FRIENDSHIP IN OF MICE AND MEN

Authors Avatar

The relationship between Lennie and George Of Mice and Men is a novella written by Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck. Published in 1937, it tells the tragic story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers during the Great Depression in California. Based on Steinbeck's own experiences in the 1920s, the title is taken from Robert Burns's poem, To a Mouse, which read: "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men /Gang aft agley." As the novella is revolved around the two characters, one of the things that stand out the most is the relationship both the characters share with each other and how it appears to be of a strong bond, even with the obstacles that gets thrown their way. Their connection is of many different kinds and I shall list in detail a few of the many types.

As Steinbeck originally wrote the story as a play, there are lots of adverbs that help us to imagine how the characters act and react, which helps to establish their relationship in the opening chapter. We can imagine that many of these adverbs were originally written as speech directions. For example, after shouting at Lennie, the author describes how George reacts ‘ashamedly’. This shows his sense of guilt for becoming angry with Lennie as he knows his friend does not truly understand. George is keen to protect Lennie and feels ashamed when he is the one putting him in a state of fear or anxiety. George also recounts the dream ‘rhythmically’ which shows that he always has to reassure Lennie by repeating the dream over and over. It almost sounds like a lullaby, suggesting a paternal relationship between George and Lennie. Generally, Lennie reacts ‘slowly and cautiously’. This suggests that he is careful not to upset George and realises that what he says can sometimes cause George to react negatively to him. Interestingly, at one point Lennie behaves ‘craftily’. Steinbeck does not want us to see Lennie as someone without understanding; Lennie is capable of simple manipulation strategies. Overall, the adverbs are evocative and chosen wisely to show the complexity of the relationship.

Join now!

Loneliness is a major theme in the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ and Steinbeck uses that to portray the two main character’s relationship and the effect it has on them. “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. . . . With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.” This quote goes along with a few of the book's themes: loneliness, friendship and the American dream. Essentially, George is explaining to Lennie that ...

This is a preview of the whole essay