Similarities And Differences Between George And Lennie

Have you ever hurt someone on purpose? George Milton has. Have you ever hurt someone on accident? Lennie Small has. There are many similarities and differences between the two main characters in John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men. This story is about two friends who end up in Salinas, California in search of their dream, to own land together. The reader might think that it is not a difficult task to buy some land and live there, but the story takes place during the Great Depression, when everyone is affected by poverty. Lennie and George’s friendship is perceived as odd because no one trusts anyone else in the trying times. George is short and has very defined features. He has a short temper and is not patient at all. He is always very …show more content…
He is very strong-minded when it comes to getting a job to survive. George knows that he must be the responsible friend and help Lennie to survive, even though he realizes that it would be easier for him to live happily if he left Lennie all alone. George is very lonely because he is seen as an outcast, not only for being a poor “bindle-stiff”, but also because he stays with Lennie. Lennie stresses George out in the sense that George is dealing with the mind of a four year old. The large man often gets into trouble simply because he does not know any better. In Weed, it is reported that Lennie got accused of raping a girl only because he wanted to feel how soft her dress was. She panicked and tried to get away, but Lennie got scared and grabbed on to her dress. George was the one who took control of the situation and ran away with Lennie. George is known for being an angry person, and he only softens when he describes his dream with Lennie. His entire demeanor changes and he becomes excited and almost childish at the thought of being free and owning his own land with …show more content…
John Steinbeck strongly implies that Lennie is mentally handicapped by the way he acts in the clearing by the brush. When the two friends first enter the clearing, Lennie follows George precisely, even when George lets him do whatever he wants. Lennie chooses to mimic whatever he does. Lennie is generally a happy person, mostly because he does not know what is going on. He is clueless, which can be perceived as both a good thing and a bad thing. His cluelessness can be a good thing because he does not realize all of the loneliness everyone in the novel feels. Being clueless can also be viewed as a bad thing because he does not see the difference between right and wrong. Throughout the novel, Lennie must be reminded of what to do and what not to do, because he forgets all of the time. George has to take care of him because he has the mental ability of a four year old. Children are difficult to take care of, and Lennie is even more difficult because he is a grown man who should be able to take care of himself. George is often upset with Lennie because he can not take care of himself. Lennie is able to pull George into a better mood when they talk about their dream, the main goal of the