The Power of Companionship as Demonstrated through Of Mice and Men Being burdened by close friends or family can be especially bothersome or problematic, as there is a need to constantly attend to them. The responsibility of satisfying each other’s needs before one’s own or repairing their mistakes is often shared between both parties, as well as the negative consequences that may follow. At times, it may even seem simpler to just abandon hope and desert them; however, the fear of loneliness generally prevents this from occurring. John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men consists of a diverse group of people living and working on a ranch. Although they come from many walks of life, they all share one similar trait. Many of the characters’ …show more content…
For instance, Lennie frustrates George greatly by attempting to harbor a dead mouse in his pocket. George scolds him when he states, “‘God, you’re a lot of trouble’, said George. ‘I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail” (Steinbeck 7). In other words, George has contemplated a life without the burdensome Lennie before. Clearly, he has dismissed these thoughts, as they are still traveling and living together. This validates the fact that even the most disastrous missteps of his are being condoned, as the only alternative is a much-feared life of solitude. Additionally, after George’s harsh words hurt Lennie, he recognizes the need for reconciliation and makes an attempt to apologize by claiming, “No–look! I was jus’ foolin’, Lennie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me” (Steinbeck 13). Here, George is obviously trying to hastily assuage Lennie’s dissatisfaction in order to prevent him from leaving. Had he not been so afraid of living unaccompanied, George would surely have let him leave to inhabit a cave, as that is what Lennie had previously suggested. Therefore, George’s desire for accompaniment serves as a motivation for taking responsibility for
Imagine being discriminated against because of your ethnicity; or being the only woman on a ranch, stuck in a loveless marriage, when all you really want is someone to talk to. What about having to kill that friend, and bury all chances of breaking free from the life of the average migrant worker? How would you feel? These scenarios in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men illustrate the need and desire for companionship in life. There's Crooks, the negro stable buck; Curley's wife, whose marriage to Curley hasn't exactly been lively; and George and Lennie, whose friendship is strong enough to get them to a better life and out of the negetive cycle that the average migrant worker became trapped in during the Great Depression.
Steinbeck shows how characterization through many different passages and ways how characterization supports that companionship is a beneficial thing. To begin Steinbeck shows characterization that supports companionship is a beneficial thing is Candy’s relationship with his dog. Steinbeck describes Candys words: “‘No I’m so couldn’t do that. I had him so long’… ‘I'm so used to him”. Candy then explains: “I had him from a pup”(45).
I think the book Of Mice and Men was a good tale of companionship. All throughout the story the main characters of Lennie and George were always next to each other and helped balance each others personality. Throughout the text the character George was the bossy more knowledgeable one and Lennie was the on the more mentally disabled side of the spectrum. Lennie was kind and he loved soft thing but the catch with Lennie was that he was a wide hipped individual (meaning he was a large individual in stature). He didn't know his own strength/power and that led him into major trouble with the ranch owners boss. because he ended killing his wife because she let him touch her soft hair and he rubbed to hard and broke her neck and
As the Great Depression creates a sense of isolation and loneliness, two men seem to have it all figured out as they find their way through the vast land of California. During this time, men are forced into isolation and loneliness as they travel to find work, but George and Lennie represent the need for companionship as they have their whole lives planned together. In his writing, John Steinbeck uses character mannerisms, symbolism, and social injustice to show loneliness and the need for companionship in the novel, Of Mice and Men.
Steinbeck portrays the need for companionship during the story through Lennie and George’s characters. They have been acquainted with each other since they were adolescents. George communicates to Slim that when Aunt Clara died, he took over responsibility and they’ve been together ever since. This tells us how George and Lennie grew to become so attached to one another and how they encountered. These characters always seem to exonerate and realize the importance for one another. Lennie repeats “But not us! An’ why because…because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” (Steinbeck 14). This quote shows that this happens frequently, considering Lennie memorized it, but still they don’t leave each other.
"15 Things You Might Not Know About Of Mice and Men." Mental Floss. N.p., 27 Feb. 2017. Web. 04 Apr.
Of Mice and Men has many different interesting themes, depending on what people believe it is. Some feel like companionship is an important theme. There are many different reasons why people believe the theme is companionship. Without companionship, life isn’t worth living. John Steinbeck shows that the characters, in Of Mice and Men, act and feel different without their friends and companions.
In the novel of Mice and Men, author John Steinbeck describes a story where two ranch workers, George and Lennie, move from place to place looking for work on ranches in California during the Great Depression. Lennie is a mentally disabled giant who is unaware of his own strength. George is a brother like figure to Lennie always looking out for him. These men have a dream to own their own farm, and have freedom from the harsh life on the ranches. Other people living on the ranch have similar dreams, but have failed. These failed dreams have made the ranch workers mean, bitter, and powerless. Steinbeck develops a story that touches on the aspect of human relationships, and the impact they have on society. Steinbeck illustrates how in order for people to feel powerful they use their strength to oppress others,
What is it like to be truly alone? Perhaps, it’s getting stuck in an unhappy marriage. During the Great Depression, many people were treated unequal, which lead to many people being alone. Many people of color could not live with white people, people with disabilities weren’t respected and women were seen as objects, they weren’t treated equally during that time period. In the book, “Of Mice and Men” John Steinbeck teaches on an important topic to readers about how greatly the time period affects the way people viewed others. This affected many people because they were left alone and isolated.
Imagine going through life without having any friends. The story Of Mice and Men, by
Of mice and men is a great novel that express many characteristics between characters one of which is friendship. Friendship in the novel is a big expression between characters and eventually “friendship” is what bring character together and stick by one another. The biggest expression of friends is between Lennie and George. The Great Depression was one of the major issues in 1930 but it wasn't so bad if you had someone with you to go through it with. George and Lennie’s big goal in life was the American dream, and they went through everything together to achieve this goal. The differences between Lennie and George was a major difference yet they had the strongest friendship throughout the book. George and Lennie’s
Friendship is an important thing in an everyday human life! Friendship is one of biggest factors in Of Mice and Men because George and Lennie have a very special bond together. They have been with each other ever since The great depression had happened, but they did not come out of the great depression together. But because of Lennie, Lennie got himself into some trouble and was killed by George. The way I would would explain my friendship are that we are really close and always there for eachother.
Having a friend in life is the key to maintaining happiness. In the novella called Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, migrant workers live on a ranch in South California in the 1930's. Most of the workers are suffering from loneliness except for the 2 main characters who have a long lasting friendship, Lennie Small and George Milton. The migrant workers on the ranch learn the importance of having a friend to spend time with and talk to. William Blake once said,“The bird, a nest; the spider, a web; man, friendship.”
Friendship is important in everyday life but in the book Of Mice and Men friendship is brought up to be even more important than people realize. The story is about two migrant workers who travel together. They both look out for one another and keep each other from getting lonely. Friendship is very important because it brings joy and happiness, responsibility, and security. Without friendships there would be no happiness.
People are put on this earth to find something or someone to go through everyday life with. In the book, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, it shows that companions are in everyone's lives. The book explains how the story of small smart man named George and his dumb friend Lennie; they have acted as companions for a long time and hope to achieve the American dream. During their quest they meet many people and Lennie gets into trouble multiple times. Everytime this happens George has to make a tough decision about what to do for his friend even though it feels like a pain. Through the characters Lennie, George and Candy, John Steinbeck says companionship makes people happier.