The first verbal reference to their friendship comes from George’s own description of the conditions that ranch workers faced: “Guys like us, that work on ranches…They don't belong no place”, suggesting that due to the depression America faced, people had become isolated and did not have a place to call their own. George describes ranch workers as having ‘no family’, as well as being the ‘loneliest guys in the world’, who roam around ‘[blowing] their stake’, with ‘nothing to look ahead to’. George’s description of the typical ranch worker highlights the nature of life in depression America; people had nothing to look forward to and were simply working in order to survive, with nothing to enjoy in life. However, despite the hostile nature of society in America, the concept of friendship is introduced in the novel with Lennie asking George to ‘Tell how it is with us’, suggesting that with George and Lennie there is something different, and this is their friendship:
“We got a future. We got somebody to talk to… Because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you”
The theme of friendship is significant in the novel as Steinbeck describes how with friendship, it is possible to travel a lot further in life, as well as endure the struggles along the way, while people who lack friendship are unable to do so, such as the ‘tramps who come wearily down from the highway’.
The mistrust between people in the society of depression America can be seen clearly when George is described as being ‘sceptical’ of the first ranch worker he meets, Candy. George’s anger begins to rise when he perceives Candy to be giving them the inferior living space in the ranch house, on account of the ‘small yellow can’ on the box shelf next to the bed. The rough living conditions hints at the lack of care of the ranch owner in looking after the ranch hands, suggesting that there is little friendship between the boss and his workers. Further description of the boss ‘giving the stable buck hell’ continues to emphasise that even in society, little to no friendship exists. The fact that the boss takes out his frustrations on the stable buck on account of him being ‘a nigger’ also shows the horrendous way people treated each other; the stable buck being ‘[given] hell’ due to the colour of his skin, showing that the lack of friendship also extended to racial discrimination. However, the concept of friendship is shown to be significant as George eventually stands up for Lennie against the boss, and answering for Lennie when he is intimidated by the boss:
“Listen, Small! ... Then why won’t you let him answer? What you trying to put over?”
Friendship is significant in this novel as George and Lennie are able to maintain a close relationship, even though friendship is unknown to most people in society, evident by the boss stating that ‘I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy’. The theme of friendship is constantly contrasted with the hostility of society in the novel, and hostility can be seen when the boss answers with ‘Don’t you try to put nothing over…I got my eye on you”, also linking back to the distrust that existed in society during the depression era, when people resorted to fending for themselves, rather than putting their trust in anyone else. The friendship between George and Lennie is extremely significant as it shows the small existence of friendship in a world where friendship is non-existent, and from the existence of their small friendship they are able to persevere.
It is apparent that people in the society described by the novel treat each other with disregard and suspicion, as shown by the casual reference to the fight between the stable buck and another ranch hand:
“If he coulda used his feet, Smitty says he woulda killed the nigger”
The casual approach to violence despite the fact that it could end another’s life shows the lack of trust, as well as the lack of care that people faced. The suspicion that people regarded with one another is shown by the appearance of Curley, who glances ‘coldly at George…and Lennie’, followed by an act of aggression when his ‘arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists’, as if ready for a fight despite no action on behalf of George or Lennie against him. Despite Curley’s attack at Lennie with ‘Let the big guy talk’, George steps up to defend Lennie once again due to their friendship, and we can see how the pair’s friendship steps up to protect each other when George bears the brunt of Curley’s anger rather than Lennie. Society’s general lack of understanding of friendship is also represented by Curley’s curt response to George describing his bond to Lennie with ‘Oh, so it’s that way’, mocking them for their friendship. Friendship is significant as despite being rare in the America that the novel describes, friendship is able to exist between George and Lennie, despite under the crushing forced authority exerted by Curley who attempts to intimidate them and mock them. The forced authority also demonstrates that the trust in American society has been broken, similarly to how the depression resulted in people not willing to help other people out. This lack of trust is built upon.
Another view which the reader is given is that in general society, there is a tendency for people to be lonely due to the lack of trust. Evidence of this is given by the appearance of Curley’s wife, who is simply referred to as Curley’s wife, without a name; there is a split in the equality of genders and she is expected to do simple jobs at home rather than working on a farm. Another side shown to the reader of Curley’s wife is her loneliness; the theme of loneliness as a contrast to friendship is repeatedly shown, such as when Candy describes her someone who ‘got the eye’, and that he ‘seen her give Slim the eye’ and ‘give Carlson the eye’. The fact that she is seen to be deliberately staying around George and Lennie, as if to catch their attention suggests the desperation that arose from loneliness, and how far people are willing to go in order to become happy:
“Oh! … You the new fellas…? Nobody can’t blame a person for lookin’”
The theme of loneliness directly contrasts with the theme of friendship in the text, and in this way the importance of friendship is made significant as the friendship between George and Lennie proves to help them escape from the cycle of loneliness and desperation many other people faced at the time, one example being George’s protective nature when he demands that Lennie doesn’t take ‘a look at that bitch’, care which Lennie would not receive if it were not for friendship and care that other people did not receive.
Further evidence of the breakdown in the society of America is given when Slim describes the situation as ‘maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other’, and that it was a rarity for ‘guys (to) travel around together’, showing the lack of friendship. Slim eventually gives further evidence for this, saying that it is ‘funny how you an’ him string along together’, when the people ‘never seem to give a damn about nobody’, and especially when Lennie’s mental capacity is limited yet George insists on travelling with him:
“It jus’ seems kinda funny a cuckoo like him and a smart little guy like you travelin’ together”, once again emphasising the significance of George and Lennie’s unique friendship.
The unfriendliness in society can be seen building up into physical violence, represented by the fight between Curley and Lennie. Curley, who attempts to intimidate Lennie and eventually results in physically attacking him:
“Curley…slashed at Lennie…blood welled from his nose…George…make ‘um leave me alone, George”
Another contrast between friendship and lack of friendship is made; Lennie is seen to rely on George in order to help him while Curley is left alone to defend for himself, and this is significant as it proves how their friendship will eventually help them in their struggles.
George and Lennie share a unique friendship in which they make up for each other’s flaws. George is presented as the cleverer of the two, while Lennie is presented as the stronger of the two. Despite the hostile society of depression era America, the friendship between the two characters is significant as it is a rarity for two people to be able to continue a friendship in a harsh time period where people were left to fend for themselves, and often had no family to accompany them.
