The Significance Of Friendship In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Friendship is something everyone needs to survive. Without friends, there is no one to look to in times of need; no one to support you . In the novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, it is clear that George and Lennie are best friends who always stay together, even though their relationship is strained. But sometimes, friends must do what is best for the other. Due to this, it is clear that George was justified in killing Lennie at the end of the novel.

He life has so far been trying to keep a steady job while caring and looking after Lennie, who easily gets them kicked out of almost every place they go to. “An’ you ain’t gonna do no bad things like you done in Weed, neither,”(Steinbeck 8). George honestly knew he would be better off without Lennie. But because of Lennie’s aunt, he would keep him safe even if a town was after him. Multiple times he has saved Lennie from others who misinterpreted him for a fool or a creep, when really they acted on impulse than understand the situation at

George is responsible for making sure Lennie has food, stays out of trouble, and stays safe. These seem like simple things, but not with him. When they were in Weed, he wanted to feel how soft a girl’s dress was, and didn’t let go when she wanted him to. It got completely out of hand and they had the sheriff looking for him. His memory was so awful, that after they ran out of there, he didn’t remember what he had done.

Lennie is in many ways helpless and does not know how to care for himself. George helps him by giving him short commands and telling him to repeat things to himself to remember things. George has no responsibility to take care of Lennie, yet George is willing to do anything for Lennie. ‘“When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while.”’

Lennie cares about George. Lennie always wanted to be with George because, he needed a companion, but he may have trusted him a bit too much. “I turn to Lennie and say jump in and he jumps, couldn’t swim a stroke. He damn near drowned. "(Steinbeck, 40)

It is evident that George’s actions and words towards Lennie are selfless or caring represented by Lennie’s mental disability, his troublesome behavior, the life George could have without him, and why George kills him. It seems like George and Lennie are always on the run. George and Lennie state, “An’ you ain’t gonna do no bad

Of mice and men essay Do you want to know why Lennie and George became great friends in Of Mice and Men, well I’ll tell you. In John Steinbeck’s of mice and men some points of friendship are that George and Lennie take care of each other. Also George and Lennie support one another in endeavoring after their shared dream. Lastly George and Lennie make sacrifices for each other and are responsible for each other.

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.”

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.”

From the day that Lennie’s Aunt Clara died and from the day George took Lennie in as a friend George was always there for him. If Lennie did not have George, Lennie would have no one to protect him and save him from all of the bad things that he has done. Despite all of the dangers and problems Lennie got George and himself into, George benefited and also learned from Lennie’s mistakes. George needs his ignorant sidekick as much as Lennie needs George.

Friendship is the relationship between George and Lennie. The friendship between Georgie and Lennie can be interpreted as brotherhood and the relationship between father and son. Brotherhood is implied because both George and Lennie share a relationship of honesty and love, even though they may not show it. When Lennie gets a little out of line, George gets very irritated and makes it apparent. However, no matter how much Lennie bothers him, George wants to protect Lennie.

George sacrifices the chance to have a better and more fulfilled life to stay with Lennie. First, when George was introducing himself and Lennie to their new boss, he said, “I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy.” This shows that George was portraying that he cares about Lennie enough to be picked up on by others. He was willing to lie about being Lennie’s cousin to get him a job. Also, when George and Lennie were talking to each other at their camp spot George said, “I could get along so easy and nice If I didn’t have you on my tail.”

In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the era of the Great Depression in the 1930’s is revealed through a simple story of ranch workers who hope to improve their lives. Migrant workers, George and Lennie, have a friendship that is based on trust and protection. The other workers lack the companionship and bond that these two men have. In the novel, the absence and presence of friendship is the motivation for the characters’ actions.

In the novel Of mice and men by John Steinback, it shows the special relationship between the two main characters, George and Lennie. George is like a father figure to Lennie because Lennie obeys what George tells him to do and George makes sure that Lannie is well protected. George has a more rocky relationship with Lennie. This is shown how in the beginning of the novel George says that his life would be easier without Lennie but later mentions, "No-look! Lennie I was jus foolin' , Lennie.

A true friendship is something that everyone wants to have but not everyone can have it.