The Bond of Brotherhood “Lennie broke in. “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.” He laughed delightedly” (14). In John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men the author develops two main characters by the names of George Milton and Lennie Small, these characters share an unbreakable bond. Of Mice and Men takes place in the Salinas Valley, during the Great Depression, George and Lennie are on quest for job opportunities. George and Lennie end up getting a job on a ranch, where they meet many crucial characters. Lennie struggles with mental disabilities, making him slow and clueless, Lennie causes many small issues on the ranch which eventually lead to his death. After …show more content…
In the begging of the novel, George enlightens his fellow bunkmates with a story about, why Lennie and him had to leave Weed, their last work place, and how they ended up in The Salinas Valley. However, it is not an easy story to share considering it shows the immoral side of Lennie’s actions. ““…You wouldn’t tell? … No, ‘course you wouldn’.” “What’d he do in Weed?” Slim asked again. “Well, he seen this girl in a red dress. Dumb bastard like he is, he wants to touch ever’thing he likes. Just wants to feel it. So he reaches out to feel this dress an’ the girl lets out a squawk, and that gets Lennie all mixed up, and he holds on ‘cause that’s the only thing he can think to do”” (41). As a result of this event, George and Lennie had to go on the run because this woman assumed that Lennie was going to rape her when he grabbed onto her dress. After this event, George and Lennie were stuck with each other and whatever problems Lennie had George now had. Furthermore, George has been with Lennie a long time, and he has learned many things about himself and Lennie. “…One day a bunch of guys was standin’ around up on the Sacramento River. I was feelin’ pretty smart. I turns to Lennie and says, ‘Jump in.’ An’ he jumps. Couldn’t swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get him. An’ he was so damn nice to me for pullin’ him out. Clean forgot I told him to jump in. Well, I ain’t done nothing like that no more” “(40). George learned that Lennie wasn’t just some dummy he can play with whenever he desires just for fun and attention, he learned that Lennie was someone of great importance to him, and having him in such a near death incident terrified George immensely. George learns many things from the mistakes Lennie and him make, one being, he learns that even though they make mistakes, mistakes are what
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Show MoreGeorge talks about one of the times he had to help keep Lennie from getting in trouble; “I was jus’ a little bit off, and I heard all the yellin’, so I came running… I socked him over the head with a fence picket”(pg.41). Lennie and George had to run away from their old town because Lennie assaulted a girl, George was able to stop Lennie before he hurt the women and got in trouble. George taught Lennie not to talk to Curley's wife so something bad doesn’t happen to them; “George says I ain’t to have nothing to do with you… George says you’ll get us into a mess”(pg.86 & 88).
George realized Lennie would never get better and their dream would never come true. “ I think i knew from the very first day. I think i knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much i got to thinking maybe we would.” George wanted a good life we wanted to get somewhere in life someday, he wanted this for both of them.
Lennie wants George to know that “[He could] go right off in the hills an [he would] fin’ a cave an’ [he would] live there so [he] won’t be no more trouble to George” (Steinbeck 101). Later in the novel, George risks sacrificing his freedom by losing his freedom by saving Lennie from a worse fate. Lennie causes many issues for George regarding a stable job. George knows he has to stay with Lennie because he made a promise to Lennie’s aunt Clara that he would take care of him. This shows their deep friendship since George feels the obligation to stay with him, and
Lennie never means no harm, but when they had to run from Weed it was because he couldn’t resist touching a girls soft dress, but he wouldn’t let go. She told the town he assaulted her and that moment George knew they had to run. George and Lennie are back at the bunk and play
Lennie does not think of others; he just does whatever he wants. Although Lennie loves George and wants to be in his life his actions tell different. Lennie acts on impulse, and that will push George away even more. The longer George and Lennie stay together the more George is being pushed. Lennie cannot keep secrets nor keep George out of trouble.
They travelled together across the country working and living together, they have lots of history in other words and always stick up for each other " the boss suddenly said - " Lennie Small! " Lennie's head raised " what can u do ? " in panic Lennie looked at george for help. " he can do anything u tell him " said George and they do not really have any negatives in their relationship. The only Negative thing that happened to them wasn't even on purpose and its when Lennie killed Curley's wife and that was an accident and it wouldn’t of happened if Curley's wife would've left Lennie alone, and no one back then could understand that Lennie had metal problems and couldn't control what he was doing and it led to that witch shouldn't of happened in the first
A theme that was evidently a stable for the working farmers, and also the Protagonists Lennie and George was the theme of brotherhood. Brotherhood contributed to the novel in a sense that it created opportunities amongst men which society would deem impossible at the time. People are definitely reliant on human interaction. This is seen in the novel when an African farmhand named Crook, who was segregated at the time because of the color of his skin, talks with his cohort Lennie about how he never has anyone to talk to, stating, “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. DOn’t make no difference who the guy is as long as he’s with you” (Steinbeck 80 1937).
At first George had taken advantage of Lennie to the point which was life threatening for lennie. After when george seemed to care about Lennie it seemed that george was still used to bossing Lennie around. Just like second nature or a bad habit. George would threaten lennie when he was frustrated, not only would he mentally abuse him, he didn’t take the responsibility of being Lennie’s caretaker.
George said "An' you ain't gonna do no bad things like you did in Weed (7)." This suggests George really cares about Lennie, and he doesn't want him to do anything that will get him in trouble. George said "we run, they was
Of Mice and Men was published in 1937 during a time of bi-racism between the caucasians and the african americans, and the apathetic Great Depression, which may have served as inspiration. In the novel two opposites attract, a gargantuan but mentally challenged man by the name of Lennie, and a small, nimble, and intelligent man named George. Suffering from a mental illness Lennie gets into trouble when he 's alone, but George always saves him, George knows Lennie doesn 't do anything, “out of meanness” as he says. Undoubtedly the reader assimilates that Lennie kills a young lady, said to have done so accidentally. Furthermore without any control George was forced to kill Lennie.
It is something that is essential in a relationship between friends, parents and relatives. George and Lennie care about each other and look after each other as they were brothers. A person can show a sign of caring in many ways, such as when Lennie said, "I thought you was mad at me, George." "No," said George. " No, Lennie, I ain't mad.
In Soledad California, during the 1920’s we find George and Lennie, the two main characters. Two friends that have a very unique relationship. George is a short man with sharp features and quick wits, where as Lennie is a big man with a round face and is a just like a large child. They are lowly workers that bounce from ranch to ranch looking for work, in search of their unique american dream. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George becomes more understanding and friendly towards Lennie through the beginning, middle and ending of the novella.
In the novella Of Mice and Men by the author John Steinbeck, George Milton and Lennie Smalls deal with the pitfalls of migrant work while employed as ranch hands in the midst of the Great Depression. Steinbeck explores the theme of brotherhood through George’s responsibilities towards Lennie, Lennie’s downfall, and the ranch hands’ camaraderie. Throughout the work, John Steinbeck proves that brotherhood cannot outstand all of life’s challenges and necessary decisions. First, George’s dedication to Lennie shows an example of brotherhood in the plot.
George would protect Lennie at all costs even from himself. After Lennie kills a young woman, George decides it is better for Lennie to be dead rather than to be tortured and kept in a cell or a mental asylum. The decision of killing Lennie hit George like a train, but he knew it was something that was in Lennie’s own good. Knowing he could have an easier life without Lennie, George still kept him around because he needed George and George needed Lennie. George tells Slim “Course Lennie’s a God damn nuisance most of the time, but you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him.”
After all the anger that George has shown towards Lennie, he utters these words now so Lennie can die with a sense of peace. George does not want to pull the trigger, but he knows that the further consequences of Lennie’s actions will only worsen. To save Lennie from Curley’s wrath, possible imprisonment, and perhaps years of suffering, George takes Lennie’s