George and Lennie’s Relationship in Of Mice and Men Essay

Of Mice and Men is a novella centred on the disincentives of America during the depression in the 1930s. The country cognise as the land of opportunity, is dismissed as it became deprived and inept. Many work force were itinerant workers that travelled from scatter to ranch looking for wages that would be sufficient till they moved on. These types of men were the loneliest, with no companionship. It is this casual migrant lifestyle which highlights the importance of the relationship between Lennie and George, a rarity among the other characters to be exact.George and Lennie be an unusual package deal within the novel. From the beginning Steinbeck enforces the idea of a parent child relationship. He distinctively tags the ii apart as they walked in single file and one stayed behind the other. From send-off sight, a dynamic in their relationship is established. Although they are outwardly of the same class, George is still the one if front, disclosure himself as the leader. As the story progresses we apprize acknowledge that George does not deem himself as superior to Lennie, it is exclusively his duty to control and guide Lennie who is mentally inept and regarded as a crazy bastard. We can decipher from this that Lennie is in no shape to take care of him and need George to help him.Their relationship is not of a regular companionship, I regard it as a fraternal bond made all oer time. Lennies nature is al about childlike Steinbeck describes the character in such a way so that the readers perceive him to be incapable and dependent upon George Lennie, who had been watching imitated George exactly. Children often imitate their guardians and some people may even bank this to be the way of development of a person. Lennie may need George to create constancy for the future but Lennies mimicry isnt to just fit in with the civilized world. Steinbeck implies from the necessitous actions by Lennie, that he genuinely admires George.Although it seems as though Lennie is dependent on George, this is not the case. I believe that George, a stoic man enjoys the company of Lennie however a burden he may seem. Steinbeck uses the elaboration of George who only confides in Slim to depict the pride he has of Lennie hes dumb as hell, but he aint crazy. George at times creates a softer tone of voice when talk about Lennie. The approval of Slim from Georges compliments ensures the reader that George genuinely likes Lennie. George himself refers to ranch men as being the loneliest guys in the world. We can assume that deep down George is afraid of this happening to him, and losing Lennie. No interrogative this wouldve have crossed his mind due to Lennie getting in trouble all the time. His fear is twist mean by becoming lonely he is after all comfortable with Lennie, being with him for most his short life.Together they both hold the aspiration of attaining the American dream common to many men at the time to have a piece of their own land. This d ream is what fuels both Lennie and George to go on. Lennie is set on tending rabbits while George could have more freedom in general. Steinbeck places importance on these two and dream, while we believe they will be successful as the story develops. With us it aint like that. We got a future. Steinbeck reveals a timeless definition of friendship. Someone who listens and that cares for you. They are reliant upon each other, as even though George conducts the dream speech, Lennie has also memorised this dream, maybe in hope it will bring them close-set(prenominal) to it.Their friendship is subjective, for George it had always been a promise to care for Lennie, but they simply bonded over time. George even admits this got instead used to each other after a little while. He doesnt describe it in abstract terms nor does he give any justifications. It is this simple statement that proves the relationship to a natural course. But we can still agree this is remarkable for them to be so c lose, in such a world where men do not do this.The tragedy of Lennie dying highlights the importance of the relationship. George who shot him in an act of compassion showed mercy and care. The tension Steinbeck builds in the last chapter, shows how distraught and vulnerable George become and relieving Lennie of squeeze and pain to come. George shivered and looked at the gun as the tough faade of George breaks we see his emotions and his contemplative actions which suggest he had valued the relationship, also springing to mind the fact that their dream is destroyed and will never be achieved. This is very the climax of the relationship where Steinbeck reveals feelings in the relationship.Steinbeck uses the thoughts and curiosity of other characters such as Slim and the bitter, avenging side of Curley to render the relationship between Lennie and George. The support George had given Lennie from the time he was in a fight with Curley to when he kills his wife, shows the dynamics and security of the relationship. George would always look out for Lennie, as Lennie would always be protective over George. Their relationship is pivotal and underlines the main theme of friendship in the novel, which led to Steinbeck focusing so often on the friendship of the two men. The readers are aware from the beginning that this relationship is powerful and meaningful although this is not always depicted.