Helen Keller once said, “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light”. There is always a time during one’s lifetime when one will depend on another significant person. John Steinbeck wrote the book Of Mice and Men during the late 1930s, which was during a period of agricultural and economic downfall. As a result, the period, called the Great Depression, caused unemployment, and made former middle class Americans into migrant workers who suffered the hardships of moving from place to place. Furthermore, through John Steinbeck’s use of characterization, he defines that the friendship between Lennie and George changes how their lives are lived.
Essentially, the difference between life with and without
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friendship is monumental. The use of characterization describes how a person’s life will be without a friend. At the beginning of page 11, Steinbeck writes, “Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want. God a’mighty, if I was alone I could go get a job an’ no trouble”. This shows that based on what George says, Lennie is depicted as a person who is inconsiderate and ambitious since Lennie wants things that the two of them can’t have, George thinks that without Lennie, his life would be better because he would have no trouble and could find better employment. Another example of George’s views of his and Lennie’s friendship is on page 12, “George, you want I should go away and leave you alone?’ ‘Well, I could. I could go off in the hills there. Some-place I’d find a cave.’ ‘Yeah? How’d you eat. You ain’t got sense enough to find nothing to eat”. In the context of this paragraph, George is in a bad mood because Lennie wants ketchup which shows his selfishness since they do not have any. Due to his behavior, Lennie apologizes to George and says that he could live somewhere else, but George responds and says that without him Lennie wouldn’t find any food and would starve. Even through rough times, friendship can be the key to survival.
Based on Steinbeck’s characterization of Lennie, it reveals that he is a person who is protective and slow in thought. Lennie’s attempt to believe in things is harder and hesitant such as when Crooks talked to him, “I don’ know. Say, what you doin’ anyways?’ he cried ‘This ain’t true. George ain’t hurt…’’ (pg 72). This depicts that Lennie is somewhat scared that George is hurt, but on the other hand, he is reluctant to believe that he is hurt. By being a protective type of person, this line displays that Lennie values his friendship with George, and that no matter the animosity between them, he could not live without George. Therefore, the impact of friendship it is vital for maintaining Lennie and George’s lifestyles, and any change would be drastic to them in . On page 94, “Guess.. we gotta tell the.. guys. I guess we gotta get ‘im an’ lock ‘im up we can’t let ‘im get away. Why the poor bastard’d starve”. This line is said after Lennie is found to have killed Curley’s wife, and states the realization George has about the potential of never seeing Lennie again. George worries about Lennie because if he was kicked out, he would starve to death, and this shows the huge relationship that they share. Without it, both of them feel that they will be lost and unable to …show more content…
survive. Likewise, also uses characterization to describe how Lennie and George’s life would be different more importantly better without either one.
For example on page 101 it says, “ She interrupted him. ‘All the time he coulda had such a good time if it wasn’t for you. He woulda took his pay an’ raised hell in a whore house, and he coulda set in a poolroom an’ played snooker. But he got to take care of you”. This accordingly shows during Lennie’s hallucination his Aunt Clara describes him as a person who drags back George. She states that if Lennie was never along with George, George would be able to have many girls and basically have a better life. But, because George is a very caring person as described by Steinbeck, he realizes that Lennie needs his help and that his aunt told him to take care of Lennie is why he is willing to work along with him. Also, another way that it shows that George is considerate and caring is, “ You never gave a thought to George,’ she went on in Lennie’s voice. “He been doin’ nice things for you all time. When he got a piece of pie you always got half or more’n half. An’ if they was any ketchup, why he’d give it all to you’’ (Steinbeck 101). This is also a part of Lennie’s hallucination where he is thinking that he has never done anything good for George, and George has been doing nice things for him showing that he is very caring and considerate. Without George, Lennie’s life would be eminently different because many of the things George would give
Lennie would not be there. Ultimately, the use of characterization in the book Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck exhibits that the friendship between Lennie and George changes each of their lives. Without each other there would be a significant change as in their lifestyles which would affect them in both negative and positive ways. The significance between 2 people’s friendship is life changing. But in Of Mice and Men it has helped people’s way of life, not only in the book but also in everyday life. The strong connection in friendship of anybody inevitably changes a person's life no matter what.
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...
is in the air. Animals begin to scatter. Two men have arrived on the scene,
Although Lennie was unattractive and has the tendency of accidental violence, compassion was still something readers had for him. Steinbeck constantly reminded us that he has a mental disability which automatically makes someone feel pity for him. Additionally he was ignored and made fun of by other characters, “Blubberin’ like a baby! Jesus Christ! A big guy like you”(Steinbeck 10). Him getting in trouble was beyond his control because of his mental disability which is something else that makes a reader feel sympathetic for him. Also, the readers are solicitous towards Lennie because of how much he looks up to George. This is portrayed when Crooks asks Lennie what he would do if George never came back, “Well, s’pose, jus’ s’pose he don’t come back. What’ll you do then?”(Steinbeck 70). Because of his inability to comprehend information, he got extremely defensive and said, “George is careful. He won’t get hurt” (Steinbeck 70). This scene is crafted in such a way that it automatically
Consistently throughout the story George and Lennie were there for each other; in fact towards the very beginning Lennie and George discussed how they were better off than most guys because they had each other (14). When George killed Lennie a part of him died too, George knew murdering Lennie would hurt him mentally and emotionally. However he did it because he wanted what was best for his friend no matter the cost. His actions were altruistic and that made his decision the more favorable one. Another instance when George was selfless was when he gave up his dream. Throughout the story George and Lennie dreamed of and worked towards owning their own piece of land together. However, after discovering Curley’s wife dead, George returned to reality and informed Candy that they would, “never do her” (94). After losing his friend George understood the impossibility of achieving the American Dream. Beforehand George knew he would not want to live out his dream without Lennie, so by protecting Lennie and giving up on his own dream he put Lennie above himself. Conversely, someone may believe that George's actions were selfish and that he benefits himself by killing Lennie. After George comes after Lennie, the dim-witted man asks if George was going to yell at him. Reluctantly George told him “If I was alone, I could live so easy,” (103). Although George said
During the beginning, Lennie is characterized as childish. He is very small minded. Steinbeck indirectly states that he has a mental disability. Readers notice this because of his child-like actions, specifically on page 3, “Lennie dipped his whole head under, hat and all, and then he sat up on the bank and his hat dripped down on his blue coat and ran down his back.” This disability forces George to sacrifice his freedom to help survive with his disability. George gets frustrated with Lennie’s playful personality easily, as a father might with his son. On page 11, George lets his anger out on Lennie. “I wisht I could put you in a cage with
Within the beginning of the story, the dynamic of George and Lennie’s relationship is introduced, one that is uncommon and presents a fatherly vibe. The readers are thrown into the novel at the height of the great depression, an economic catastrophe that shook the world. Within these dark time, an unlikely friendship is in full blossom and we are meet by Lennie and George setting up camp for the night by a riverbed. After the duo’s personalities are expressed, they begin to set up the idea of a commonly shared dream which exists according to Lennie “Because... because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” (Steinbeck 14). Lennie is seen as a quite simple minded and extremely dim-witted character from just the first
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.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is about the friendship between George Milton and Lennie Small, who travel together due to the fact that Lennie suffered a childlike mental illness and someone needed to take care of him. Lennie only listens to his friend George, no matter what George may say. This novel shows characteristics of their true friendship and George's compassion towards his companion. George shows acts of love and kindness out of sympathy for Lennie, yet he also seems to show an unconscious effort to make up for Lennie’s mental impairment.
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
John Steinbeck's timeless novel Of Mice and Men is a somewhat controversial story of the hardships of life. To illustrate these hardships, Steinbeck takes the reader back to an era of bankruptcies, migrant workers, and drifters. Today, this time, the 1930's, is branded the Great Depression. The quest of George and Lennie, two migrant workers, is an example of the dilemma of thousands of homeless and unemployed men in America during the Great Depression era (Ito 39). The harsh circumstances presented by the Great Depression reveal a darker side of human nature. In order to survive, a man's priority had to be himself. Through his characters, Steinbeck exposes truths about people and life in general.
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.
You can 't keep a job and you lose me ever ' job I get. Jus ' keep me shovin ' all over the country all the time. An ' that ain 't the worst. You get in trouble. You do bad things and I got to get you out. ' His voice rose nearly to a shout. 'You crazy son-of-a-bitch. You keep me in hot water all the time. ' ¨ (Steinbeck 11).George if feeling anger at Lennie because he always forgets things and isn 't very bright. He gets mad because he always has to answer Lennie´s silly questions and Lennie doesn 't understand how much George has done for him.George knows Lennie is mentally ill and since his Aunt Clara died he has no one to take care of him so George is being selfless by taking in Lennie and putting his life before his own.Since George take in Lennie, when Lennie gets in trouble George has to leave with Lennie even though it wasn 't George 's fault. He puts Lennie 's problems. In front of his own and solves them in order to help Lennie.George knows Lennie gets in a lot of trouble. George is taking the risk of getting in trouble along with Lennie if anything were to happen to Lennie. George is willing to help Lennie by taking care of him and helping him the best he can.In Of Mice and Men, by Steinbeck, George takes in Lennie
Immediately, Steinbeck writes, “You can’t keep a job and you lose me ever’ job I get. Jus’ keep shoving’ me all over the country all the time. An’ that ain’t the worst. You get in trouble. You do bad things and I got to get you out” (11). George is not sure whether Lennie will be able to stay out of trouble in this next job they get which is upsetting. He is also upset that they are not able to settle because Lennie does not know right from wrong. George should be able to live his dream life but having to care for Lennie is a big weight on his shoulders. Their friendship would be a better one if only Lennie were a...
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 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...