What does section one tell us about the characters of George and Lennie and their relationship

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What does section one tell us about the characters of George and Lennie and their relationship?

In section one Steinbeck introduces us to the two main characters of his book, George and Lennie; we immediately see they are complete opposites, “Behind him walked his opposite”. George is the leader of the duo and we can see that he is clearly the one who is in charge, “small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features”. This description gives the reader an immediate impression of intelligence and a quick witted personality. George is also small and wiry, “Every part of him was defined”. Lennie is described as a lumbering animal, “he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws”. Where George is small and sharp featured Lennie is, “a huge man, shapeless of face, with large pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders.” The reader’s impression is of a slow witted lumbering oaf.

Despite their differences Lennie looks up to George as a model of ideal behaviour “Lennie, who had been watching imitated George exactly,” Lennie sees George as a role model and mentor for life and is careful to please him, constantly apologising for his behaviour when he sees George is upset. Although George regularly says “if I was alone I could live so easy,” he does not really mean it as his feelings towards Lennie are too strong. George enjoys the companionship and sense of responsibility, he also feels superior, “you do bad things and I got to get you out”.  George sees the rewards of Lennie’s companionship are greater than the normal rancher life, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world”. George knows because of his friendship with Lennie that he has something more than the normal itinerant ranch hands, not only does he have the protection of a huge man, he benefits from his hard work, “if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we’re set”. The need that each have for each other is clearly illustrated by Lennie, “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you”.  George is also using Lennie as an excuse as to why he hasn’t done anything better with his life, “You can’t keep a job and you lose me ever’ job I get”, but the truth is that they need each other.

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Lennie is a powerful man but hasn’t grown up mentally, Steinbeck continually uses animal imagery to describe him, “snorting into the water like a horse”, “dabbled his big paw” and “like a terrier who doesn’t want to bring a ball”. Not knowing his own immense strength Lennie is a constant threat to everything around him and this is clearly illustrated by references to him killing mice, “you’ve broke it pettin’ it” and “she stopped givin’ em to ya. You always killed ‘em”. Despite his animal like innocence, Lennie has also been involved in more serious trouble which has resulted in ...

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