WHY IS FRIENDSHIP IMPORTANT IN TODAYS SOCIETY?
Friendship is one of the most important aspects of life. It is an in-depth relationship combining trust, support, communication, loyalty, understanding, empathy, and intimacy. Aspects of life that all of us need. Friendship usually starts because you share the same ideas. Interests and same sense of humour are the usual ways friendships start. In today’s society friendship is particularly important; I will discuss why this is, and the challenges that arise in friendship.
Friendship needs commitment. A friend will not desert someone when they are down or need help, and when friends have quarrels, they should not just walk away from each other when they disagree. Can the friendship overcome the challenge that may have arisen in the relationship; will the friends still be together despite this challenge? If they are true friends they should be able. Forgiveness and compassion. These are also important, you need the ability to be able to be in your friends shoes (understand them) so you can help them. John Steinbeck’s novel “Of men and mice” proves all of these points. “Of Mice and Men” is a book about 2 men and their struggle to achieve their dream of owning a farm through their companionship. The two men are completely different, one being a slow, stupid man (Lennie), and the other man is a typical ranch hand (George) who travels with him. On the path to achieving their dream, they run into obstacles, but stick together, stressing the importance of commitment. Steinbeck wrote this book to tell us how important it is to have a friend to share your life with. An example in this book of commitment between the two friends is when they are chased out of where they were working because Lennie touched a girls dress. George went on the run with Lennie because he knew Lennie wouldn’t be able to look after himself. We also find out they have had to move from other jobs before because Lennie has done something wrong. The importance of this is George’s commitment to Lennie. George goes with Lennie and hides in an irrigation ditch until the coast is clear for them to escape. George could have left Lennie, but he did not because he needs Lennie and they are friends. The night before George and Lennie get to the new ranch, George has an argument with Lennie, saying he should leave him and how much of a good time he could have without him, but George does not walk away, this is another important aspect of commitment. The challenge in their relationship is the constant moving from place to place. Yet, these two friends stick together. George is also forgiving and compassionate. Lennie is stupid, and George understands this and can see through Lennie. An example of this is Lennie’s obsession with ‘petting’ nice things (as with the girl) and when Lennie brings a pup secretly under his shirt into the cabin, George immediately realises and says “I tol’ you you couldn’t bring that pup in here” George does not get angry, he just understands Lennie likes nice things to pet.
