What do we learn about the characters of George and Lennie in Chapter 1 of Mice and Men?

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Of Mice and Men

What do we learn about the characters of George and Lennie in Chapter 1 of ‘Mice and Men’?

The novel introduces George and Lennie as strangers as if it’s getting to know them like we are. They walk on into the clearing, which turns out to be a significant place for the novel, in single file suggesting they are not equal or they are being wary. They are dressed identically in a kind of typical Depression era worker in denim. The two men are described as opposites, George, small and defined and Lennie, big and clumsy. We see this when just walking he nearly runs over George.

Lennie is labelled like an animal: Like a bear in the way he drags his feet and like a horse in the way he drinks. He also acts instinctively like an animal instead of thinking and reasoning with himself.

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It is when Lennie is drinking that we learn how George is in charge when he tells him to stop drinking so much, Lennie hasn’t learnt his lesson from last time when he was sick he drank so much, Lennie is childlike in his approach to life, especially in social situations, he has no bearing of what people think of him. George, on the other hand is very socially aware and alert to responses of others.

Lennie is always eager to impress George, for example, when he thinks he has done something praiseworthy he says, ‘Look, George. Look what I ...

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