Contrasting Comrades In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

A true friendship is a bond between two people that care equally about each other and put the other person ahead of them for that person’s benefit. Friendships are given to people to show that someone cares about them. Friendships teach you how to care for someone, always do what is better for that person, and trust the people that stay with you.

In his novel Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses many characters to show his assertion that man is basically evil. When Curley’s wife confronts Lennie, Crooks, and Candy in Crook’s place, she notes that the others “left all the weak ones here” (77). The “weak” ones that Curley’s wife refer to all attack each other in a vicious circular firing squad. Crooks taunts Lennie about the possibility of George not returning, and takes “pleasure in his torture” as he “[presses] forward for some kind of private victory” (71). Curley’s wife calls Candy and Lennie “a dum-dum and a lousy ol’ sheep” (78) and threatens to get Crooks “strung up on a tree” (81). Meanwhile, all the other characters are the ones that make those Lennie, Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife feel “weak” because they are disabled mentally, disabled physically, black, and female, respectively. In this way, Steinbeck shows that all men are basically evil as they do not lend a hand to each other and instead simply attack and prey upon each other.

Lennie doesn't think he has hands; he thinks he has "paws," and he's fascinated with what those paws can do and how they can affect the world in nature. But like an animal, he doesn't quite understand that if he does something something else will follow.

Crook’s characteristics go hand in hand with the portrayal of Social Injustice relating back to the fear of loneliness. He continuously faces countless hardships mainly because of the way the workers of the ranch treat him, unethically and selfishly. For example Steinbeck stated, a man will go crazy without anyone, without companionship; what is he to do with only books (Steinbeck 67)? As shown, he exhibits overall no authority; suggesting the emptiness Crook’s is put through all because of his skin color. However, he struggles with being optimistic because he believes he partakes no reason to do so. “You’re crazy, I see men just like you come and go with the same idea in their heads, you ain’t ever going anywhere with that dream” (Steinbeck 69). Along with that, the way Crook’s has been denied of happiness for nearly all of his life certainly influenced his view of the people around him. Regardless, being deemed upon as if you are no greater than an animal will definitely bring thoughts of hopelessness to your mind. "I could get you strung up on a tree so fast it ain't even funny"

George feels a certain obligation to Lennie, based on past promises, and feelings of guilt. George has a deep belief that if he were to abandon Lennie, it would put him (Lennie) in a position of helplessness. QUOTE AND BACKGROUND

John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men provides contrast between two farmhands, George and Lennie, during their endeavor to find work in Salinas, California, during the troubling times of the Great Depression. George, an intelligent hard worker, and Lennie, a more childlike individual, struggle with keeping jobs for a long period of time due to Lennie’s constant blunders; so once they find work in Salinas, George tries to keep Lennie from causing any harm. Although George and Lennie differentiate in ways such as their size and mental capacity, they share a similar quality: they both have the same dream. When comparing and contrasting these two farmhands, the reader is better shown the true behavior of each and why each of them make certain decisions that lead to the demise of Lennie.

Friendship is hard, there are times where you have to give up everything for them, times where you just have to deal with the fact for a while and take it, and times where you might have to do something you really don’t want. But whatever you do, you know its for the best concern of your friend. To symbolize the over all focus of friendship and loneliness during the great depression, John Steinbeck uses Curley's wife, George and Lennie's friendship, and Candy with his dog, in his book Of Mice and Men. Through the use of Curley’s wife’s character Steinbeck shows loneliness of the great depression. With the use of the characters' actions, John symbolizes her loneliness and need for attention. “Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once and a while?” (Steinbeck 77). Through Curley's wife's characters, John shows her need for friendship. With that being said, loneliness is shown through thoughts and words that Steinbeck has given to her. “What harm am I doing to you? Seems like they ain't none of them cares how I gotta live” (Steinbeck 88). Unaware that she is a burden to everyone accordingly, Curley’s wife still try's. Needing

How does one survive in an area where every disability can hurt you in the long run? In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the setting is a ranch in Salinas, California . Throughout the novel, some of the characters struggle with the problem of their disabilities denying them the same opportunities the average man at the ranch has. Steinbeck uses characterization to illustrate the theme of survival of the fittest.

“The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for”---Bob Marley. Everyone will hurt you, but the ones that try to work through it are your true friends. They will stick with you through thick and thin because nothing is worth giving up the special bond that two or more people share. George and Lennie, the protagonist in the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, have been through so much together.

George and Lennie have a very odd friendship in my opinion. George tries to takeover and do everything for Lennie. On page 21 and 22, George was interviewing both himself and Lennie for the job when he introduced both of them and told the boss what they are good at. When the boss asked about Lennie not talking, George said that he wasn’t much of a talker but “he’s sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull. (Page 22) . George talked for Lennie because he didn’t want him messing up and not getting the job. George also lied about being Lennie’s cousin and told the boss that Lennie wasn’t very smart when he said “He got kicked in the head by a horse when he was a kid. He’s

Throughout friendships there’s always one friend that is always there for the other more. In the novel of Mice and men, by John Steinbeck. With Lennie having George around he wouldn’t be able to accomplish as much as he does with george around. George always stands up for George during arguments. Without Lennie having George, Lennie would be all himself. It is clear that Lennie needs George more than George needs Lennie. George always stands up for George during arguments or when someone says something to Lennie.

- pg 72 This shows how much George believes that he and Lennie could stand one day. He is willing to continue the dream George told. Though Lennie's character is the complete opposite to George, he at least cared for him and has support on his side. Either way, George has a companion that supports them to their

Losing a pet or friend is the most tragic event to suffer through as a human being. We all want to keep everybody we hold dear, but we must learn to live with their death and treasure their memories which make us love them even more. In the book, Of Mice and Men, a loss is very common; almost everybody loses something important to them. Of Mice and Men has many morals, but the moral, “You’ll never appreciate how much you love something until it is gone,” is followed by Candy, Curly, and George.

Your everyday surroundings affects your life. It affects you in several different ways. It could affect you in small ways or huge ways. For example, the girl you pass in the hallway could become your best friend and be there for you when no one else will. The boy you saw helping the elderly gives the elderly hope that the next generation will do great things for the world and not mess it up.

Friendship is something people all acquire at some point in their lives. Normally, people view a connection like that as two individuals who bond, making them stronger together. However, the magnitude of a friendship comes with a downside: vulnerability. It doesn’t seem like that would be true, but it undeniably is. Throughout John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, this statement becomes more and more of a reality. George Milton and Lennie Small became friends after an unfortunate event that shaped an odd companionship. The friendship is beneficial for both characters but slowly becomes toxic throughout the book due to certain events. From the outside, they seem like a well-built relationship. However, every friendship has its weaknesses and unfortunately, George and Lennie’s companionship made both stronger, but vulnerable. When the pair became friends, it is obvious that both are vulnerable to their own thoughts, each other’s feelings, and the way other people behave towards them.