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What themes did john steinbeck use of mice and men
What themes did john steinbeck use of mice and men
Relationship George and Lennie
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Emily McFadden
Mrs. Duchak
English 2 Honors
22 January 2017
Of Mice And Men Essay
The relationship of George and Lennie was one of many complications, but it was also a very endearing one. At times, George screamed and degraded Lennie like a dog, while at others, he treated him like a baby brother. Lennie was truly never anything like George. They had obvious differences, but they also represented parts of a total person. What one of them could not do, the other was skillful at. George and Lennie completed each other. No matter what physical damage Lennie resulted in at the end, both characters were destroyed. In Of Mice and Men, the two brother-like buddies, shared a very unique relationship.
Lennie was the utter opposite
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Due to Lennie’s many involuntary crimes, George is nearly forced to shoot Lennie. If George had not done this, not only would Lennie be severely tortured, George would also never have a normal life. So, it is obvious that Lennie is destroyed due to his death, but George is destroyed emotionally. He knew Lennie did not deserve to die, he knew Lennie did not do what he did on purpose. “Lennie never done it in meaness. All the time he done bad things, but he never done one of ‘em mean” (Steinbeck 95) . George no longer had a companion, someone to rely on, or family. He was truly lost, just another one of the guys on the ranch. “Nearly every character struggles with some type of loneliness or feelings of separation” (60) . This quote describes how George was left in life; alone, and without Lennie. However, another quote follows this event, leaving some optimism for George. “George is left alone after Lennie dies, but there is still hope when he leaves with Slim” (Hinds) . Of Mice and Men was a truly escalating novel with many sharp turns and surprises, but it was always very clear how close the two men were with each other. No matter the differences or obstacles Lennie and George had, they always had each other at the end of the night. Unfortunately, the novel ended with neither of the characters being together ever
In ending of "Of Mice And Men", George kills Lennie after he killed Curley's wife. However, I can still feel sympathy towards George, and see his action as justifiable. In the beginning of the book I had sympathy towards George. The book starts with George talking to Lennie and from this you learn a lot about their relationship. After Lennie asks for ketchup, which they can't get, George gets angry at Lennie and says, “Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want. God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble" (6). This shows the reader that George has given up a lot to take care of Lennie. He has given up his job security and a lot of his happiness because he takes care of Lennie. In chapter 3, the reader finds out how George and Lennie started traveling together, and from this the reader can infer that George travels
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.
That ain’t no good, George.’”(Steinbeck 97). Because Lennie killed Curley’s wife, he committed a felony. George wanted Lennie to be thrown in jail at first. He wanted Lennie to be arrested because he thought it was the best thing for Lennie but then Slim told him it would not be good for Lennie. It would be bad for Lennie because Lennie would not understand his rights because he’s mentally challenged and locking him up in a cage would just hurt Lennie. George then realized he needed to kill Lennie so nobody would mistreat him. George is protecting others from Lennie.”’Lennie-if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before…’”(Steinbeck 15). George has been with Lennie for many years and he knows how Lennie will never learn and he will keep committing bad stuff. George knew something was going to happen at the ranch because Lennie has always done something wrong. George tried to prevent something from going wrong but he couldn’t. As a result he had to put down Lennie so he would not hurt anyone ever again. George felt the hard choice of killing Lennie was the right decision for George because Curley wanted to get his revenge, Lennie would be mistreated in prison and he was
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 trouble in weed and George explains “Well he saw a girl in a red dress and a red dress and he just wanted to feel it and when he touched it the girl just starts yelling and all he can think to do is hold on” ( Steinbeck 41). The quote states or explains how Lennie can scare or harm people.
...discovered that Lennie killed his wife, and George didn't want Lennie to suffer. All in all, Lennie and George have a mutualistic relationship because they give each other companionship and protection in Of Mice and Men.
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
Lennie’s unintentional mistakes resulted in the sudden end for him, but was done in the best way possible. As Lennie would’ve been subjected to a life of loss, running and suffering, George correctly made the decision in euthanizing him. While contemplating whether or not to euthanize him, George knew he very well could but it wasn’t the easiest decision to make on his part. If George wouldn’t of made the decision he did, Lennie would’ve had to run for the rest of his life with no account of what happened or what to do due to his mental illness. He would’ve been seen as a criminal and hunted down like animal which is inhumane and cruel. Although his mishaps weren’t meant to be as extreme as they were, the consequences were foreshadowed throughout
George and Lennie are both main characters in Of Mice and Men. They both have journeys that they go on throughout the book. George was a quick-witted man who cared for Lennie. George took on the job of caring for Lennie when his aunt died. He frequently spoke about how his life would be better if he did not have to care for Lennie. Although he spoke of this often he was devoted to Lennie and to delivering them the farm
In Of Mice and Men, Lennie’s loss of innocence, which occurs in the form of his death (Steinbeck 106), impacts George both negatively and positively in ways that he loses his best friend, he loses hope on his dream, and he will have an easier life with no burden. A negative effect of George was that he loses his best friend. Lennie was all George had “because I [Lennie] got you [George] to look after me, and you got me to look after you …” (Steinbeck 14). The death of Lennie causes an impact on George in that he now has no one to be with. With Lennie gone, George is also unable to fulfill his dream of having his own ranch. Although George said that he never really believed that he would own a ranch, Lennie’s optimism gave him hope for a chance that it might come true (Steinbeck 94). Now that the optimism is gone, there is no reason for George to fulfill that dream. One of the positive effects that George has is that his life will be easier. Because Lennie had mental issues, George was always saving him from getting in trouble, such as when Lennie spoke to the boss when he wasn’t supposed to (Steinbeck 22). Even George said himself, “’If I was along I could live so easy … I could get a job an’ not have no mess.’” (Steinbeck 103). Along with an easier life, George will also have no burden. Lennie is always accidentally getting in trouble and George has to keep covering for him. George even says, “’Yeah, you forgot. You always forget, an’ I got to talk you out of it.’” (Steinbeck 23). With Lennie gone, George just has to fend for himself and, therefore, his life will be easier.
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck brings out the themes of Lonliness and companionship, and strengths and weaknesses through the actions, and quotations of the characters. Irony and foreshadowing play a large roll on how the story ends. Lennie and his habit of killing things not on purpose, but he is a victim of his own strength. George trying to pretend that his feelings for Lennie mean nothing. The entire novel is repetitive in themes and expressed views.
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.
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
He keeps saying that he’ll run away and live in a cave if he got in trouble. Considering that Lennie doesn’t even remember his aunt at certain moments, he wouldn’t have gotten very far. He is “...jus’ like a kid”(43). Many people compare him to a big baby and he isn’t too bright. He also hallucinated for a little bit. Lennie is next to the water, when he starts seeing his aunt and a rabbit, both of them criticising his decisions. He is clearly mentally unstable and unfit to live by himself in the woods. He has always had George with him, and that is the only reason he has lived as long as he had. He is an extremely dependent person due to his disability, so George did the right thing in killing him. Others would say that George and Lennie could go off together and find some other job, but there is no guarantee that he wouldn’t mess up again or that the people wouldn’t find them. All in all, George did the merciful
In the novel Of mice and Men by John Steinbeck, there are many friendship shown, the strongest being between George and Lennie. The two of them stood together throughout the book, except for at the end when George gave in and did what was right. Other friendships are shown between Crooks and Lennie, and Slim and George. Each person benefits slightly from each friendship they have, but Lennie probably is the one who benefits the most.
Even though the book has its rough spots, Steinbeck portrays the true bond of friendship that even people as close as siblings have. Throughout the story, George and Lennie stand up for each other, understand one another, and George always knows what is best for Lennie. George did not want to kill Lennie, but at the same time, he did not want him to have to suffer the horrible consequences; he knew that Lennie’s death would be beneficial to Lennie in the future. Furthermore, George knew what was best for Lennie and decided to kill him for his own good.