Self-Discovery Through Relationship in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

In the relationship of George of Lennie, George is similar to an older brother. George cares deeply for Lennie, but does not always show it. He is short tempered and get irritated very quickly by Lennie’s actions. When the two of them settled down to eat and Lennie was joking about

Steinbeck is revealing that companionship can serve in many different purposes. Of Mice and Men is an important text because the themes of companionship, power, discrimination, loneliness, and dreams play a role in people’s lives at some point in time. An example of one of the themes that relates to a real world scenario is everyone has or had a dream and dreams is hope and a reason why people are still living and carrying on. In conclusion, companionship is two people sticking together through the stormy days and sunny days, making hard decisions that are in everyone’s best interest, and protecting each

Lastly, Lennie is relying on George all the time based on how he relates to George in the text. Lennie is always with George because they have a relationship like a mother and a son, Lennie's relations with George prove this. George has been with Lennie for a long time and George feels like Lennie has been holding him back. When George yells at Lennie he says, “When I think of the swell time I could have without you” (Steinbeck 12). This quote proves that Lennie has been with George for a long time, long enough to drive George into a rage of regret and sorrow. The reason they have been

In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck has positioned the characters to help drive the plot, aid or hinder the protagonists, and deliver messages to readers. On the surface, Steinbeck’s novel seems to project a theme of loneliness, and man’s need for companionship. However, often the difference between the lonely and independent characters is obvious, and the contrast between the two groups is extreme. Most characters are completely alone, but how they manage their given circumstances can push the plot, reveal previously hidden traits that may benefit the overall story, and help the reader explore the novel itself more in depth.

Throughout Of Mice and Men, George never leaves Lennie’s; however, George does not seem to like being around Lennie: it is a responsibility he accepts. In one scene at the beginning of the book, George grows intensely frustrated with Lennie and begins a lecture which leads into a one-sided fight. They settle down for the night next to a river, when one insignificant question from Lennie sets George over the edge. He chides Lennie about how he holds him back instead of pushing him forward, and rants, “‘You can’t keep a job and you lose me every job I get. Jus’ keep me shovin’ all over the country all the time. An’ that ain’t the worst. You get in trouble’” (11). As George berates Lennie, he gives the impression that he does not enjoy being with Lennie and instead, treats Lennie like he is an unintelligent child and grudgingly takes him in. If George claims to be a suitable friend of Lennie,

Steinbeck presents Lennie to be responsible and irresponsible when he is not with George. Steinbeck shows how he is responsible when he sticks up for George, “He ain’t never been hurt, ‘cause he’s careful.” This quote also suggests Lennie realising himself how is irresponsible for his actions and how he needs George to guide him. This is because Lennie gets quite anxious and angry at the thought of not having George, “He stood up and walked dangerously towards Crooks.” Steinbeck presents Lennie to be irresponsible for his actions when he lets their secret of their dream, slip, “George says we gonna have alfalfa for the rabbits.” This shows

”So he reaches out to feel this red dress an’ the girl lets out a squawk, and that gets Lennie all mixed up, and he holds on ‘cause that’s the only thing he can think to do”(Steinbeck 41). After this George helps Lennie leave the town so he doesn’t go to a mental institute. George is always looking out for Lennie and will not let anything happen to him.

Good friendships make life easier. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is about two men, George and Lennie, who go on various journeys in order to get a job. Although George would consider Lennie to be his closest friend, he ultimately ends up shooting and killing Lennie. George did this, not out of hatred, but rather out of protection. A good friend will always want what is best for one another. Steinbeck uses his protagonists’ friendship in order to show that true friendship can help make any of life’s hardships less difficult.

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.

    George took Lennie in after Lennie’s aunt died. George knew his aunt pretty well. Lennie had nowhere to go afterwards, so George let Lennie come along with him. George wasn’t always nice to Lennie in the beginning. George would tease him and trick him. Lennie didn’t know any better than to listen to George, even if it was a taunt. After an incident happened to Lennie, George stopped tormenting him. He felt bad for Lennie and how he treated him. From this moment on, George actually took into consideration of Lennie’s mindset. In the book, Steinbeck writes,

John Steinbeck shows that George and Lennie have a true friendship be them taking care of each other by stating, “If you don’ 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’” (Steinbeck 12). This quote shows that George and Lennie share the true meaning of friendship by taking care of each other. George tells Lennie to stay with him and not to run of because Lennie can’t care for himself. Another quote that shows George and Lennie support one another is when the narrator states, “… I musta lost it… You never had none you crazy bastard” (Steinbeck 5). This quote shows the true meaning of friendship

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

The personality of George and Lennie are demonstrated by the use of different verbs and adverbs. Typically, the descriptive words used towards Lennie demonstrate his absence of maturity. For example, when Steinbeck mentions “dabbled,” “shapeless,” and “timidly,” he is trying to display Lennie’s indecision and hesitation when it comes to dealing with struggles, conflicts, or anything. On the other hand, Steinbeck uses adverbs such as, “sharply” and “gently,” which suggests the fact that George thinks deeply before he speaks or takes action. Overall, the reader is able to surmise, that Lennie still has state of mind where he requires the care of an adult, in this case, George. In addition, Lennie looks up to George as a role model because he believes if he emulates what George does, he will not land in

George’s isolation is also illustrated in Steinbeck’s Mice and Men. George expresses many hard feelings towards Lennie at the opening of this story. “‘...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. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl.’” (pg.7). For as much as George says he doesn’t like to have Lennie by his side every second of the day, something keeps him from completely abandoning him. At one point, Lennie realizes how much George wants him to leave, and he almost goes off by himself to find a cave so he doesn’t have to cause George so much grief and sorrow. “‘No-look! I was jus’ foolin’, Lennie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me...” (pg.12-13). George

Like in the first example the guys left a town called Weed where they used to live because lennie got in trouble with touching a girl's dress and grabbing her when she reacted. As they were running away from the guys that were after Lennie for doing this, they stopped for the night to rest and eat a can of beans. Lennie likes his beans with ketchup, but they didn't have any, therefore George starts to get mad. They had got into an argument and George started saying nonsense about how life would be if Lennie wasn't there with him. Lennie then tells George that he was only joking and didn't want the ketchup, he also said that if he had any he would give it to George. Lennie was still upset from what George had said and told him that he could be by himself and leave George. ¨George, you want I should go away and leave you alone?¨ (Steinbeck 12). After asking where he would go George says ¨No-look! I was jus’ foolin´, Lennie. ´Cause I want you to stay with me...¨ George wants Lennie to stay with him so they can take care of each other. Getting used to someone there and then having them gone after being with that person can be tough and George would feel alone. George could have left Lennie from the beginning but he repeatedly chooses to stay. Being a friend means putting your life into the other person's