Of Mice And Men George And Lennie Friendship

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Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light”. These words by Helen Keller are true for the two main characters George and Lennie in John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck friendship plays a major role throughout the story. The novel takes place in Salinas, California during a time of suffering, The Great Depression. Migrant workers George and Lennie are the main characters that have a very symbiotic friendship. Lennie who has a mental impairment causing him to always be searching for trouble, which makes George furious at times but they both need each other for survival, companionship, and to keep the American dream going. The American dream is to get a ranch but …show more content…
An example of Lennie’s need to depend on George is when George needed to provide a meal to Lennie “Aint we goona have no supper?” “Sure we are, if you gather up some dead willow sticks. I got three cans of beans in my bindle” (Steinbeck 8). This demonstrates how Lennie is not capable of taking care of himself, which is why George is needed in Lennie’s life. This also reveals Lennie will always need extra assistance throughout his life and George will always provide it. Another reference of Lennie needing George for safety is when the two needed a job. “Now look- I’ll give him the work tickets, but you ain’t gonna say a word. You jus’ stand there and don’t say anything” (Steinbeck 6). This proves that even though George is harsh on Lennie he only wants Lennie to be safe and sheltered at the end of the day. This also illustrates how everything George does that may be cruel is for both of them to always be well settled. In conclusion, George will always tend to …show more content…
Lennie has carved George into the best George is capable of being and has kept the American dream a continuous plan. An example of when George needs Lennie is when the two are motivating each other in hopes of their bright future. “We’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs- An’ live off the fatta the lan,”(Steinbeck 14). This proves that Lennie has and always had the potential to change George’s emotion in great and terrible ways. This also displays that Lennie wants his best friend to always look up and achieve his goals. Another aspect of George leaning on Lennie is when George tells Slim how he caused Lennie to drown. “Well I ain’t done nothing like that no more” (Steinbeck 40). This discloses that Lennie manipulated the will power of George when he was in pain. This also shows Lennie will always hold a soft spot in George’s heart. As a final point, George and Lennie very much have an interdependent

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