Illustrate how Steinbeck explores the complex relationship between George Milton and Lennie Small.

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Tahamtan Pishgharavol        

English Course

Using the book “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, I shall illustrate how Steinbeck explores the complex relationship between George Milton and Lennie Small. Steinbeck's “Of Mice and Men” deals with the plight of migrant labourers in California during the Great Depression, with the focus on two random migrant workers, George and Lennie.

Lennie has been described by John Steinbeck as a very simple character who indulges innocence of a small boy without him realising it. Lennie is impetuous, compulsive and instinctive, for example when he drinks the scummy pond water without even thinking. He cannot control his own body movements because he is a half-wit, his physical strength cannot be measured or controlled by him. He is not what he seems to be, in other words we can say that his physique does not match his personality. In comparison to George, Lennie is big, heavy, strong and not intelligent, “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes”. He is described as any other ordinary person working in the farm. Many times he doesn't tend to kill animals that he takes care of because he thinks that he is petting it. A perfect example is when he is petting the pup and he accidentally kills it. He hides it and tells George that his intention was to take care of it. This tells us that he loves animals and he himself doesn't know how much harm he is doing to the animal because he doesn't know how strong he is. He often acts like a kid because usually a small kid gives respect to an elder person who acts properly with him and treats him in a nice way.

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I think George is a very lonely, because although he has a constant companion and friend in Lennie he is of a much higher intelligence level and really needs someone who understands him. I think this because everything is different between him and Lennie even their physicality, when John Steinbeck first describes them he says, "The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms and a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of ...

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