Steinbeck shows us that presence of friendship can make people less lonely and have a positive outlook on life. This is shown with George and Lennie as they have each other, unlike the other characters. We see this when George saying "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” and then Lennie continues "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." This demonstrates the fact that George and Lennie’s friendship is a way in which they can avoid loneliness as they are in constant company of each …show more content…
We can see this when George says ”I ain’t takin’ it away jus’ for meanness. That mouse ain’t fresh.” This shows us that George feels a sense of responsibility towards Lennie and needs to take care of Lennie as Lennie can not do it for himself. This only happens because they are friends and share a close bond which is why we do not see it happening with the other characters. In this we see how George takes the mouse away from Lennie because it is dead and not ‘fresh’ and is a sign of danger as and it may result in making Lennie sick which shows how George takes charge and cares about Lennie’s wellbeing. As soon as he sees how upset Lennie gets after he takes it away he tries to cheer him up by saying he took it away for his own good and later on even promises to get him a puppy which shows he cares about Lennie’s feelings too. Lennie is a liability which means he needs George to look after him and sometimes even care of how Lennie feels, this may be negative in some aspects but overall it gives George an opportunity to be responsible and even caring and …show more content…
It prevents George form having a romantic relationship and freedom. We see this when George tells Lennie “I could get along so easy and nice if I didn’t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl”. This clearly shows that if George didn’t have Lennie he could have the freedom to do whatever he wants and even have a relationship of some sorts with a girl but he can not because he has to look after Lennie. This is due to the fact Lennie’s simple-mindedness makes him a liability. George has to constantly look out for Lennie making sure he doesn’t get in trouble, and if he does he has to try and get him out of
“I want you to stay with me, lennie. Jesus christ somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself. No, you stay with me. Your aunt clara wouldn’t like you running off by yourself even if she is dead” - (Steinbeck 13). This quote shows George looking out for Lennie.
If Lennie wasn’t around, George would have had an easier time when not trying to constantly take care of Lennie. Trying to get him out of trouble and making sure he survives and earns
George and Lennie have a strong bond of friendship that makes them both feel like they are actually somebody. For example, “ ‘I been mean ain’t I?’ ‘If you don’t want me I can go off in the hills an’ find a cave. I can go away any time.’ ‘No—look! I was jus’ foolin, Lennie, cause I want you to stay with me.’” (p.14) This shows that George actually wants Lennie to be thought of as one of his friends, not as a doll that he can just kick around. The quote also shows that George cares for Lennie tremendously and really understands how Lennie feels. Secondly, Lennie feels the same way back at George “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.” (p.15). This is a good example
Happiness is what makes friends, friends. George always goes out of his way to make Lennie happy. Everything he does is for Lennie’s benefit, along with his own. George is making sure Lennie has food, comfort, money, a job, and a true friend. In the text, Steinbeck writes, “Lennie pleaded, “Come on, George. Tell me. Please George. Like you done before.” “You get a kick outta that, don’t you? Awright, I’ll tell you, and then we’ll eat our supper….””(13). Everything that George does, is for Lennie. He cares about Lennie so much, and that is what makes him a true friend to Lennie. Lennie tries his hardest to make George happy as well. Lennie makes George believe that they can have their own place one day. That makes George happy and hopeful. True friends make sure each other is
I think tha the theme of “friendship is necessary for human survival” is very true for Lennie and George. George is there to make sure that Lennie doesn’t get into any trouble. With-out George, Lennie would be consitantly forgetting things. Without Lennie, George would have no one. Even if Lennie annoys him, Georg needs Lennie. With eachother they can make one an-others lives better. “Ok, ok. I’ll tell ya again. I ain’t got nothing better to do. Might jus’ as well spen’ all my time tellin’ you things and then you forget ‘em, and I tell you again.” (pg. 6) This shows that Lennie constantly needs to be remind of things and even if it bothers George he will still help because it’s somene he
George takes care of Lennie many ways. George has taken care of Lennie for a long time. George took him under his wing even though he didn’t need to. George genuinely cares for Lennie. He feeds him, makes sure he is safe, also he gives him hope. George is constantly watching Lennie. George is a good friend to Lennie; however, George gets annoyed with Lennie very easily. He does this to make sure he doesn’t get into trouble or lost. He never leaves him by himself. This is shown when Lennie offers to leave, but George tells him “I want you to stay with me Lennie”(Steinbeck 104). George really cares for Lennie.
This is why Lennie isn’t violent. Whenever Lennie does something bad, he suddenly thinks back to George, not being violent, or the fact that he just hurt someone. This shows that he can’t help the things he does, he always needs someone looking after him. One example of this is on page 91, when Curley’s wife starts screaming: “Please don’t do that. George’ll be mad.”
George told his old lady that he would take care of Lennie and make sure that he would not get into trouble and other stuff (Steinbeck22). It’s clear that Lennie repeatedly gets himself and George in trouble because he has no respect/ no lack of self-control. One example of this is Lennie killing his pet mouse, which he loved to death. George’s best efforts, Lennie simply that he never learns to handle it with no care. George’s comment shows that his concert that even bringing the incident could make Lennie repeat the behavior since he can never learn from this
George has to take care of and warn Lennie in many instances. George early on in the book has to warn Lennie to stop drinking so much water or he will make himself sick ”Lennie, for God’ sakes don’t drink so much.” . He also has to take a mouse away from Lennie “Awright,” he said brusquely.”Gi’me that mouse!”. This is reminiscent of parent taking something away from a child. These
A good friendship is needed to survive through tough times. Lennie respects George because George gives him comfort. George cares for Lennie so much that he considers him to be part of his family: “George said, he’s my cousin. I told his old lady id take care of him. He got kicked in the head by a horse when he was a kid” (Steinbeck 22). Aside from comfort and advice, Lennie also needs George because when he gets in trouble, George always manages to find a way to help him get out of it. When Lennie had got in trouble in Weed, George stays by his side and gives him advice that helps remain safe and calm. George has many opportunities to leave Lennie and change his lifestyle, but he needs Lennie just as much in order to help him through his own hardships. Lennie looks
How does Steinbeck portray the friendship in this novel. Steinbeck portrays loneliness in this novel and shows how George and Lennie are alone even when they are together. This entire book is based on being alone and how all these men are looking for companionship.
When Lennie says ?I ain?t got nothin? George?, we see that due to his mental limitation, he is unable to fool George and therefore is later exposed at having killed the rodent. On the other hand, George is portrayed as clever, mostly because he knows what he is doing. In response to Lennie?s point, he quickly says to ?hand over the mouse?. This short, sharp sentence is used to show the fact that George means business, and is determined not to change the subject. Overall, we see that Lennie is slow to thought, whilst George thinks quickly and avoids falling ?into the trap?. This suggests that he is a man with few weaknesses.
George even uses Lennie’s need as leverage to keep him under control. Lennie strives to hold responsibility. Unfortunately, Lennie tends to hurt the animals that he does receive. He is too strong for the animals that she cares for. During their journey from Weed, Lennie tends to a mouse, only to end up killing the fragile creature. Later on, George gets Lennie a puppy that Lennie regretfully kills with his power. Lennie’s good intentions fell short in comparison to his power. Lennie was looking for responsibility in pets but took on too much when the animals would be killed by his overwhelming strength.
They don't belong any place.... With us, it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us." (Steinback 15)But what Lennie says after is truly signifies their great friendship “A' why?
Both Lennie and George would be nothing without each other. Steinbeck clearly shows how important friends are and how they can support and help you in a number of different ways. Lennie needs George for basic survival and without him, Lennie’s life would not be very long. George on the other hand, needs Lennie for a purpose in life. The conclusion of the novel Of Mice and Men illustrates what life would be like for George and Lennie without the other.