Relationships are the key to learning about oneself. The novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, proves that a relationship with another results in self-discovery. Throughout the story, it is shown that Lennie causes George to learn more about himself through friendship, responsibility, and his need for others. Lennie’s presence in George’s life causes George to learn about his friendship. An example of this is when George talks to a friend about his relationship with Lennie. He says that “Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while” (Steinbeck, 89). George implies that Lennie is different from others, however their relationship grows despite this. It is shown that as George spends with Lennie it causes him to experience friendship and to accept Lennie’s differences. It is proven that Lennie’s presence in George’s life causes George to realize that he is a friend to Lennie. Another example that proves how George’s relationship with Lennie promotes their friendship is when George is talking to Candy about his old dog. “Well-hell! I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him…You wouldn’t think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen” (Steinbeck, 44). Candy talks about the friendship between him and his old dog and how the time they had together assisted their bonding. George relates this to Lennie, and believes that the longer that they are together the better friends that they will become. It is shown that George sees his relationship with Lennie when he relates it to Candy and his dog. This proves that Lennie causes George to realize that he can be a friend. Lennie also causes George to realize his responsibility. An exam... ... middle of paper ... ... the time, but you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him” (Steinbeck, 45). George says that none of his other friends are quite like Lennie. They did not have a true relationship with him. George also says that Lennie is an annoyance most of the time, but he got used to it and eventually could not get rid of him. This shows that George is lonely, due to the loss of Lennie. It is proven that Lennie causes George to realize his need for others in his life. In the novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, it is shown that Lennie causes George to learn more about himself through friendship, responsibility, and his need for others. This proves that a relationship with another results in self-discovery. Therefore, relationships are the key to learning about oneself. One could learn from this that they need others to learn more about themselves.
John Steinbeck, an American novelist, is well-known for his familiar themes of depression and loneliness. He uses these themes throughout a majority of his novels. These themes come from his childhood and growing up during the stock market crash. A reader can see his depiction of his childhood era. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck shows the prominent themes of loneliness, the need for relationships, and the loss of dreams in the 1930s through the novels’ character.
Two characters to be analyzed in terms of their male relationships are George and Lennie. An article describes the friendship between men, and how most of the time it is more than just a normal friendship. The author states, “The heroic friendship was a friendship between two men that was intense on an emotional and intellectual level” (McKay). Guys have a stronger relationship than just being able to hang out and have fun. They have a bond that they are emotionally involved in, meaning they really love each other but not in anything more than friends. They also are connected on an intellectual level, which means they know everything about each other and they are able to open up whenever they need a friend. There are a lot of scenes from Of Mice and Men that show George and Lennie’s friendship. One scene is when George is telling Lennie how most people are alone trying to get through life, but they are different. They have each other. George says, “ If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us! An' why? Because… because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's why. He laughed delightedly” (Steinbeck 40). This quote from Of Mice and Men shows that George and Lennie connect on an emotional and intellectual level. They both know that they have each others back for no matter what they go through
In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the need for companionship is shown throughout the book. Crooks, Curley's wife, and George and Lennie all illustrate that you need trustworthy friendships to live your life to its full potential and pursue your dreams.. That is why I believe that, had Lennie lived, he and George could have taken their companionship further and gotten the little cottage they wanted, enabling them to achieve their dream of “'[living] off the fatta the lan''” (14).
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’
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 terms of emotional stability, there is only one thing in life that is really needed and that is friends. Without friends, people would suffer from loneliness and solitude. Loneliness leads to low self-esteem and deprivation. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the characters, Crooks, Candy, and Curley's wife all exhibit some form of loneliness. They are driven towards the curiosity of George and Lennie's friendship because they do not have that support in their life. Through his novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck demonstrates that often times, a victim of isolation will have a never-ending search to fulfill a friendship.
Lennie looked timidly over to him. “George?” “Yeah, what you want?” “Where we goin’, George?” “So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again do I?” “I forgot,” Lennie said softly. (Steinbeck 4)
Yet what most fail to see is that Of Mice and Men portrays both aspects of human life through the mutual friendship of two uncommon men, George and Lennie, the dream they both share, and the sudden calamity that befalls them. Relationships are an important part 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.
Friendship is a key theme in the novel written by John Steinbeck, titled Of Mice and Men. The friendships that some of the men have with each other contributes to how well they cope with everyday obstacles. The men with greater friendships seem to be happier and have certain goals for their future. The presence or absence of friendship in Of Mice and Men affects characters in their actions, relationships, and their happiness.
Loneliness and Companionship are one of the many themes that are conveyed in the novel Of Mice and Men, By John Steinbeck. Many of the characters admit to suffering from loneliness within the texts. George sets the tone for these confessions early in the novel when he reminds Lennie that the life of living on a ranch is among the loneliest of lives. However Lennie, who is mentally disabled holds the idea that living on a farm very high. "Tending the rabbits" is what Lennie calls it. Often when Lennie is seaking encouragement he askes George to tell him how its going to be. Men like George who migrate from farm to farm rarely have anyone to look to for companionship and protection. George obviously cares a lot for lennie, but is too stubborn to admit to it. The feeling of being shipped from place to place leaves George feeling alone and abandoned.
Therefore, George is special. He has someone to love and to be loved by, something other people simply don’t have. His possession of a friend is rare for someone of his lifestyle. He recognizes this. Without Lennie, though, he loses what differentiate him from every other lonely ranch hand. He becomes a lost soul. He no longer has anything to live for, or any hope that things will change. Loneliness is his new companion.
When George is ready to kill Lennie, Lennie reminds him that they got each other, even if they are not a family (104). Works Cited Steinbeck, John. The 'Standard'. Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin Books, 1993.
Lennie and George’s companionship meet and transcend all the needed requirements. 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 on the world and someone that will respect him even though he isn’t intelligent. They, more importantly, give each other something to live for. If George wouldn’t have met Lennie he would be a drunk in a whorehouse dying of cirrhosis. If Lennie didn’t meet George he would of died soon after his aunt did, because he would either have got himself in a bind with no one to help him or he would of simply wondered off and died of loneliness.
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.
Although it seemed like George and Lennie’s relationship was not very equitable, a thorough examination of their interactions, conversations and time spent together revealed 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, the 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 Steinbeck?