The novel is slightly anti-feminist by making the only female in the book a not only stereotypical flirt, but also only showing her as an object with no specific name. The author probably did this on purpose though, because the woman had to be an object of discord that the audience should hate, not empathize with.
George is a real friend to lennie despite the ending because he looks after Lennie even when Lennie causes so much trouble. George defends Lennie even when he causes irrevocable mistakes from his simple mind for