Describe the Relationship of George and Lennie

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Relationship of George and Lennie

 This novella shares the experience and journey of two friends, migrant workers who are seeking work at a ranch around the country.  Steinbeck presents George and Lennie’s relationship as a paternal one between father and son. This is the first time Steinbeck introduces the character; this is symbolic to their relationship, “They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other.” This quotation demonstrates how Lennie expects to be led by George. The use of the word “even” emphasizes that despite being in the open air where they can walk in any direction, Lennie chooses to walk directly behind George. This symbolism can apply to any context in the novella. The fact that Lennie walks behind George is symbolic because George is the protector and mentor to Lennie; Lennie looks up to him.

This is ironic because Lennie is presented in animal terms; but also presented very childlike. The two features Lennie has contrast each other.

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We learnt at the beginning, Lennie’s love for petting soft things put the lives of him and George at danger. This was when Lennie tried to feel a girl’s dress, but then he panicked and he uses his strength unintentionally (to protect himself); this gives an animal imagery of Lennie. At this point George is reassuring Lennie by telling him the future they will have he repeated his words “rhythmically, this gives us the impression that Lennie has heard this story before, and is comforted by it.

Steinbeck presents the relationship between George and Lennie with a great ...

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