The two are on a journey for work to raise the funds necessary to obtain their dream. They dream of owning a plot of land on their own (Steinbeck). In an article published by the BBC, they detail how the journey of George and Lennie is tied to the idea of the “American Dream (BBC).” The American Dream is described as,“[if] in America, it is possible for anyone to achieve success and improve their lives through hard work (BBC),” and that dream is what they are chasing. Through their friendship is how they will achieve it. The relationship that the two share is a little difficult on the surface. George sees Lennie’s company as “inconvenient (McLennan 1)” and “problematic (McLennan 1),’ but deep down he knows that they need each other. Lennie needs George to keep him out of trouble, and George needs Lennie for the companionship to help fight his loneliness. With this in mind, George does whatever he can to help protect Lennie from danger. His want to protect Lennie culminates in the novella’s final sequence. When confronted with the choice of letting Curley kill Lennie and having him suffer, or killing Lennie himself and saving him from Curley’s wrath. George ultimately kills Lennie as a final act of friendship. While their relationship may have ended there, and “[a]ll [may have] been lost for both, except the fruits of a great …show more content…
Without these elements, these stories, or connections to real life situations, would not exist. How would the world have, “Of Mice and Men,” with no Lennie? Or Mr. Shiflet’s manipulative plan in, “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.” Without these characters there would be no conflict, thus no story. There would be no connection for the reader to connect with, rationalize, or problem solve real life relationships. Each of these characters and stories have a positive or negative influence on the outcome of the story and practical application in