Relationships are the key to learning about oneself. The novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, proves that a relationship with another results in self-discovery. Throughout the story, it is shown that Lennie causes George to learn more about himself through friendship, responsibility, and his need for others. Lennie’s presence in George’s life causes George to learn about his friendship. An example of this is when George talks to a friend about his relationship with Lennie. He says that “Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while” (Steinbeck, 89). George implies that Lennie is different from others, however their relationship grows despite this. It is shown that as George spends with …show more content…
George sees that Lennie believed him the entire time, and realizes that he has been responsible for Lennie. This proves that Lennie causes George to be a responsible person. Another example of this can be found right was George is about to shoot Lennie. Lennie said “I thought you was mad at me… No, said George, I ain’t mad. I never been bad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know” (Steinbeck, 103). Shortly after, George decides that it is time and fires the gun. George says to Lennie that he was not mad at him, and the reason he was going to shoot him was because others were mad at him and were going to kill him. The quote shows that George took responsibility for Lennie and saved him from the violent death he was soon to face, by ending Lennie’s life in a less frightening manner. This proves that Lennie causes George to show responsibility. Through Lennie, George begins to experience the need for others as well. One example of this is when Lennie feels like George doesn’t want him. Lennie says, “If you don’ wan me I can g off in the hills an’ find a cave. I can go away any time” George replied, “No – look! I was jus’ foolin’, Lennie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me” (Steinbeck, 16). Lennie gets the feeling that George does not like him, so he threatens to leave. George quickly contradicts Lennie’s thought by saying that he wants him to stay with him. George realizes that being with others is better that being on his
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
“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.
”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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
Having relationships with others who we consider superior shapes our identity. Furthermore, if we believe that we have a strong relationship with someone, then we trust them. We tend to let them influence our thoughts. In the book Of Mice and Men, the author, John Steinbeck incorporates examples of how relationships affect one’s identity. On page 6 of the novel, Lennie listens to everything George says and blindly follows it. When George questions Lennie, Lennie answers, “‘I...ain’t gonna say nothin’.’” Again on page 15, when George asks Lennie the same question he answers, “‘I...ain’t gonna say a word.’” George influence Lennie, who considers George to be smarter than him, just like in reality, where someone blindly follows what the wiser
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
Everyone has life lessons to learn, and Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck is about two men, one mentally disabled. They get ran out of their town, and went to find a new start and to live the American Dream, but tradagy strikes when Lennie murders Curley's wife leaving George with two options, kill Lennie or let Curley get ahold of him. A true friend wouldn't want them to get brutally beaten to death. Of Mice And Men has taught us about friendship, loalty, and broken dreams. To begin, Of Mice And Men has taught us about friendship by sticking together even if it means getting into trouble, for example "An why?
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
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,