Trevor Dawideit A person can express loyalty by doing anything for another human being regardless of the consequences. 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... ... middle of paper ... ...a single employer typically got 8% increases in compensation a year compared with about 5% for people with a history of job hopping” (Wang) showing how by staying loyal to one job allows for a better income than those who keep changing jobs. Therefore, people who are more loyal to their company tend to make a better salary increase than those who constantly change jobs. Also, people who stay with one company and are loyal to that company tend to be more productive and creative for the company. Furthermore, staying loyal to one company who that person likes and enjoys tend to be more loyal and are happier in their life overall. Many people who are more loyal to their loved ones, jobs, and friends tend to be more trustworthy and happy. Loyalty can be expressed in many ways whether it be by doing anything for someone else or just being very trustworthy person overall.
town they were heading to, he must come back to the pond and hide in
...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.
The issue of loyalty is embodied in the character of George. He is an intelligent man who could make a successful living for himself on his own. He chooses to stay beside his friend Lennie. George can never get a steady job to fulfill his long-term goal of having his own farm. The first job that Lennie and George have together goes well for a while. Eventually Lennie ruins everything that is going good for them. Lennie sees a pretty dress that a girl is wearing. Without thinking about what he is doing, he goes up and grabs the dress to feel the nice fabric. This scares the girl and she tells the boss. Soon the whole town is after Lennie. This is the perfect time for George to start a new life, without Lennie. However, because of his loyalty to Lennie, he chooses to help Lennie escape from the town. Lennie needs George to survive. It is this that propels George to make the sacrifice that he does. After Lennie kills Curley’s wife, George knows that this is the end for Lennie. No matter what, someone will eventually kill Lennie. And if Lennie gets away this time, there will be another time, and eventually the inevitable will happen. He truly loves Lennie, so he shoots Lennie painlessly in the back of the head. Lennie dies with the happy thought of the dream of the farm they want to own some day.
Examples of loyalty can be found in many pieces of classic literature such as _Don Quixote_, _The Odyssey_, and _Sir Gawain and the Green Knight_. Many characters in the stories profess their loyalty to other characters. Some of them fail in their loyalty tests while others prevail. I found loyalty to be an underlying theme in all three pieces of literature covered in this paper. The examples provided should prove the theme of loyalty.
A very obvious example of loyalty is, Penelope. She is faithful to Odysseus for over 20 years and does not give up for long time. Even when the suitors came to her house and ate her food and overstayed their welcome she did not budge and still stayed faithful to Odysseus for the whole time he was gone. She told the suitors that when she finished her tapestry she would choose who she wants to marry, but every night she would undo a piece of the tapestry just so it would take longer and it would give Odysseus more time to come back just so she would not have to choose one of the suitors.
Steinbeck gives a lot of reasons for George to stay with Lennie, but his critics also have some merit in their criticism that the story isn't believable. Steinbeck's critics suggest that Steinbeck is "simply sentimental in this regard." There are some very compelling reasons George would like to stay with Lennie... but being "sentimental," towards Lennie has nothing to do with it.
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 all of these quotes George is looking after Lennie similar to how a brother would look after a younger sibling. From when he is talking to Slim about Lennie’s work ethic on page 39 to when he is trying to keep Lennie from getting into trouble with Curley and his wife on pages 32 and 29, George is always looking after Lennie in some way. Alongside the last example, Steinbeck illustrates a caring relationship between George and Lennie. “ [George] ‘They ain’t got nobody in the worl’ that gives a hoot in hell about em-’...[Lennie] ‘But not us’” (104). George and Lennie always come back to the subject of looking out for each other. This is demonstrated when Lennie is talking to Crooks about George and Crooks says, “jus’ s’pose he don’t come back. What’ll you do then” (72)? Just the mention of George doesn't come back or being hurt makes Lennie defensive about George, “Suddenly Lennie’s eyes centered and grew quiet, and mad. He stood up and walked dangerously toward Crooks, Who hurt George” (72). Lennie is attached to George, to Lennie, he is the only person in the world that actually cares about his well being.They have been together for years, which is quite similar
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
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.
of the time. It is precisely this loyalty that makes her an active rather than a static
Loyalty is one of the only things that can hold the bonds of family and friends.
First off, Lennie is an uneasy character with a mental disability in the book Of Mice And Men. He stays with George throughout the book, but is not a stable companion. He is a sympathetic character that causes more damage than he knows he does, yet he understands what he puts George through. He does not fully understand the main ideas in life, and does not put them together, as to what is right and what is wrong. Lennie often mentions running away from George to go live in a cave because he has so much pressure on him to act like the average man. George has to repeat many times what he has said, because Lennie’s brain cannot process what he is trying to tell him. He often loses control of his emotions, and attempts things he does not consider
This is where his friend George comes in to ensure his overall safety and well being. A prime example that conveys Georges loyalty as a friend is when he gave Lennie advice on how to avoid problems with another character in the story, Curley (Steinbeck 29). Curley had no apparent reason to not like Lennie or the way he treated him. The cause of all of the hate towards Lennie was later revealed, however it did not excuse the way Curley treated Lennie. Lennie had no clue as to why Curley treated him the way he did and George made sure that Lennie knows that he did not do anything to deserve that attitude from Curley. Who knows what would have happened if Lennie thought that he has done something wrong to Curley. George talks to Lennie and gives him advice on how to avoid issues with Curley. Another example of this is when George save’s Lennie from drowning in a river (Steinbeck 40). Although it can be argued that George cares for Lennie out of guilt, I believe that George did not want to intentionally hurt Lennie in any way or endanger his
Loyalty is defined as a strong feeling of support or allegiance. I agree fully with this definition. Being loyal is one of the most important of th...