Complex Friendships In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Complex Friendships are Complex

Most people have all watched that movie or show where the not so bright kids becomes friends with the smart one. Where they work through their differences and unite in the end. In Of Mice and Men, two characters, Lennie and George, have a special kind of friendship. Even though they get frustrated with each other, they do bring out the best qualities in each other. Lennie and George's friendship is based stewardship, understanding, and sharing a common dream.

A type of relationship that George and Lennie have is based on stewardship or taking care of someone. On the night before they go to the ranch to work, George and Lennie, sit by a pool of water and talk. George says, “I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody'd shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself” (Steinbeck 13). George is protecting Lennie because they are close friends and he did promise his Aunt Clara before she died that he would look out for him. Protection is apart of being a friend and a companion because that is what a quality friend does. The day before Lennie and George started work, George said, “Lennie- if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush” (Steinbeck 15). Knowing Lennie’s past and the way he acts

Even though one might do something that gets the other one angry, they eventually come to the understanding that they didn’t mean any harm. Right after Lennie ran away, George says, “Couldn’ we maybe bring him in an’ they’ll lock him up… He never done this to be mean (Steinbeck 97). At this point in the book, there is that much that George save Lennie. He is hoping that everyone will understand that Lennie didn't mean any harm. As they traveled together, George has noticed Lennie's issues. He understands that Lennie overall has problems and he understands that it's not his