Of Mice and Men
True friendship is the only friendship, right? What about euntrepunural? What about consumer? Those are the three types of friendships that the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, explains (May). George Milton and Lennie Small, in the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, have been together since they were kids growing up. They are always there for each other in their own ways: George had family and a friend ALWAYS around, Lennie had a friend and a helper who got him out of trouble. Throughout the story George and Lennie display examples of reciprocity, support, self-disclosure and positivity. These men are most definitely true friends.
How can two people what are SO different be true friends? One of the major components of …show more content…
All throughout the book Lennie talks about George and his dream home. Talking about their dream home is Lennie’s way of showing self-disclosure. Lennie tells people about his dream. Letting them know just how happy he will be when he gets to grow alfalfa and feed the rabbits. This was Lennie’s way of opening up. Much like Lennie, George shows self-disclosure by talking about his dreams. A great example of this is when he says: “‘For two bits I’d shove out of here. If we can get jus’ a few dollars in the poke we’ll shove off and go up the American River and pan gold...’” (Steinbeck 33). This shows self-disclosure because he is opening up and telling Lennie about his dream to get out of there, have a few dollars and starting his life with his best friend. One final reason these two have a true friendship is because they always , either, stay positive or they keep each other positive. “The most elusive behavior necessary for keeping friends is being positive” (Karbo). Lennie shows this when he is telling George that he would let George have ALL of the ketchup, if they had any, and he wouldn’t touch one bit of it. Through their daily sharing, George and Lennie continuously display acts of self-disclosure and …show more content…
These are relationships that “we participate in for the pleasure they bring us” (May). One could argue that George is the consumer in this relationship. In chapter three George is confiding in Slim and telling him how he feels about his relationship with Lennie: “‘I had fun. Made me seem God damn smart alongside of him,’” (Steinbeck 40). George sees Lennie as his entertainment. George uses him for his own self-pleasure. While it may be true that George keeps Lennie around for pleasure and entertainment, that alone would not be enough for George to stay with Lennie this long. There has to be more to their friendship than that. In order for someone to stay with someone like Lennie, who gets in trouble all the time and is just dumb, there has to be more. They have to care about each other, and they have to love each other like real friends do. Without love and care there is no friendship. In the same scene that George is talking to Slim about his relationship with Lennie, he goes on: “‘Him and me was both born in Auburn. I known his Aunt Clara. She took him when he was a baby and raised him up. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while,’” (Steinbeck 40). Lennie is not the kind of person that you just “get used to” without really caring about him. While George is claiming that they “got used to each other”, anyone can
True friendship is the only friendship, right? What about euntrepunural? What about consumer? Those are the three types of friendships that the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, explains (May). George Milton and Lennie Small, in the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, have been together since they were kids growing up. They are always there for each other in their own ways: George had family and a friend ALWAYS around, Lennie had a friend and a helper who got him out of trouble. Throughout the story George and Lennie display examples of reciprocity, support, self-disclosure and positivity. These men are most definitely true friends.
How can two people what are SO different be true friends? One of the major components of …show more content…
All throughout the book Lennie talks about George and his dream home. Talking about their dream home is Lennie’s way of showing self-disclosure. Lennie tells people about his dream. Letting them know just how happy he will be when he gets to grow alfalfa and feed the rabbits. This was Lennie’s way of opening up. Much like Lennie, George shows self-disclosure by talking about his dreams. A great example of this is when he says: “‘For two bits I’d shove out of here. If we can get jus’ a few dollars in the poke we’ll shove off and go up the American River and pan gold...’” (Steinbeck 33). This shows self-disclosure because he is opening up and telling Lennie about his dream to get out of there, have a few dollars and starting his life with his best friend. One final reason these two have a true friendship is because they always , either, stay positive or they keep each other positive. “The most elusive behavior necessary for keeping friends is being positive” (Karbo). Lennie shows this when he is telling George that he would let George have ALL of the ketchup, if they had any, and he wouldn’t touch one bit of it. Through their daily sharing, George and Lennie continuously display acts of self-disclosure and …show more content…
These are relationships that “we participate in for the pleasure they bring us” (May). One could argue that George is the consumer in this relationship. In chapter three George is confiding in Slim and telling him how he feels about his relationship with Lennie: “‘I had fun. Made me seem God damn smart alongside of him,’” (Steinbeck 40). George sees Lennie as his entertainment. George uses him for his own self-pleasure. While it may be true that George keeps Lennie around for pleasure and entertainment, that alone would not be enough for George to stay with Lennie this long. There has to be more to their friendship than that. In order for someone to stay with someone like Lennie, who gets in trouble all the time and is just dumb, there has to be more. They have to care about each other, and they have to love each other like real friends do. Without love and care there is no friendship. In the same scene that George is talking to Slim about his relationship with Lennie, he goes on: “‘Him and me was both born in Auburn. I known his Aunt Clara. She took him when he was a baby and raised him up. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while,’” (Steinbeck 40). Lennie is not the kind of person that you just “get used to” without really caring about him. While George is claiming that they “got used to each other”, anyone can