At first we misconceive the characters of George and Lennie, when Steinbeck introduces them as very much alike. He says:
‘They had walked in a single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in denim trousers and denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hates and both…’
Steinbeck’s plural language, such as ‘they’, and repetition of ‘both’ suggests to us that they are both very similar, not only in clothing but also in personality. It is not until we find out their names that we begin to see the corresponding features of the two American labourers. Lennie is described as a ‘huge man’ who ‘walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.’ At first we think that Lennie is a dangerous and possibly violent – natured man, because of his animal like description compared him to a bear, a wild and ferocious creature. Similarly we are told that he ‘drank with long gulps, snorting in the water like a horse’. Once again Lennie is compared to an animal, this time he is ‘snorting like a horse’. Horses are relevant because they have little knowledge and are used to carry heavy objects whilst following orders, which similarly are features that describe Lennie.
Each time George explains something to Lennie, he immediately after asks him to repeat the information, telling us that Lennie is forgetful and cannot take care of himself. George asks him:
‘O.K. Now when we go in to see the boss, what you gonna do?’
After elaborate thought, Lennie replies with the correct instructions, which pleases him like it would please a child. George then replies:
‘Good boy. That’s swell. You say that over two, three times so you won’t forget it.’
George speaks to Lennie in a child – like manner – submitting longer and more complex words and repeating information numerously. This illustrate to us that he is a patient, intelligent and passionate labourer, and that he is the more authoritative character of the pair who makes the decisions and commands the orders. In addition to this it is evident that Lennie is almost dependant upon George, because George looks after him and acts like a substitute father towards him. As a father does with his young child, George is sometimes frustrated with Lennie, and almost wishes that Lennie had more knowledge so that he would not be as troublesome. He says:
‘I could get along so easy and nice if I didn’t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl.’
George is clearly frustrated at Lennie and describes him as a burden, which upset him and resulted in his head being hung ‘dejectedly’. When he realises that Lennie is hurt, he apologizes and exclaims to himself, ‘Poor bastard’, showing us that Lennie is passionate towards Lennie, but sometimes cannot control his anger.
