I think that one person that inadvertently taught George some hard life lessons was Ed Hanby. Ed teaches two valuable lessons. The first one being that everything can change in an instant. When George is with Belle things seem to be moving in Georges favor but then Ed comes marching in and takes Belle. The lesson is that there is really no rhyme or reason to why things happen like they do but you just need to make the best of it and George does by moving on. If he had dwelled on it he probably wouldn't have left Winesburg for a while or maybe even ever. The second lesson is that you will be embarrassed and when you do it's not the best idea to try to claim redemption on the spot. After Ed throws George aside for the first time he is lying in
