Lennie In John Steinbeck's Of Mice Of Men

The vast majority of people would vehemently insist that they could never betray a close friend—let alone kill them. Yet, in Mice of Men, George—who claims “Lennie is the one person he has in the world TBD” commits a particularly insidious act of betrayal by murdering his best friend in the name of self-preservation. This critically acclaimed novella is centered around two ranchers, George and Lennie, who are presumably the best of friends. However, it quickly becomes apparent that half of the unlikely pair, George, is less invested in the friendship than the other. George’s abrasive actions and words clearly show how he viewed Lennie as a liability. When Lennie accidentally kills their boss’s son’s wife, his life is in jeopardy as a mob wants …show more content…
Thus, he must be able to make the best decisions for George’s being. This train of thought, however, is not strongly supported by evidence in the book. George repeatedly told Lennie how he would be better off without him by his side. The two may have always claimed they only had each other, but George made sure to emphasize that this predicament may not be wanted. “If I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble…..An’ whatta I got, George went on furiously. I got you!”. Clearly there is no love lost as George takes out his anger on Lennie—a recurring trend seen throughout the book. It becomes increasingly difficult to believe that George would want the best for Lennie if he views him as bothersome. It’s not a stretch to conclude that George would not mind not having to worry about Lennie one day since he just prohibits him from living his life to the fullest. It is no wonder how George could have commited the reprehensible act of shooting his ‘friend’, as the man was essentially an unmoving obstacle in his life for several years. George did not want the best for Lennie; he wanted the best for himself, which is why he pulled the