Of Mice And Men George And Lennie Friendship Analysis

In John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie are a pair of men who travel together. Traveling together they give eachother a sense of comfort and hope for a brighter future. George has taken Lennie under his wing and therefore Lennie depends solely on George for everything. George states that Lennie and him are never lonely in this : “But not us’! An’ why? Because… because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.”. (Steinbeck 15) George and Lennie’s friendship does qualify as a true friendship because George cares for Lennie with love and understanding, and Lennie does the same. George voices to Lennie that he feels that Lennie is “holding me back from the good life”(Steinbeck 12),

George also protects Lennie though. ‘Fathering’ him throughout their struggles to find work, he puts himself in a dangerous situation by bringing along Lennie. George got Lennie out of Weed when a girl accused him of raping her and the reason why they had to leave and find work elsewhere: “Well, that girl rabbits in an’ tells the law she been raped. The guys in Weed start a party out to lynch Lennie. So we sit in a irrigation ditch underwater all the rest of that day. Got on’y our heads sticking out from the side of the ditch. An’ that night we scrammed outta there.” (Steinbeck 40-41) Unpredictable and easily distracted, Lennie is a bomb awaiting explosion. Because George is able to maintain steady work for Lennie and constantly defends him, Lennie receives a sense of security from his relationship with George. He is calmed by the knowledge that George tends to his needs and has plans for the future that include him. Also, George is a constant role-model for Lennie. Blabbering on and on to those who will listen, such as Crooks and Candy’s wife, he constantly speaks highly of George. He relies on George much as a child relies on a parent. George and Lennie appear to be the only characters in the book who form a true community together. George and Lennie share complete