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Analysis on the movie of mice and men
Of mice and men summary
An Analysis of the Theme of the Novel of Mice and Men
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Friendships can vary, but once you find your true friends, that's when the fun begins. George and Lennie were polar opposites, but they found each other and have been through so much since. Steinbeck the author of Of Mice and Men explores George and Lennie’s relationship at the time of the Great Depression. These two men had a friendship filled with both positive and negative moments, but it always came out of a loving heart. The devotion and loyalty between the two men will be discussed, followed by how much they have been through together and lastly how they had big dreams planned. George and Lennie had a very loyal and amiable relationship that was shown throughout the whole story. One strong and powerful with a brain of a child and one …show more content…
small and hostile. George and Lennie really were opposites, but they created a bond between them that would never end.
George was like a brother Lennie never had. Even though Lennie Small is ironically bigger and stronger than George, George was the one who took care and protected Lennie when he couldn't. Their friendship was so pure that they would risk their jobs if it meant they could stay united on their journey. Some people including The Boss, were confused and also shocked when he saw how solid their friendship was. Back then, migrant workers did not have much and considering George had Lennie by his side, he lost several job opportunities. “Because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you [...].” (Steinbeck 14). Even though Lennie is mentally slower and always forgets things, he knew for a fact that George would never take off on him. He knew their friendship was that …show more content…
powerful and worth living for. “Course Lennie’s a God damn nuisance most of the time, but you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him.” (Steinbeck 41). George will never give up or leave Lennie because of his disability. If George wanted to leave Lennie, he would have a lot earlier because Lennie was a hassle. Although he might drag George down or get them into trouble, he really admires Lennie and honours their friendship tremendously. It was shown many times in the book that these two men had a strong relationship that was based on their love for one another. George and Lennie have been through so much together on their journey, which made George feel like he needed to be the one to kill Lennie in the end.
Their relationship consisted of good and bad times, but the times of hardships are the ones that always made their friendship grow stronger and more faithful. “Him and me was both born in Auburn. [...] When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a while.” (Steinbeck 40). George was there for Lennie during the tragic times in his life and George was there to consolidate him when no one else did. He helped support Lennie when times were rough by getting him back on his feet. “Dumb bastard like he is, he wants to touch everything he likes. [...] So he reaches out to feel this red dress an’ the girl lets out a squawk [...].” (Steinbeck 41). People thought Lennie was raping the girl but he only touched the girl’s dress out of curiosity. As a result of this incident, they had to disappear from Weed and flee from the angry mob of people. At this point, George could have left Lennie, but being the loyal friend he is, he couldn’t give up on their friendship. This made it evident that the two men have been through obstacles in their journey which ultimately made their friendship
stronger. George and Lennie planned out their whole future and how their story would go, but then suffered because of Lennie’s death. They had the dream of independence and to buy a piece of land that they would own themselves. At first, George did not presume their dream was even possible, but since Lennie believed in it so much, he started to too. “With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We have somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.” (Steinbeck 14). George states that they have a dream, and they were going to act upon it, unlike other men who had all these dreams but never did anything about it. “How’s it gonna be? We gonna get a little place.” “We’ll have a cow. An’ we’ll have a pig an’ chickens… an’ down the flat we’ll have a… little piece alfalfa-” “For the rabbits?” “For the rabbits.” (Steinbeck 105). George and Lennie already had in mind how it would be when they bought the ranch. In the dialogue stated, they described that they would have plenty of animals that Lennie could pet. After Lennie killed Curley’s wife, George knew their dream was now impossible. He knew that Lennie was going to die but he didn’t want to make the same mistake as Candy by having someone else kill his best friend for him. George knew he wanted to be the one to do it. He certainly was not expecting this to be the end for them, but it had to be done which left their dreams crushed, similar to all the other characters. There was so much at stake, if one thing went wrong, their whole plan would collapse and that is exactly what happened. In conclusion, George and Lennie’s friendship was for the most part stable and loving. Although at times it was spoiled with George’s aggressive character, their friendship always came from a devoted heart. Their relationship was like no other with the commitment of both partners to each other. They’ve been through so much together and even planned out their future, which showed the readers the type of friendship they had and what people yearn to have.
In chapter one, George and Lennie are introduced onto the scene and you get to know them a little bit and you get to see how they are related/ their relationship. When I read this first part, I could tell that George was pretty much Lennie’s caretaker and it was his job to find Lennie a job and make sure he ate enough and stayed a live. He kind of resented having to drag Lennie around (pg 11~12: “Well we ain’t got any!” George exploded. “Whatever we ain’t got, you want. If I was alone I could live so easy… But wadda I got? I got you. You can’t keep a job and you loose me every job I get.”), because Lennie’s a bit slow and he messes up a lot. He tries really hard to be good and listen to what George tells him to do, but in the end of every situation, Lennie forgets what George told him beforehand and sometimes it creates a little trouble (pg 45~46: “Well, he seen this girl in this red dress. Dumb like he is, he likes to touch ever’thing he likes. Just wants to feel it. 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. Well, this girl just squawks and squawks. I was jus’ a little bit off, and I heard all the yellin’, so I comes running, an’ by that time Lennie’s so scared all he can think to do is jus’ hold on. I socked him over the head with a fence picket to make him let go. He was so scairt he couldn’t let go of the dress. And he’s so strong, you know… Well, that girl rabbits in an’ tells the law she’s been raped. The guys in Weed start a party out to lynch Lennie. So we sit in an irrigation ditch under water all the rest of that day.”). But when you look at them, you can tell that George is...
George and Lennie were lifelong friends and had varying personalities even from the start. Lennie thought about how his Aunt Clara said he should have been more like George. At the time when the story took place, the two men were travelling together, and had been for some time, working and then moving on to search for the next job they could find. They were like many other men in search for work, except it was rare for men to travel together. George felt a need to take care of Lennie because he was somewhat slow. George was an average man of the time. He was a good size, nice, but firm, and he had aspirations to be more than just a nomadic laborer. Lennie, on the other hand, had always been a little different. He was big, goofy, clumsy, but sweet. They were also both good workers. George was concerned with working and getting his money before they got into trouble and had to leave camp. Lennie was the one who normally started the trouble. He was a hard worker and lived to appease George, but he got distracted easily which angered George. George told about how they would own a house and a farm together and work for themselves. Lennie loved to hear the story and think about the possibilities, even though nobody knew if any of it was a possibility. George and Lennie's differences in part led to George's inclination to kill Lennie. Despite their dissimilarity, the two men needed each other probably more than they realized.
It is very apparent that each of the four characters in the two friendships feed off of each other. In Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie are very different, yet they need one other. George is a very independent, loyal, and caring person who takes care of Lennie because Lennie is unable to take care of himself. Although George makes it seem like he would be better off without Lennie, George makes it clear that without him he would be better off. This is evident because of this conversation h regularly had with Lennie” I could go get a job an’
Of Mice and Men - George and Lennie seem to have a very close friendship throughout the story. Of Mice and Men George and Lennie seem to have a very close friendship throughout the story. This is strange because they are completely different from each other mentally, as well as physically. The author tells us that George is a small, quick and defined man. He is the leader of the two men and makes all the plans.
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.
In all of these quotes George is looking after Lennie similar to how a brother would look after a younger sibling. From when he is talking to Slim about Lennie’s work ethic on page 39 to when he is trying to keep Lennie from getting into trouble with Curley and his wife on pages 32 and 29, George is always looking after Lennie in some way. Alongside the last example, Steinbeck illustrates a caring relationship between George and Lennie. “ [George] ‘They ain’t got nobody in the worl’ that gives a hoot in hell about em-’...[Lennie] ‘But not us’” (104). George and Lennie always come back to the subject of looking out for each other. This is demonstrated when Lennie is talking to Crooks about George and Crooks says, “jus’ s’pose he don’t come back. What’ll you do then” (72)? Just the mention of George doesn't come back or being hurt makes Lennie defensive about George, “Suddenly Lennie’s eyes centered and grew quiet, and mad. He stood up and walked dangerously toward Crooks, Who hurt George” (72). Lennie is attached to George, to Lennie, he is the only person in the world that actually cares about his well being.They have been together for years, which is quite similar
Do you know what the meaning of friendship is? In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, you learn about George and Lennie taking care of each other. They also support one another in striving after their shared dream. George and Lennie make sacrifices for one another and are responsible for one another. George and Lennie’s relationship shows us the true meaning of friendship.
They are a textbook example of loyal friends. They, together, are like peanut butter and jelly in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Lennie gives George someone to talk to and someone to keep him on track. George gives Lennie insight into the world and someone that will respect him even though he isn’t intelligent. They, more importantly, give each other something to live for.
Relationships are an important essence of life. Humans need relationships because we are dependent on each other to survive. Babies need their mothers to feed and nurse them, and friends need each other to support, comfort, sympathize, and understand them. The friendship between George and Lennie outlined the core of Of Mice and Men, and although it’s sometimes idealized and exaggerated throughout the novel, there is no question of its sincerity. 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 done a real bad thing. I shouldn’t have did that. George’ll be mad. An’… he said…. An’ hide in the brush till he come. He’s gonna be mad.” (pg. 92) On the other hand, George thinks of Lennie as a constant source of frustration, and as he frequently mention in the novel, “God, you’re a lot of trouble. I could get along so easy and nice if I didn’t have you on my t...
Whether or not the men have a stable friendship with others determines some of their actions. George and Lennie’s friendship is very strong, so they base off their actions on the other persons. The have been staying together for many years. The two moving around and living together is great for Lennie, because due to
George’s relationship with Lennie has made him selfless; his conversations, with and with out Lennie, are generally revolving around Lennie, although in the case of their dream-ranch George seems to find fulfilment for himself as well. Due to these altruistic tendencies that he shows throughout the novel, a danger is bestowed upon George; he tends to care for Lennie far too much, and too little for himself. In occasional moments, he escapes his sympathy and compassion for Lennie, and realises the burden that he causes. This usually results in George taking his frustration out on Lennie, which can often harm his simple mind, leaving Lennie upset and forced to confess to his own uselessness, and George feeling guilty for what he has caused. We can learn very little about George through his actual conversations, which made it necessary for Steinbeck to focus the novel on him in particular, and let the reader gain an closer insight on him through his actions. Generally, he seems to be caring, intelligent and sensible, but is greatly worn by the constant attention Lennie requires. This illustrates a major theme in Of Mice and Men, the dangers that arise when one becomes involved in a dedicated relationship.
Steinbeck tries to establish a perfect image of friendship by introducing us to George and Lennie. They are an extraordinary team, with Lennie being of monstrous size with a simple mind, and George being a smart and typical worker. Many times throughout the novel, Lennie threatens to go live in a cave to leave George alone so he won't have to take care of him anymore. However, George always explains to Lennie that he wants him by his side at all times because he knows they need each other: "No! I was just foolin', Lennie. 'Cause I want you to stay with me. . ."(13). This expresses that in order for them to have a successful friendship, they must first share their lives together to make every puzzle piece fit together. After the two men arrive at the bunk house, they meet the workers who all seem like they have no one that is willing to spend their life with as lovingly as George and Lennie. Slim, one of the mos...
George’s struggles with himself become apparent at the beginning of the novel. Steinbeck clearly lets the reader know that George has conflicting feelings about Lennie. He believed, “ ...if he was alone he could live so easy. He could go get a job an ' work, an ' no trouble” (11). George is basically telling Lennie that sometimes, he wishes he could live
The famed nurses study from Harvard found “Not having a close friend is as detrimental to your health as smoking.” Lennie and George’s friendship is necessary to keep the better for each other. Throughout the story, Lennie and George need each other and look out for one another no matter what. Lennie and George’s friendship and journey throughout the story symbolizes the struggles to achieve the American dream. Steinbeck, in the story Of Mice and Men, combines characterization and symbolism to prove friends do whats best for eachother.
Although it seemed like George and Lennie’s relationship was not very equitable, thorough examination of their interactions, conversations and time spent together reveal that they indeed had a true friendship. Thus, the men were always there to back each other up; they accepted one another; and George always knew the right decisions for Lennie. In conclusion, Steinbeck shows us that a true friendship can be a bit difficult at times, but in the end two can come together to make the perfect team that will always have each other for support. When the time comes for you, and you find “the perfect friend”, you should think to yourself: Would this person ever be as close to me as George and Lennie were in the book, Of Mice and Men by John