Of Mice and Men the Relationship Between George and Lennie in Chapter 1

In the first place, George shows how he cares for Lennie by bargaining with him by allowing Lennie to tend to the rabbits if he stays out of trouble. In chapter 1, George shows pride and encouragement toward Lennie by telling Lennie that he might be able to tend to the rabbits after all. ""Good Boy! That's fine, Lennie! Maybe you're getting' better. When we get that coupla acres I can let you tend the rabbits all right."" (Steinbeck 15) George exclaimed. With this selection you can see that George tries to encourage Lennie to keep remembering and listen to him. George and Lennie have been together for a while so their bond has strengthened over time, George shows compassion toward Lennie multiple times in the book.

Lennie and George have an unusual friendship from the start. George is sort of a guardian of Lennie, and always is looking out for him. With Lennie’s mental illness, sometimes the friendship proves to be challenging. This frienship is definitely not mutual, because they both have each others backs. In the book, George says, “If them other guys gets in jail they can root for all anybody gives a damn… Lennie responds, “But not us! An’ why? Because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why” (14). Ironically, Lennie isn’t the one looking out for George. George is always helping Lennie out of his “mistakes”, and endures the hardship of traveling during the 1930s.

Over the course of the story, John Steinbeck is attempting to show that the relationship that George and Lennie have is one that can be hard to understand at certain times. Sometimes, George is very nice to Lennie, whereas at other times, it appears as if he doesn't want anything to do with him. Both of the men

In John Steinbeck's novel, “Of Mice and Men,” we meet two best friends that travel together. Both total opposites, George is the smaller, yet smarter one and Lennie is bigger, but mentally challenged. Lennie gets both of them into bad situations, that led Lennie to his death. In my opinion, Lennie worshipped everything George said and George felt bad for him. Their relationship cost george to lose the dream him and Lennie both made together, also, Lennie didn't have as much freedom because he was always getting in trouble and that cost George to waste his time solely on Lennie.

George may come across as a person who does not care for Lennie but that is quite the opposite. George cares for Lennie as much as he can. This is obvious at the very beginning of the novel when Lennie says “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." He laughed delightedly. "Go on now, George!" (14).This conversations happens near there safe spot on their way to the new ranch, Lennie and George are sitting on the ground by the fire after George realizes he wants to stay with Lennie. Lennie’s words are proving they are a team that sticks together no matter what, he implies they both help each other out but George helps Lennie more than anything. Lennie knows that George cares for him and will help him no matter what. Lennie relies on George a lot in his life, a poor friend would abandon Lennie and leave him be because he can be difficult to care for sometimes, but George never leaves, he sticks around and cares for Lennie. Similarly George wants Lennie to be happy, he doesn’t want Lennie to be sad. This is the nurturing nature of George’s personality, he talks about the farm they will have in the future. “O.K. Someday -- we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple acres an’ a cow and some pigs and ----”..... “Well,” said George, “we’ll have a big vegetable

George and Lennie’s relationship is different to the other transient workers, in the way of their history together. George and Lennie grew up together and he always looked out for Lennie, which is why he promised Lennie’s Aunt Clara before she died, that he would look after him, as Lennie was child-like and therefore incapable towards taking care of himself; “You’re Aunt Clara wouldn’t like you running off by yourself, even if she is dead”. It suggests that there is a bond because of Aunt Clara and how George is the only other person who really knew how to treat and handle Lennie. This is why during the great depression they went to California to work at a ranch. This is where George really took the lead role as a father figure and had the

4. Steinbeck creates the theme of friendship through the characters, George and Lennie. The author seems to feel that it is easier to go through hardships with a friend. As the reader is introduced to the deep conversations between George and Lennie, their friendship and bond become known.

In the begin of the novel we are first introduced to Lennie and his childish acts when he submerges his head into a river that has stagnant water. He takes enormous gulps of water while George exclaims, “Lennie, for God’ sakes don’t drink so much”, but Lennie just keeps on drinking from the stagnant water. George follows up by saying, “Lennie. You gonna be sick like you was last night” (3). Furthermore, only moments later George has to yell at Lennie because he insists on carrying a dead mouse around with him. In essence, Lennie acts childish and needs the help of George to keep him in line.

Steinbeck portrays friendship through different character interactions along with the thoughts of others, while eliminating loneliness with company. Lennie and George’s relationship, shows the special companionship that is present with their constant presence. With Lennie’s handicaps, George takes the responsibility of protecting these social incapability’s by being an advocate for their job interview at the ranch (Steinbeck 22). This created relationship, exposes many factors of caring along with the security of being in each other’s presence. Another way Steinbeck demonstrates the importance of friendship is through internal conflict between Crooks, who craves this relationship bond. Cooks explains the Lennie, “S’pose you didn’t have nobody.

George takes so much trouble for Lennie because he needs and knows Lennie can’t take care of himself. Lennie can work well and does as said for most. George helps him and guides him. “In a panic, Lennie looked at George for help.” (pg.22)

George and Lennie undergo difficult circumstances but rely on each other’s friendship to get them through it. An example of their friendship can be seen in a dialog between George and Lennie, “Guys like us, that work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. The 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.” (Steinbeck Pages 13-14). The life George and Lennie live as they

In the story Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the two main characters are George and Lennie. Though they may have their issues throughout the story, their overall friendship is a good one. Although they may seem like opposites, they still have a good, happy relationship. This is shown throughout the book in examples of empathy, their shared dreams, and the compassion they show.

“He said woodenly, ‘If I was alone I could live so easy.’ He stopped.” Steinbeck copies the scene from the beginning of the book, where there are many similarities and differences exemplifying the darkness about to cover them. Lennie and George are in the garden from the beginning, where they had so much brotherhood and love. This time, however, their fire has turned to ashes; there are shouts from other people disturbing their quiet; Steinbeck portrays a morbid silence instead of a peaceful buzz of nature; finally, the routine of Lennie listening to George tell him about the future changes.

In “Of Mice and Men”, John Steinbeck explores the complex relationship between George andLennie through many ways. George and Lennie’s relationship is kept together through manyfactors, they both have their own difficulties, and they both are different from other people on the farm. This is what makes their relationship complex. To begin with, there are many factors that keep George and Lennie together. “It’s a lot niceto go around with a guy you know,” said George” (Steinbeck 35). It doesn’t always seem like it, but deep down, George enjoys Lennie’s company. George knows he would be extremely lonely without Lennie, and vice versa. “Him and me was both born in Auburn. I knowed his Aunt Clara. She took him when he was a baby

How Steinbeck presents the relationship between George and Lennie in particular at the beginning and the end