Steinbeck presents George as compassionate because he cares for Lennie. It says “’An’ you get to tend the rabbits.’ Said George. Lennie giggled with happiness. ‘An’ live on the fatta the lan’.’” Steinbeck uses the personal pronoun ‘you’ to illustrate to the reader how George is trying to make Lennie happy by describing his dream life. This shows the reader that George still cares for Lennie even though he is about to shoot him, George still wants him to be happy and excited before he dies. Steinbeck also emphasizes George’s compassion towards Lennie through the use of the powerful verb ‘giggled’ to highlight to the reader how carefree and childlike Lennie is and that George is pleasing him by telling him of their future life together. This tells the reader that that Lennie is quite oblivious to what is happening and can make the reader feel that Lennie is portrayed very innocent in the passage and does not deserve to be killed, this can make the reader feel sympathy towards him. Therefore, George is compassionate as he cares and looks after his friend, and wants him to be his happiest before he must ultimately kill him.
