In the novella, ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck, the relationship between both George and Lennie is seen as a necessity of coexistence or fulfillment. Through the novella George is seen as a parental or guardian figure to Lennie and in fact we as the audience see how the relationship is very beneficial to George. This is seen in Lennie's qualities and the large physical strength he possesses. Lennie’s physical strength is both an advantage as well as an opportunity to him and George as it opens them into many various ranches because it means he is able to load wheat bags faster in a day, therefore more revenue the ranch makes. Though Lennie’s intellectual ability restricts him from the realities of life and George’s anger for him we are …show more content…
In the novel, Hassan’s father was infertile, therefore to bore him with a son, Amir’s father and his mother became pregnant, making both Amir and Hassan half brothers. Though Aamir looks down at the Hassan because of his social status we are able to see how in fact Hassan’s awareness and potential to protect his dignity and integrity is an advantage to Amir because it gives him faith in trying to please his father. Their brotherhood relationship is similar to the friendship both Lennie and George share because they both represent a sacrificial bond. In ‘Of Mice and Men’, towards the end we seen Lennie's death by his own friend George, because of Lennie’s unintentionally actions. George is forced to kill his own friend to save from the the pain of seeing him being punished to death by someone else. This is similar to the sacrifices Hassan makes for Amir after he is raped and after this incident we see a attitude change in Amir because of the guilt which he is liable for. Unlike Hassan, Amir did not save him in the time of need causing Amir to feel guilty but also tries to portray Hassan as a criminal in front of his dad to show the servants of the house are no longer …show more content…
This shows that Hassan and Lennie both are preyed on by the society not only because of their social status but of the supposedly lack of capability that is gone unseen by other individuals because of the social norms that are implied in everyday life. Both the settings in the two films are also very similar as both films are set on during the time where their countries were at their weakest. This is seen in ‘The Kite Runner’ through the uprising of the Taliban and the invasion of the Soviets which in comparison the novel takes place in the time era of the Great Depression and Great Dustbowl where two migrant workers George and Lennie have arrived in Soledad to find ranch work. In both the texts there is an overlap of lifestyles. For example in the novel ‘The Kite Runner’, Amir and his father both live very educated, liberal western lives which is often a major contradiction to how the Afghan Culture is perceived today. Likewise in the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ the setting is very discriminative and secretive such as the inequality women face. Both the relationships in the texts all show in fact how weak we as individuals become as we are corrupted by the power we attain, and through this power we forget the promises and integrity we stood by at our
Does it make sense if someone decided to kill someone else because they thought it was for the best? Imagine being the person shot or the person who pulls the trigger. It may seem hard to comprehend but sure enough this is what happened in the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. In this novella, two migrant workers, Lennie and George, are always traveling together to find work during the Great Depression. Lennie is a big, strong man who has an unknown mental disorder while George is a small yet strong fellow who watches over Lennie. Since they have known each other a long time, it creates tragic but admirable ending because of the difficult choice George chooses to end Lennie’s innocent yet troubling life.
Within the beginning of the story, the dynamic of George and Lennie’s relationship is introduced, one that is uncommon and presents a fatherly vibe. The readers are thrown into the novel at the height of the great depression, an economic catastrophe that shook the world. Within these dark time, an unlikely friendship is in full blossom and we are meet by Lennie and George setting up camp for the night by a riverbed. After the duo’s personalities are expressed, they begin to set up the idea of a commonly shared dream which exists according to Lennie “Because... because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” (Steinbeck 14). Lennie is seen as a quite simple minded and extremely dim-witted character from just the first
The physical symbiosis of George and Lennie is beneficial to Lennie but detrimental to George. Although George used to hurt Lennie, Lennie now needs George to bail him out of trouble. Lennie also profits because he needs a person to tell him what to do. “He can’t think of nothing to do himself, but he sure can take orders” (39). Lennie is “a hell of a good worker”(22) and able to “put up a four-hundred pound bale” (22) but is likely to get himself in trouble without George’s protective influence. George likes Lennie but would be better off without him because “you (Lennie) can’t keep a job and you lose me ever’ job I get” (11). Lennie hinders George while George helps Lennie.
In the novella Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck, one of the most important themes is how the lack of self-control can have unfortunate consequences. George and Lennie, two best friends, are striding to salvage enough money to buy themselves a farm in the middle of nowhere with rabbits, dogs, and chickens. George, a man who was burdened with taking care of a man-child, is Lennie 's brother but in a way his primary caretaker. He has to stop Lennie from doing simpleminded actions for Lennie does not know the power of his own strength. Every Time they get a job and try to settle down, Lennie messes up, and they have to move on to the next town. Lennie has no self control whatsoever. He
These devices are incorporated into the journey of two companions working their way towards a dream. Steinbeck uses symbolism to complement his words to depict a higher meaning. As experienced readers will discover, the relationship between the intelligent, but small and weaker George Milton and the mentally handicapped, but large and stronger Lennie Small is symbolic. Even Lennie expresses this relationship “because I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you, and that's why” (14) .This suggests that they are not alone-they have each other. While George complains in the first chapter that he does not know why he keeps Lennie around, George argues "I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my tail"(11), he later explains the importance of Lennie's friendship -:“I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain't no good. They don't' have no fun. After a long time, they get mean. They get wantin' to fight all the time” (41). Although he is often irritated with Lennie, The reader can infer George stays with Lennie out of his promise to Lennie's aunt or the reader could look deeper and understand George cares about Lennie and that, meaning in life depends on upon sharing. This idea is central to Steinbeck's theme of brotherhood and how men are better if they are not alienated because, if alienated, they become mean and cruel out of their fear of vulnerability. The strength to oppress others originates of weakness, Steinbeck tells his readers. Most importantly for both George and Lennie, Lennie is the keeper of the dream. Without the child-like Lennie there is no dream of a ranch and rabbits and "livin' off the fat of the land." It is for Lennie's sake that George repeats the dream of them owning land. At first George does not really believe that this dream will come to fruition. But, with his childlike friend's
The novel of mice and men by John Steinbeck is a heartwarming story about two men George and Lennie. George is a small stocky man who prides himself on his ability to be independent, and often taunts Lennie by saying "God a'mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want.” (pg12). Lennie on the other hand is a very large childlike man who is very dependent of George. These two have stuck together for a long time and over that time have developed a dream of owning their own ranch. Steinbeck uses a variety of techniques to display the theme “even the best laid themes can go wrong”
To me, being a good friend is staying by their side, even if they do something you do not like. Also, a good friend would back you up and do whatever they can get others to see you for who you really are, not just for that one bad thing you might have done. Though some may argue that in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George was being a good friend to Lennie by making his death as painless as possible, but it is proven that he in fact was not being a good friend to Lennie when George kills him because Lennie is his best friend and being all he has, George is going to now suffer that loss and Lennie did not kill her because he was trying to be mean it was just a bad accident.
Strengths and Weaknesses play a huge roll within the story. Steinbeck explores different types of strength and weakness throughout the novel. As the novel begins, Steinbeck shows how Lennie possesses physical strength beyond his control, as when he cannot help killing the mouse. Great physical strength is valuable in George and Lennie's circumstances. Curley, as a symbol of authority on the ranch and a champion boxer, makes this clear immediately by using his brutish strength and violent temper to intimidate those who look down on him. Lennie means no harm at all. The reason why George and Lennie had to leave in the beginning of the novel was because it was believed that Lennie attempted to rape a woman there. Rape was not the case at all, when Lennie expressed his love for the touch of soft things, such as a dress or a mouse, this panicked the woman causing a chain reaction, and causing Lennie panic also. When Lennie accidentally kills the mouse, it foreshadows the future of Lennie and Curley's wife.
John Steinbeck wrote a story about two men that only had each to depend on. Many of George and Lennie's struggles come from things they cannot control such as Lennie's mental issues. George and Lennie are very poor and they work on farms together, but they have to move a lot because Lennie always does something stupid. The greatest tragedy in Mice and Men was when Lennie was left alone with Curley's wife. She was the reason why Lennie ended up being killed. She knew of to manipulate others to get her way and that is what she relies on most of the time.
Just as looking after each other is important, another component of a healthy relationship is being able to make each other better people. With no surprise, George and Lennie are able to do this for each other constantly. The first way that George and Lennie make each other better people is because they have common goals between each other. George and Lennie explain to readers how their goal is to own a farm with each other. Their farm will take up an acre of land, and it will have a shack on that land that they can live in. They will own chickens, pigs, cows, and rabbits that Lennie will be able to tend. (Steinbeck 105-106)
The novel, Of Mice and Men, is a story of two men by the names of George and Lennie. They are migrant workers new to the California area where they soon are to start work. They have a homogeneous relationship. George is described through the text as a small dark man that has strong features. He is strong-minded and the main character of this novel. Lennie on the on the other hand is described as shapeless. He possesses an incredible strength that George does not have. George is the brains of the operation while Lennie is perceived as the strength behind it all. He is devoted to George and t...
What is it that makes us human and what does it mean to be human? These questions should be frequently and relentlessly contemplated by all members of society. What makes us human is the notion that we have complex thoughts and emotions. No two individuals are exactly alike in every way who share the same opinions, tastes, thoughts, ideas, or feelings. Which is quite fortunate, because it would be a complete bore if everyone acted completely identical to one another. So, what is it that makes us abhor another based on their uniqueness as an individual or as a group? The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is about a friendship between two boys set in Afghanistan. The story spans over the last thirty years. Amir is the son of a wealthy business man, Baba. Ali is a longtime childhood friend of Baba’s and works as a servant for him. Hassan is the son of Ali and spends time with Amir. Hassan and Amir one day run into Assef—who has a superiority complex—and threatens to beat Amir for being friends with a Hazara. Later on in the story, Hassan is cornered by Assef and his two friends and Assef rapes Hassan. Amir witnessed the event concealed in the shadows, and is tormented for the rest of his life with his decision for not standing up for Hassan. The author,
George’s relationship with Lennie has made him selfless; his conversations, with and with out Lennie, are generally revolving around Lennie, although in the case of their dream-ranch George seems to find fulfilment for himself as well. Due to these altruistic tendencies that he shows throughout the novel, a danger is bestowed upon George; he tends to care for Lennie far too much, and too little for himself. In occasional moments, he escapes his sympathy and compassion for Lennie, and realises the burden that he causes. This usually results in George taking his frustration out on Lennie, which can often harm his simple mind, leaving Lennie upset and forced to confess to his own uselessness, and George feeling guilty for what he has caused. We can learn very little about George through his actual conversations, which made it necessary for Steinbeck to focus the novel on him in particular, and let the reader gain an closer insight on him through his actions. Generally, he seems to be caring, intelligent and sensible, but is greatly worn by the constant attention Lennie requires. This illustrates a major theme in Of Mice and Men, the dangers that arise when one becomes involved in a dedicated relationship.
In the book, Hassan is shown as being selfless beyond a doubt and loyal to a fault. Finally, the movies major themes are penance and redemption, while the books major themes are loyalty and redemption. The characterizations of the main characters are not so much different in the movie than in the book, but are incomplete. The movie does not show the depth and secret desires that motivate the characters and does not allow for one to sympathize and really get to know the characters.
Raised like brothers yet they could not be more different. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini shows how two brothers, Amir and Hassan, could be alike in many ways, yet personalities are completely different. Amir and Hassan although raised like brother, and later discovered they were half brothers, were completed individuals in personality, meaning of life, and how they treated each other. The story takes them from early childhood, to the day Hassan leaves, to Amir growing up and going back to Kabul. The Kite Runner takes you on a emotional journey about a boy named Amir, and his uncommon bond to his servant Hassan, whom Amir had to go through choices to abandon his friend amidst the increasing struggles politics, religion, ethics, and love.