George And Lennie Friendship Essay

398 Words1 Page

The novel, “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, explores the unconventional friendship between Lennie and George. When first introduced to the characters it is apparent that they are complete opposites. Lennie is described as huge in stature and irresponsible, while George is quite lanky and dependable. Intelligence wise, George is more quick-witted, while Lennie suffers from a metal disability. However, both men share the dream of a better future where they can live on a farm of their own. While sitting around the fire George begins to tell Lennie “about the rabbits” otherwise known as their dream. “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 …show more content…

George takes care of Lennie and watches out for him. Though he is frustrated at times due to Lennie’s disability, he knows Lennie needs him and he, himself needs Lennie. After becoming irritated by Lennie’s persistence for ketchup, George explodes. “God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble.” However, after saying this, and hearing Lennie’s offer to leave, George immediately feels guilty. George knows that Lennie would be incapable of living on his own. George quickly tries to resolve by saying, “No—look! I was jus’ foolin’, Lennie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me…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.” The truth is that George deeply cares about Lennie and is very protective over him. Due to these reasons George feels as though it is his obligation and responsibility to look after Lennie. Their friendship flourishes due to the love and deep regards that they feel towards each

Show More
Related

  • Essay On How George And Lennie Make Each Other

    777 Words  | 2 Pages

    Just as looking after each other is important, another component of a healthy relationship is being able to make each other better people. With no surprise, George and Lennie are able to do this for each other constantly. The first way that George and Lennie make each other better people is because they have common goals between each other. George and Lennie explain to readers how their goal is to own a farm with each other. Their farm will take up an acre of land, and it will have a shack on that land that they can live in. They will own chickens, pigs, cows, and rabbits that Lennie will be able to tend. (Steinbeck 105-106)

    Read More

  • Decisions In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

    913 Words  | 2 Pages

    As George becomes aware of the situation he begins to ponder what will happen if Lennie gets away. George understands that Lennie would not be capable of providing for himself out in the wild. As George contemplates allowing Lennie to be free of all the men, he “[is] a long time in answering” (94). George is one of the few men who understands Lennie’s mental limitations, he knows Lennie would not remember how to survive and “the poor bastard’d starve” (94). He

    Read More

  • Themes in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men

    1108 Words  | 3 Pages

    A friendship is not all they have together, Lennie and George have dreams. Lennie and George have worked up the idea of owning their own piece of land together. Lennie wants to tend the rabbits (Steinbeck 11) and George just wants to be his own boss (Steinbeck 14). The only problem with their dream is that it is unrealistic. They cannot buy land to tend and just go days without tending it because they do not want to. Like many traveling farm hands during the 1930s, George and Lennie think they could work up enough money to buy their own place and not give a “hoot” about anyone but their selves. Although their dream is unattaina...

    Read More

  • The Character of Lennie in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

    388 Words  | 1 Pages

    Have you ever read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck? If so, you probably remember Lennie, George's companion. Throughout the novel, Lennie and George dream of having their own farm. They work on a ranch to save money for their dream farm. Lennie is a big, strong, man with rounded features. He is at times very forgetful, absent-minded, and one-dimensional.

    Read More

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

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    George says that none of his other friends are quite like Lennie. They did not have a true relationship with him. George also says that Lennie is an annoyance most of the time, but he got used to it and eventually could not get rid of him. This shows that George is lonely, due to the loss of Lennie. It is proven that Lennie causes George to realize his need for others in his life.

    Read More

  • Theme of Loneliness in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel, Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck used George and Lennie's relationship and the theme of hope to point out the loneliness in the novel. The novel starts off and is set in Soledad which means lonely. At the beginning they get a job working on a farm together. Lennie is a little retarded and has great physical strength that isn't too controllable. As they work from ranch to ranch, Lennie relies on George for guidance and help. Rather than wasting their earnings, they try to save it in the hope of buying a place of their own. While working at one ranch they meet a worker named Candy who tries to help them financially. Before their dream can be fulfilled, Lennie kills the wife of the boss's son. As the novel concludes George must kill Lennie for his own benefit. Later Lennie goes into town and abandons his dream by spending his money.

    Read More

  • Symbiosis between George and Lennie in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    The emotional symbiosis between George and Lennie helps each man. Lennie’s attachment to George is most strongly visible when Crooks suggests George is not coming back. Lennie is almost moved to hysterics and his fear does not quickly abate. George prefers to feign dislike for Lennie to Lennie’s face: “I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail” (7). When pressed, George reveals his true feelings for Lennie. “I want you to stay with me Lennie” (13).  They stay together because “It’s a lot easier to go around with a guy you know” (35). Both men need and value their strong emotional relationship.

    Read More

  • Implicit Meaning In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

    2027 Words  | 5 Pages

    These devices are incorporated into the journey of two companions working their way towards a dream. Steinbeck uses symbolism to complement his words to depict a higher meaning. As experienced readers will discover, the relationship between the intelligent, but small and weaker George Milton and the mentally handicapped, but large and stronger Lennie Small is symbolic. Even Lennie expresses this relationship “because I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you, and that's why” (14) .This suggests that they are not alone-they have each other. While George complains in the first chapter that he does not know why he keeps Lennie around, George argues "I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my tail"(11), he later explains the importance of Lennie's friendship -:“I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain't no good. They don't' have no fun. After a long time, they get mean. They get wantin' to fight all the time” (41). Although he is often irritated with Lennie, The reader can infer George stays with Lennie out of his promise to Lennie's aunt or the reader could look deeper and understand George cares about Lennie and that, meaning in life depends on upon sharing. This idea is central to Steinbeck's theme of brotherhood and how men are better if they are not alienated because, if alienated, they become mean and cruel out of their fear of vulnerability. The strength to oppress others originates of weakness, Steinbeck tells his readers. Most importantly for both George and Lennie, Lennie is the keeper of the dream. Without the child-like Lennie there is no dream of a ranch and rabbits and "livin' off the fat of the land." It is for Lennie's sake that George repeats the dream of them owning land. At first George does not really believe that this dream will come to fruition. But, with his childlike friend's

    Read More

  • Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lennie thinks of George as his only friend, his guardian, someone who he can trust and depend on, someone who had accepted him for who he is despite his childlike tendencies. Every time he did something wrong, his only thoughts would be of George’s disapproval. “I did a real bad thing. I shouldn’t have done that. George’ll be mad at me.

    Read More

  • Of Mice And Men

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    Loneliness and Companionship are one of the many themes that are conveyed in the novel Of Mice and Men, By John Steinbeck. Many of the characters admit to suffering from loneliness within the texts. George sets the tone for these confessions early in the novel when he reminds Lennie that the life of living on a ranch is among the loneliest of lives. However Lennie, who is mentally disabled holds the idea that living on a farm very high. "Tending the rabbits" is what Lennie calls it. Often when Lennie is seaking encouragement he askes George to tell him how its going to be. Men like George who migrate from farm to farm rarely have anyone to look to for companionship and protection. George obviously cares a lot for lennie, but is too stubborn to admit to it. The feeling of being shipped from place to place leaves George feeling alone and abandoned.

    Read More

  • Of Mice And Men - The Importance Of George

    1823 Words  | 4 Pages

    Despite the frustration that Lennie causes, without him George would probably be a lot like the other men on the ranch; simply roaming the country-side of California looking for work, and although he often prides himself on being different, he sometimes complains, usually after Lennie has caused trouble, and wishes that he could be like a normal guy and not have to live with Lennie’s hindrance. An example of this is seen when George responds sharply to Lennie's constant request for ketchup. "If I was alone I could live so easy…no trouble…no mess at all.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Mercy In Of Mice And Men

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    He never understood things the way “normal” people do. He is like a giant baby, not able to make any decisions himself and pure at heart. George is wise and witty is fully capable himself, yet he sticks around Lennie regardless. “… if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’work, an’no trouble.” George expresses his frustration of how much trouble Lennie cause him. And how if wasn’t with Lennie he would have a simple live and wouldn’t have any trouble. However, when Lennie ask George if he should leave George says no. This is because he cares for Lennie despite how much work he is. The means that there is now way George would have even though of killing Lennie if he thought I wouldn’t be the best and only possibility for him. He always cared for him and knew that if Lennie did go live alone he wouldn’t be able to

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast George And Lennie In Of Mice And Men

    1246 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Of Mice and Men”, by John Steinbeck is a novel about the hardships of life and the importance of having other people around. The story is of two men trying to survive with one another in a world full of loneliness; their relationship is quite rare and strange. Lennie, a large bear, has a mental disability which causes him to be in a childlike state. George, a much smaller and more competent man takes care of both of them. Although they work for others on ranches, their dream is to get by on their own and live off the land. However, Lennie’s state causes conflict as they travel from job to job. Steinbeck uses clever ways in his novel to develop his theme and characters as the story progresses; both of these elements also help create a large

    Read More

  • Of Mice And Men Essay On George Milton And Lennie Small

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    George Milton and Lennie Small have stuck together for a long time, ever since Lennie's caretaker his Aunt Clara passed away. Lennie is a very troubled person. George and Lennie want to get a house together and live off the land. Although George told Lennie to not get in trouble so they can stay at the ranch to make a good enough stake to get a house and some land. Lennie is always begging George to tell him about the rabbits that he gets to tend. He wants to be friends with everyone, although does not understand things very well. In the novel Of Mice And Men written by John Steinbeck Lennie is a very confused character. He is trying to make friends throughout the novel but does not understand that the things he does ends up a bad thing. Some

    Read More

  • The Importance of Lennie and George’s Friendship in Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck

    658 Words  | 2 Pages

    The characterization of George and Lennie’s friendship shows the importance of having a friend to be staunch for you. Here, when George and Lennie argue, they resolve to do whats best for eachother. “I was only foolin’, George. I don’t want no ketchup. I wouldn’t eat no ketchup if it was right here beside me.” Lennie later adds: “I’d leave it all for you. You could cover your beans with it and I wouldn’t touch none of it.”(Steinbeck 12) Lennie, although mentally disabled, still does what he can for George and only wants him to be happy because he knows how much George does for him. He can’t help himself, but when it comes to George he’ll do anything for him, because George gives him hope. Lennie gives George the ambition to succeed because George knows he has to succeed to support both of them. Lennie is later told by Crooks what it’s like to be lonely: “A guy needs somebody―to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick.” (Steinbeck 72) Without a friend, Crooks doesn’t have the brightest light for a great future because he has nobody to depend on like Lennie and Georg...

    Read More

More about George And Lennie Friendship Essay

Open Document