George And Lennie In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Holding a shotgun aimed at its head, tears in his eyes as he finally pulls the trigger and puts his old sheepdog out of its misery. It may seem cruel, but it’s really just for the dog’s benefit,. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck looks at a similar theme to this scenario of doing the hard things to ultimately benefit the “dog.” Friends George and Lennie after being run out of the questionably sounding town of Weed start new jobs on a ranch as they try and make their dream of owning their own bit of land with rabbits come true. Lennie however suffers a heartbreaking end when George has to shoot him so he won’t have to suffer at the hands of an angry entourage. The book focuses on the relationship of George and Lennie since they prove such an

interesting dynamic. Their relationship is one formed out of genuine emotional attachment since George really does want to see through that Lennie is doing okay and Lennie loves George and will follow him so long as he is wanted.
    In the first half of the book, the George Lennie dynamic is reminiscent of an older and younger brother.

“‘What mouse George? I ain’t got no mouse.’ George held out his hand. ‘Come on. Give it to me. You ain’t putting nothing over.’ Lennie hesitated, backed away, looked wildly at the brush line as though he contemplated running for his freedom. George said coldly, ´You gonna give me that mouse or do I have to sock you?´ (pg 8).¨ George is like an older brother here because he is caring and authoritative but not afraid to use force to get what he wants. Lenne acts like a child and he uses simple tactics a child would to try and convince George to let him keep the mouse. ¨I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with him ‘im. Used to play jokes on ‘im ‘cause he was too dumb to take care of ‘imself. But he was too dumb even to know he had a joke played on him. I had fun...Why he’d do any damn thing I tol’ him (pg 40).” George enjoyed playing tricks on his dumber “younger brother” like an older brother would. Lennie is obedient of George as well as gullible like a typical younger brother. “George’s hands stopped working with the cards. His voice was growing warmer…(pg 57-8).” Even if Lennie annoys him sometimes, he still loves what he has with him: their shared dream. Lennie is excitable like a child when he hears George talk about it and it serves as a brotherly bonding experience. George and Lennie’s dynamic is much like that of an older and younger brother through their

attitudes towards eachother.
    George and Lennie’s relationship in the latter half of the book is more parent child.

“I’ll tell George I foun’ it dead...But he’ll know. George always knows. He’ll say, ‘You done it. Don’t try to put nothing over me.’ An’ he’ll say, ‘Now jus’ for that you don’t get to tend no rabbits! (pg 85).” Lennie considers hiding his mistakes so he won’t be scolded. Lennie knows that he can’t get away with anything when it comes to George since he knows when Lennie is lying all the time. “If you think George gonna let you tend rabbits, you’re crazier’n usual. He ain’t. He’s gonna beat hell outta you with a stick, that’s what he’s gonna do...George won’t do nothing like that. I’ve knew George since--I forget when--and he ain’t never raised his han’ to me with a stick. He’s nice to me. He ain’t gonna be mean. (pg 102)” Lennie’s fears are that he will face the consequence of his action and be hit by George. Lennie knows however that George loves him so he wouldn’t abuse him at least. “‘No,’ said George. ‘No Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.’ (pg 106)” George tries to comfort lennie by telling the standard parent thing of ‘I’m not mad at you.’ George makes sure Lennie knows one last time he cares for him before he has to hurt him. George holds a parental position over Lennie in the last chapters of the

book.
    Their relationship is one formed out of genuine emotional attachment since George really does want to see through that Lennie is doing okay and Lennie loves George and will follow him so long as he is wanted. The first part of the book George is more rough with Lennie, the way and older brother would be but in the latter half he is more gentle with him like a father. In every point of the book George is always the more dominant of the two. He is Lennie’s caretaker and Lennie is George’s responsibility. We all only want the best for those we love. Even when it’s hard to make the right decision we have to sometimes for the benefit of others. The George and Lennie dynamic is one that has genuine love and caring from both parties, even if it may seem one-sided they are always both there for eachother.