The Role Of Friendship In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

In 1989 the film stand by me was released. The film is about a group of friends going on a hunt for a dead body who help each other throughout the film. The kids in the film help one another, and without their friendship then they may have died. John Steinbeck, author of the powerful novella Of Mice And Men knew the effects of friendship on the human condition, as the story follows two wondering migrant farmers who are friends in spite of what was par for the course of migrant workers back in the day. In the novella Steinbeck reveals the theme that a loyal friend can be a haven in a heartless world. One of the ways Steinbeck illustrates the importance of friendship is through characterization. For example, in the first chapter George, Lennie, and their dream are

They are heading to a new job, and they talk to each other about their hopes for the future :”But not us! An’ why? Because …. because I got you and you got me to look after you”(14). This quote supports the books running theme of friendship as it shows the character’s reliance on one another, and Lennie’s want to mean something to his friend. Later in the novella there is a scene of an apathetic worker on the ranch named Carlson is talking about how terrible the Swamper’s dog smells, and that he would kill the dog for him if he wants, and to that Candy the Swamper responds with,”Well Hell! I had him so long …. Since he was a pup”(44). This also illustrates the book’s theme of friendship as it mirrors the relationship between George and Lennie, and shows that when you really care about someone then you can overlook their faults because they really know them. Candy doesn’t care that his dog smells bad, because the dog can’t help it, and he knows that doesn’t reflect the dog’s true nature. After the tragic and accidental death of