troubled” in most peoples’ eyes and George had to constantly get him out of trouble. He had to take care of Lennie because without George, Lennie would not survive. They had to travel from town to town because of Lennie's compulsive behavior. “Of Mice and Men”…
- 1105 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
George and Lennie help each other throughout the novel, George with his intelligence and Lennie with his strength, showing each other their loyalty and strong friendship. These two virtues help them overpass the difficult situations they encountered…
- 344 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Throughout the novella George and Lennie are together nearly all of the time. George takes care of Lennie because he wouldn’t be able to make it on his own. He protects his best friend when the others alienating against him. George understands his disability better than anyone else yet, he too, continues to discriminate against in him in ways that the others cannot. George lies to the men of the ranch about Lennie’s disability. At one point George told Lennie that “If I was a relative of yours I’d shoot myself.” (Steinbeck 24) Lennie continued to look up…
- 290 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays