Relationships In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

“Hardly none of the guys ever travel together. I hardly ever seen two guys travel together” (Steinbeck 39) Why is it weird for men to be together? John Steinbeck’s, Of Mice and Men, repeatedly shows two men who are responsible for each other and others looking in on their relationship as something that’s odd. Emphasizing the point that men are pressured into being alone and emotionless by society, but have a desire to be with other people. Male relationships are a theme in the book and revealed in these illumination moments: Lennie’s following and imitation of George, Carlson’s attitude towards George and Lennie being together, Crook wanting companionship, and George’s decision to kill Lennie.
As they walk into a clearing in the very beginning,

a male relationship is introduced through description. “They walked in a single file path down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other.”(Steinbeck 2) In a simple matter Steinbeck describes two men with one being the obvious leader, starting his theme of male relationships. Followed quickly by “Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them. looked over to George to see whether he had it just right”(Steinbeck 4) In these two men’s relationship one is the leader and the other is a follower. They stick together throughout the book and even before the story begins, but not everyone understands their relationship.
An illuminating moment in the development theme of male relationships is the example of the men of the era, the ranch boss and Carlson.

“Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. I just like to know what your interest is.”(Steinbeck 22) Men don’t understand why two guys would help each other out, as George does for Lennie by having him not talk when they are speaking with the boss. Or Carlson, who has no sentimentality, “Look, Candy. This ol’ dog jus’ suffers hisself all the time. If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head-”(Steinbeck 45) Carlson doesn’t care about what something was but how it is now, and if it is useful. The men of this era were pragmatic and were expected to like solitude, but no one really wants to be

alone.
Being alone and with no one to talk to is something no one desires, but it was typical for men of the time. “A guy sets alone out here at night, maybe readin’ books or thinkin’ or stuff like that.”(Steinbeck 73) “Books ain’t no good. A guy needs somebody to be near him… I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick”(Steinbeck 72-72) Crooks gets lonely and wants to talk to others, but as he’s black he is given his own quarters, and has no one to talk to. This is a common theme within the book; men aren’t supposed to need companionship according to the stereotypes of the era. Instead of being strong with no emotions they all want to have relationships with other people, and with those come hard choices.
In Lennie’s final moments Steinbeck reveals more of the responsibility in male relationship as George takes responsibility for what needs to happen.

After Lennie killed Curley’s wife and the others went to hunt Lennie and shoot him in the guts George knew what he had to do. After “He pulled the trigger”(Steinbeck 106) By doing this he helped Lennie from dying a slow painful death as well as not having the same regret as Candy. “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to to of let no stranger shoot my dog”(Steinbeck 61) Even though it was hard for George to do it, it was an important part of their relationship. Helping each other out when no other men of the time would have helped, and showing a male relationship in a world that doesn’t understand them. Helping each other is a part of a male relationship and helping a friend even if it’s one of the hardest things to do.
Illuminated through key moments male relationships are revealed as a theme in Steinbeck’s novel. Descriptions of George and Lennie reveal the roles in their relationship in the very beginning of the novel. Through dialogue the stereotypical men of the era is revealed by Carlson and the ranch boss. The loneliness in men is described in Crook’s talk with Lennie is an extreme example as he is forced to be by himself. The tough choices that come with relationships is illuminated through George’s choice to shoot Lennie. Why is it wrong for men to be in relationships when no one wants to be

alone?