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The Role Of Friendship In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Friendship is not vital for human survival. In fact, humans could live perfectly fine without it, but there are times when having someone to talk to is mentally beneficial. Two Ranch hands named George Milton and Lennie Small go to a Ranch in search of money and a better life during the Great Depression in the novel, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. The theme that having a friend during difficult times is greatly beneficial, is shown through the dialogue and interactions between the pairs George and Lennie and George and Slim, a jerkline skinner.
During the Great Depression, it was rare for individuals to have friends--or at least someone to talk to. Ignoring this particular trend, George and Lennie are one of those rarities who are willingly capable of looking out for one another. Before George and Lennie arrived at the ranch, they were sitting by a fire talking. Lennie, afraid that George was mad at him (for various miniscule problems), repeated a quote of which George was partially …show more content…

It was rare for someone to care about another person's worries and comfort them making the following situation a great example of George and Slim ’ s friendship. George had just put his best friend to peace when all the men who were previously searching for the now lifeless Lennie appeared. George was in tremendous shock. Slim observing the situation and concluding what happened, went to George, offered him a drink, and told him “‘You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on with me. (107)’” Slim, going against the trend of only Caring about oneself, attempted to alleviate the shock of the poor ranch hand. Slim was trying to reassure the man, telling him that it was necessary for him to kill the man-- that it was better that way. By doing this, Slim is aiding George's mental state. Slim is keeping George sane and making sure that George does not drown in a bottomless pit of guilt. Only a friend would attempt to do such an

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