All people, both introverts and extroverts, are, on some level, social. It is part of human nature to interact with others and support one another. Everyone relies on those around him or her, whether they notice it or not. However, mutually beneficial relationships in the real world rarely go to the level of that between two characters in the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. This story, set soon after the Great Depression in central California, tells a tale of two men as they struggle with the aftermaths of the economical decline. They work as migrant laborers, moving from one place to the next in hopes of scraping together enough money to buy their own land and live in peace. Lennie Small, a large man with a soft heart, has a childlike
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For example, after a short argument, as the two friends try to lift each other’s spirits, George proclaims, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place [...] with us it ain’t like that” (Steinbeck 13-14). In the face of loneliness and the difficulties of the time period, the two men have no choice but to stay together. From the little background information that is given, it is evident that both Lennie and George have no family and no friends; they only have each other. Both of them need the other’s emotional support, but George especially needs Lennie’s companionship as he is able to comprehend the loneliness he is facing to its fullest. Not only does Lennie provide George with a sort of family, George also needs someone to share his dream with. When he describes what it would be like to live on their own land, he says, “‘[...] we’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we’ll just say the hell with goin’ to work, and we’ll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an’ listen to the rain comin’ down on the roof [...]’” (Steinbeck 14-15). George, although he does not admit it, in fact enjoys fantasizing about buying their own house. He depends on the motivation the dream provides. Furthermore, every time he talks about it, his dream includes Lennie sharing the land with his rabbits. George’s dream would not be the same without Lennie. As a result, George relies on Lennie for motivation to keep working hard, even if there is little immediate reward. In addition, he relies on Lennie’s labor to earn enough money for the dream, such as when he tries to calculate how long it would take to achieve his goal. “‘Look,’” George says, “‘if me an’ Lennie work a month an’ don’t spen’ nothing, we’ll have a hundred bucks.’” (Steinbeck 59). George assumes the money
For example, after a short argument, as the two friends try to lift each other’s spirits, George proclaims, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place [...] with us it ain’t like that” (Steinbeck 13-14). In the face of loneliness and the difficulties of the time period, the two men have no choice but to stay together. From the little background information that is given, it is evident that both Lennie and George have no family and no friends; they only have each other. Both of them need the other’s emotional support, but George especially needs Lennie’s companionship as he is able to comprehend the loneliness he is facing to its fullest. Not only does Lennie provide George with a sort of family, George also needs someone to share his dream with. When he describes what it would be like to live on their own land, he says, “‘[...] we’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we’ll just say the hell with goin’ to work, and we’ll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an’ listen to the rain comin’ down on the roof [...]’” (Steinbeck 14-15). George, although he does not admit it, in fact enjoys fantasizing about buying their own house. He depends on the motivation the dream provides. Furthermore, every time he talks about it, his dream includes Lennie sharing the land with his rabbits. George’s dream would not be the same without Lennie. As a result, George relies on Lennie for motivation to keep working hard, even if there is little immediate reward. In addition, he relies on Lennie’s labor to earn enough money for the dream, such as when he tries to calculate how long it would take to achieve his goal. “‘Look,’” George says, “‘if me an’ Lennie work a month an’ don’t spen’ nothing, we’ll have a hundred bucks.’” (Steinbeck 59). George assumes the money