Steinbeck intends to show that love conquers all

   The second example of “love” in this book is between Curley and his wife. Curley treats his wife as his chattel, his possession. His love for her is not real love, he is trying to show everyone what a man he is having a beautiful wife. However he goes to the brothel every Saturday night, making allusions to his wife. He is then always complaining when his wife hangs around with the other ranchers. This shows that they have no faith in each other. He and his wife are never seen together, however she is always under the pretence of asking for Curley around the ranch, when she is actually trying to get away from him, she is looking for affection and appreciation that Curley is obviously not giving her. The fact that they are not seen together in the whole of the novel shows how far apart they are. I suspect that she is mistreated by Curley and that he has a misogynistic attitude. There is in fact no love between Curley and his wife, Curley sees his wife as a possession and an object which can be abused and cheated on. Both of the examples so far have not been all-conquering love.

    The real example of love in this novel is between George and his companion Lennie. They have been together since they were very young and travelled from one town to another in search for jobs. I think that George’s relationship with Lennie makes him more mature and aware of moral dilemmas that face him every day. George gives up a lot for Lennie, as he says himself about how he could have a job, and maybe even a wife and how he could settle down and have his own place somewhere. He gives this all up for Lennie, who also gets them into a lot of trouble because of his inability to know what is right or wrong, apart from when George tells him so. George sticks with Lennie whatever happens and despite all the obstacles that lie in their path. His love for Lennie conquers all his dreams and the factors which affects his day to day life. It may seem strange that George kills the one he loves, but he does so in recognizing the far worse fate that awaits Lennie, and he tries to make it a happy ending for his friend.

    There are contrasts between the three main types of love in this novel. There is the possessive love of a man for his wife, the love of Candy for his dog which he deserts probably to try and make new relationships with other people, and there is the love between George and Lennie, a true love which George sacrifices everything for.