What if staying true to your word wasn't as easy as it appears when it comes down to your personal happiness? In the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, it teaches varieties of lessons on the significance of loyalty. When elucidating these lessons, the author adds in multiple forms of self argument, especially when it relates back to George Milton's personal confliction as he struggles with the hard decision on whether or not he should leave Lennie Small, a mentally ill adult alone to fend for himself. George would be gaining a life of freedom and less weight on his shoulders with abandoning Lennie, however he should not leave Lennie as he would not be able to survive by himself and George would be leaving the stability of having someone …show more content…
to rely on. In regard of Georges undying want to not have the burden of guardianship, if he ever left him alone, Lennie would not be able to survive both physically and mentally.
In the passage Lennie states, “George… I ain't got mine. I musta lost it”(22). Though in different terms, it may seem as a representation of his continuous forgetful mind and clumsiness on some matters of subject. Yet, it can also seem that with this mindset, Lennie could gradually forget how to do certain activities and where his surroundings are without the assistance of another companion to remind him. George tells Lennie, “... You can’t remember nothing that happens, but you remember ever’ word I say”(103). This directly states that, like explained before, Lennie seems to only remember the key things in his life, such as the verbatim that George constantly reminds him of. However, if left alone, these commentaries will start to gradually fade out with the mental illness that Lennie is acquired with since birth. Yes, it is almost definite that if he abandons Lennie, than George will be procured with a large amount of freedom in what he carries out during his spare time, but it generally isn’t the right thing to do, because Lennie’s wellbeing should be considered in the debate as …show more content…
well. During the Great Depression, it seemed to be a rare ordeal if you ever saw two or more people traveling together, especially if they're working me.
Though it may not be common, those citizens were lucky enough to even have someone they could communicate and rely on. In debating against George, Slim said, “I hardly never seen two guys travel together. You know how the hands are, they just come in and get their bunk and work a month, and then they quit and go out alone” (39). Relating back to the situation George and Lennie are in, Slim outlines just how surprising it may seem for two workers to have stuck together throughout most of their existence. The amount of importance George is to Lennie can seem almost extravagant, him being deceived that George feels almost the same way. Without George, Lennie generally does not know how to proceed with life, as it implies that who knows how long Lennie would have remained hidden inside of a pond side bush. To Lennie, Crooks pointedly suggests, “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” (72). This is a fair description of what is factually presented in earlier claims, stating that even if the feeling of privacy is desired, being alone in the world is dreaded amongst many. If you had the chance to live that way, why would
you? In result to the bond both Lennie and George have, they should not be separated, even if it was by the will of George’s actions. In multiple chapters George even implies that he would rather have Lennie stay with him than alone. However, even if he tells Lennie about how he would be able to succeed more with his life, he should not leave Lennie due to his incapability to even keep up with his own thoughts.
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
...e ever since they were children. Lennie knew that he owed George for all that he had done for him over the years. Other than that, Lennie just loved George and wanted to be with him. He hated the thought of making George angry. Often times Lennie said he could go by himself and live in a cave if George really did not want to be with him. It was obvious that Lennie could never really think of leaving George. Lennie stayed loyal to George until the very end, unaware of what would happen. Even though George did care for Lennie, he did not give Lennie the loyalty and friendship back like he deserved. It was easy for Lennie to be so loyal partially because of his simple mindedness. He almost acted like a puppy, following around its owner and trying to defend it. If only George realized what a good friend he had in Lennie.
Another trait of Lennie’s is that he is often forgetful, he can’t even remember anything that was told to him twenty seconds before. “‘You remember where we’re goin’ now?’ Lennie looked startled and then in embarrassment hid his face against his knees. ‘I forgot again.’” This quote shows that George repeatedly tells Lennie things but he forgets them from one minute to the next. This happened several times such as the time when he forgot how he got kicked out of Weed. This trait effects Lennie because he often forgets important
Lennie Small, a mentally impaired man, is first introduced to us traveling with George. George, however, is not related to Lennie. Lennie travels with George because no one else understands him like he does. Lennie says, “Because…because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you…” (Steinbeck 14). Lennie believes if George ever left him that he could live in a cave by himself and not bother anyone again (Steinbeck 12). Lennie realizes he would be alone without George, but he never has known anyone else to depend on but George, and from that, they have a bond, a friendship. This shows Lennie’s need for his relationship with George.
Lennie has always been told what to do by George. George really helps him through problems that keep happening during the book. Lennie is incapable to live because he does not know his strength and George has to play the role as a living assistant for Lennie. Lennie does not mean to harm but because of his condition he essentially harms people. In the book it explains the
George is an admirable character because he has the courage to kill Lennie himself instead of letting the other men find and kill him. George shows great concern about Lennie when Lennie asks him if he will give Lennie hell about accidentally breaking Curley’s wife’s neck. Instead, George simply replies, “You can’t remember nothing that happens, but you remember ever’ word I say”(Steinbeck,101). Due to Lennie’s mental disorder, he can not recall much from his past which is another reason why George regrets what he has said in the past. In reality, George
During the course of the novel, Lennie is faced with a variety of challenges. The first impediment he encounters is remembering everyday things in general. For example, at one point he thinks he has lost his working ticket when he was never in possession of it in the first place. George and Lennie are run out of the town of Weed because Lennie had once again gotten himself and George in trouble. He saw a girl wearing a soft
First, when Lennie sticks his head in the scummy water from the stream in the beginning of the book it shows his inability to think things through before he carries through with them. Another example includes when he grabbed the woman’s dress in Weed. He did not think it through when a normal fully mentally capable person would be able to think that grabbing a strange woman’s dress would not be appropriate. Similarly, he almost duplicates the situation except this time instead of finally letting go of the dress he accidentally killed Curley’s wife resulting in a worse outcome than the situation in Weed. Lennie is unable to think for himself in a safe and well opinionated manner, therefore, he needs someone like George to take care of him and prevent him from bad situations. However, the worse part about Lennie’s neverending trilogy of mistakes is that he does not learn from them. He makes the same mistake of killing multiple mice because he pets them too hard and never learns to be more gentle. George states in the novel ,”He’s awright. Just ain’t bright. But he can do anything you tell him.” (Steinbeck 22) This statement shows that though George is telling the boss how well he can work, he is also expressing how he doesn’t make decisions for himself and that he needs George to take care of him. George also says,” Yeah, you forgot. You always forget, an’ I got to talk you out of it.” (Steinbeck 23) This statement also portrays some of the reason he doesn’t learn from his mistakes. Lennie has a very difficult time remembering anything other than instructions that George gives him. George could not have just let Lennie go because he would not be able to make good decisions, nor could he take care of himself on his own, therefore George made the right decision to end Lennie’s
The sound of ice swerving in the crystal clear glass echoed through my ear. I was at the Old Susy’s place regretting the decision I took for Lennie. I drank until noon and went back to the ranch. As I entered, I noticed everyone was looking at me with deep concern in their eyes. I wasn't in the mood to talk so I went straight to my bed. I heard Candy’s footsteps inch closer to me.
Throughout the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie and George express loyalty to each other and the reader indirectly finds themselves becoming loyal to their partnership. Lennie expresses loyalty when George says to Lennie “George still stared morosely at the fire. ‘When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nut. I never get no peace.’ Lennie still knelt. He looked off into the darkness across the river. ‘George, you want I should go away and leave you alone?’” (Steinbeck 12) showing how Lennie is willing to leave George if he has become a problem for him. George is saying how good he could have it if Lennie wasn’t in his life but doesn’t leave Lennie and Lennie asks if he should go away if he is making it hard for George. Lennie is being very loyal to George by being willing to leave George just so that he can be happier and life a better life. Also, Lennie after hearing George complain about how difficult Lennie makes his life is still willing to do whatever George tells him to no matter the consequences. Furthermore, George doesn’t leave Lennie and Lennie doesn’t leave George due to their loyalty and needing of each other (Steinbeck 12). Lennie goes to extreme of fighting someone to express his loyalty when “George turned to Lennie. ‘It ain’t your fault,’ he said. ‘You don’t need to be scairt no more. You done jus’ what I tol’ you to. Maybe you better go in the washroom an’ clean up your face. You look like hell.’ Lennie smiled with is bruised mouth. ‘I didn’t want no trouble,’ he said. He walked toward the door, but just before he came to it he turned back. ‘George?’ ‘What yo...
Lennie has a tendency to forget things even if he was just told them. Without George, Lennie would not have any idea what to do, where to go, or what to say. George is like Lennie’s brain; he does most of the thinking and just repeatedly tells Lennie what to say/do. Without George Lennie would never have
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
The point is that Lennie does remember most of the things that George tells him. For example, he can remember what George says when he is angry. Thus, since George instructed him to return to a certain place, Lennie does remember this thing. He just can not remember what he can and can not do. As mentioned above, Lennie does not have very much control over his own life and behavior.
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...