Of Mice And Men Lennie's Relationship Analysis

In the novel Of Mice and Men, George acts as a mother for the childlike, Lennie. He speaks for Lennie in an attempt to protect him from the harshness of humankind, he uses every attempt to keep him safe, and teaches him what he is and is not capable of. This maternal interaction fits into one of the recurring themes that it is impossible to make it through life while maintaining innocence. Lennie’s childlike ways end up leading to his doom, even after George tried to make him understand reality. While this maternal relationship is not typical between two men, it is essential to the themes of the novel. The protection of Lennie was given to George by Lennie’s deceased Aunt Clara. In many ways, he was not a positive maternal figure. He would make fun of Lennie relentlessly and give him tasks for the purpose of laughing at him. He knew that Lennie would do whatever he asked him to do. Although, George did not want this motherly duty, he stuck with Lennie until the end. He always spoke for him, so that people would not know of his intellectual disabilities. This was questioned when they went to get new jobs. George thought that they would think Lennie stupid and incapable if they heard him speak. When he was forced to speak, george made sure they knew he was a good worker. Just as a mother would, he saw the positives in Lennie, and made sure that …show more content…
George’s maternal interactions kept Lennie out of trouble for as long possible, but his innocence got the better of him. The theme fits into the interaction so much that George attempts to teach it to Lennie himself through his constant reminder of what could happen if Lennie did not fight his urges to touch soft things. The reader gets the theme through a brutal ending to Lennie’s life and innocence. The message is conveyed that innocence is no way to make it through life, even with a maternal figure such as George to help