Steinbeck uses anaphoric references throughout the novel with rabbits being rabbits being one of the most important; the rabbits represent George and Lennie’s dream. They dream of owning their own land and farm where Lennie can tend rabbits and they can “live off the fatta the lan.” Rabbits appear constantly throughout the text, beginning in the opening paragraph.
The opening of the text is approximately 1 day long, which compared to the four day long text is quite a long time. The first section therefore is quite important. You see many contrasts in the first part: George V Lennie, nature V man and peace V intrusion.
It is this opening scene where we first meet George and Lennie. “Two men wandered up from the highway, their entrance disturbing the peace and harmony of the deep, green forest. They approached in single file, one behind the other.” Immediately it is obvious that George is the leader of the duo. Lennie follows George's lead, "even in the open."
They are dressed identically, both wearing "denim trousers and denim coats with brass buttons." From first impressions, it seems that the two are remarkably alike until Steinbeck physically describes them. George is a small, defined man, "quick and dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Lennie on the other hand is his complete opposite. He is "a huge man, shapeless of face, with large pale eyes and wide, sloping shoulders. Even in their movements, they are complete opposites. George is quick and compact, he moves with confidence and composure. Lennie tries to do likewise but ends up walking "heavily, dragging his feet a little."
In the opening dialogue, George is shouting at Lennie for drinking too much. George is looking out for Lennie; he is commanding and strict, but also caring. George has the qualities of a father towards Lennie but his immediate anger also hints at possible frustration and tension. Unlike his friend, Lennie is in a world of his own. He takes no notice of George's warnings and continues to "dip his whole head, hat and all" under the water
In part one we see many different sides to Lennie’s character, He is a huge man, gifted with incredible strength, but also deprived of any common sense or maturity. Steinbeck regularly describes him in animal terms: "dabbed his big paw", "snorting… like a horse." These metaphors help to give an idea of Lennie’s abilities and his undeveloped state of mind. He has the labouring strength of a horse, but also the kind of animal innocence, which leaves him easily influenced.
It also becomes increasingly clear that Lennie is disconnected from the real world, detached from what is going on around him. This is shown when he and George have been travelling for several days and Lennie decides to ask, "George? Where we goin' George?" In many ways, Lennie is simply a child trapped inside a man’s body. He is completely dependent on George, so much so that George feeds him and looks after all of his important possessions. He also admires George as a boy admires his father. He often seeks approval and imitates George's movements: "[Lennie] imitated George exactly…Looked over to George to see whether he had it just right.
George made a promise to Lennie’s Aunt Clara that he would care for Lennie and now he feels obliged to stay with him, but George also needs friendship. All of the men in the novel appear to desire friendship, as they all live under such harsh conditions they want someone to be there for them.
George and Lennie’s relationship is rare for men in their circumstances and George knows this "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world...They got no family. They don't belong no place...With us, it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us...” Later in the novel, George is asked why he is with Lennie. George sometimes becomes frustrated with Lennie and momentarily believes he would be better of with out him, so he could stay in one place for longer and spend his “fifty bucks at the end of the month on what ever he wanted.” Despite this, I think George knows that he would not necessarily be better off with out Lennie, just different with no responsibilities. Without Lennie, I doubt that they would be so intent on following their dream. Lennie provides company and security for George.
George often insults Lennie and 'gives him hell', but he does not really mean it. Although he often talks about how well off, he could be without Lennie he secretly does not want Lennie to leave, and when Lennie offers to do so in the first chapter, George virtually pleads with him to stay. This is because George also depends on Lennie to a certain extent for his unconditional friendship.
George and Lennie are two contrasting characters yet ‘opposites attract’ and they have built up a friendship. George and Lennie are different but both have something to give each other: companionship being a major aspect but George gives Lennie a ‘parent’ and Lennie gives George a purpose in life. George has matured a lot since the incident he relates to Slim where he made Lennie jump into a river just for fun. He realises that Lennie depends on him, and needs him to survive.
Lennie craves the relationship of a parent figure, which is what George represents and also something like the rabbits, which he can pet, he would like to care for them, as they would bring him extra comfort. Lennie, like a small child just wants something of his own to care for but finds it difficult as he is so large and clumsy he ends up killing them, like with the mouse.
