Relationships In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

790 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: What was Steinbeck trying to expose culturally and socially by writing Of Mice and Men

“Hardly none of the guys ever travel together. I hardly ever seen two guys travel together” (Steinbeck 39) Why is it weird for men to be together? John Steinbeck’s, Of Mice and Men, repeatedly shows two men who are responsible for each other and others looking in on their relationship as something that’s odd. Emphasizing the point that men are pressured into being alone and emotionless by society, but have a desire to be with other people. Male relationships are a theme in the book and revealed in these illumination moments: Lennie’s following and imitation of George, Carlson’s attitude towards George and Lennie being together, Crook wanting companionship, and George’s decision to kill Lennie. As they walk into a clearing in the very beginning, …show more content…

“Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. I just like to know what your interest is.”(Steinbeck 22) Men don’t understand why two guys would help each other out, as George does for Lennie by having him not talk when they are speaking with the boss. Or Carlson, who has no sentimentality, “Look, Candy. This ol’ dog jus’ suffers hisself all the time. If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head-”(Steinbeck 45) Carlson doesn’t care about what something was but how it is now, and if it is useful. The men of this era were pragmatic and were expected to like solitude, but no one really wants to be …show more content…

After Lennie killed Curley’s wife and the others went to hunt Lennie and shoot him in the guts George knew what he had to do. After “He pulled the trigger”(Steinbeck 106) By doing this he helped Lennie from dying a slow painful death as well as not having the same regret as Candy. “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to to of let no stranger shoot my dog”(Steinbeck 61) Even though it was hard for George to do it, it was an important part of their relationship. Helping each other out when no other men of the time would have helped, and showing a male relationship in a world that doesn’t understand them. Helping each other is a part of a male relationship and helping a friend even if it’s one of the hardest things to do. Illuminated through key moments male relationships are revealed as a theme in Steinbeck’s novel. Descriptions of George and Lennie reveal the roles in their relationship in the very beginning of the novel. Through dialogue the stereotypical men of the era is revealed by Carlson and the ranch boss. The loneliness in men is described in Crook’s talk with Lennie is an extreme example as he is forced to be by himself. The tough choices that come with relationships is illuminated through George’s choice to shoot Lennie. Why is it wrong for men to be in relationships when no one wants to be

Show More
Related

  • Desire for Companionship in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men"

    1749 Words  | 4 Pages

    Imagine being discriminated against because of your ethnicity; or being the only woman on a ranch, stuck in a loveless marriage, when all you really want is someone to talk to. What about having to kill that friend, and bury all chances of breaking free from the life of the average migrant worker? How would you feel? These scenarios in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men illustrate the need and desire for companionship in life. There's Crooks, the negro stable buck; Curley's wife, whose marriage to Curley hasn't exactly been lively; and George and Lennie, whose friendship is strong enough to get them to a better life and out of the negetive cycle that the average migrant worker became trapped in during the Great Depression.

    Read More

  • The Ultimate Sacrifice In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

    942 Words  | 2 Pages

    Consistently throughout the story George and Lennie were there for each other; in fact towards the very beginning Lennie and George discussed how they were better off than most guys because they had each other (14). When George killed Lennie a part of him died too, George knew murdering Lennie would hurt him mentally and emotionally. However he did it because he wanted what was best for his friend no matter the cost. His actions were altruistic and that made his decision the more favorable one. Another instance when George was selfless was when he gave up his dream. Throughout the story George and Lennie dreamed of and worked towards owning their own piece of land together. However, after discovering Curley’s wife dead, George returned to reality and informed Candy that they would, “never do her” (94). After losing his friend George understood the impossibility of achieving the American Dream. Beforehand George knew he would not want to live out his dream without Lennie, so by protecting Lennie and giving up on his own dream he put Lennie above himself. Conversely, someone may believe that George's actions were selfish and that he benefits himself by killing Lennie. After George comes after Lennie, the dim-witted man asks if George was going to yell at him. Reluctantly George told him “If I was alone, I could live so easy,” (103). Although George said

    Read More

  • Lennie Relationship

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Lennie, George, And Crooks In Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

    2281 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck discusses Lennie, George, and Crooks. In this book Steinbeck wants the reader to understand how life was portrayed in American society back in the day. Steinbeck wants the reader to understand how people were treated differently because of their race and by their mental state. Steinbeck wants the reader to understand how the mindset of Lennie, George, and Crooks affects the story. Steinbeck wants the reader to understand why Lennie was always mistreated and why George was there to take care of him. Steinbeck wants the reader to understand why George answers for Lennie and why he tells Lennie what to do because Lennie could not do anything on his own without getting into trouble or messing something up. Steinbeck wanted to show the reader how African Americans were treated back then by putting Crooks into the mix. Steinbeck wants the reader to understand that Crooks was left out of activities and other things in the book because of his race and because of his crooked back.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

    2021 Words  | 5 Pages

    When asked about John Steinbeck’s career, people often refer to Steinbeck as a playwright, journalist, and a well-known novelist. The book Of Mice and Men is a popular novel by John Steinbeck and a required read for most high school students. Most of Steinbeck 's novels have a central theme focusing on the relationship between man and his environment. The American dream for George and Lennie, two of the main characters in Of Mice and Men, is to have a place of their own, to be respected, and to work hard for everything they earn and deserve. In Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, the land and a hope of a better life becomes the talisman of an American dream for Lennie and George that is left unfulfilled.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

    902 Words  | 2 Pages

    Steinbeck uses the powerful friendship of George and Lennie and the social structure of the Migrants to depict the limitless stretches one would go for his fellow man once a deep connection has been made. In The Grapes of Wrath, he presents this idea on a large scale, with a large group of people who bond closely through compassion, sympathy and the desire to survive. On the other hand, in Of Mice and Men, he presents one's dedication to his fellow man on a more personal level. Steinbeck brings the nature of humanity to the spotlight and exposes the fierce values it posesses.

    Read More

  • Characters In George Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

    1230 Words  | 3 Pages

    The title of the novel Of Mice and Men has a unique meaning behind it. The saying “Are you a man or are you a mouse?” has a connection to novel itself but more importantly the characters. Each main character in this novel can be classified as either a “man” or a “mouse”. The “men” seen in the novel are George Milton, and Curley. The “mice” can be classified as Lennie Small and Curley’s wife. The “mice” are represented by the weak or the socially unacceptable characters; the “men” are represented by the strong, independent characters.

    Read More

  • Essay On Friendships In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

    482 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the end Lennie caused a big conflict by killing Curley's wife. This lead George to kill Lennie for his own good. If George wouldn’t of killed Lennie, Curley would have killed him in a more brutal way by making him suffer. George and Lennie could have ran away but Curley wasn’t going to give up until he found them. If they would have ran away they both would have been lynched. Killing Lennie was a big decision George had to make, but it was the best for Lennie. Even when Lennie died George managed to make him happy by telling him the story of their dream farm and their plans for it. George was a good friend so he did what a good friend would do in that

    Read More

  • Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    John Steinbeck’s portrayal of George and Lennie serve to describe and criticize the misjudgment and mistrust of the rejects of society. Understanding builds trust, a fundamental component of a harmonious society. In this global age, trusts and judgments are more important than ever. Steinbeck’s timeless message made Of Mice and Men a true classical novella.

    Read More

  • Of Mice And Men

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck brings out the themes of Lonliness and companionship, and strengths and weaknesses through the actions, and quotations of the characters. Irony and foreshadowing play a large roll on how the story ends. Lennie and his habit of killing things not on purpose, but he is a victim of his own strength. George trying to pretend that his feelings for Lennie mean nothing. The entire novel is repetitive in themes and expressed views.

    Read More

  • The Effects of War On Soldiers

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hemingway’s characters exemplify the effects of combat because World War I had a negative impact on them; the veterans lead meaningless lives filled with masculine uncertainty. Jake and his friends (all veterans) wander aimlessly throughout the entire novel. Their only goal seems to be finding an exciting restaurant or club where they will spend their time. Every night consists of drinking and dancing, which serves as a distraction from their very empty lives. The alcohol helps the characters escape from their memories from the war, but in the end, it just causes more commotion and even evokes anger in the characters. Their years at war not only made their lives unfulfilling but also caused the men to have anxiety about their masculinity, especially the narrator Jake, who “gave more than his life” in the war (Hemingway). Jake feels that the war took away his manhood because he is unable to sleep with Brett as a result of an injury. Although he wants to have a relationship with Brett, and spends most of his time trying to pursue her, she rejects him because he cannot have a physical relationship with her. At several points in the novel, Brett and Jake imagine what their lives could have been like together, had he not been injured during the war. Thus, his physical injury gives him emotional distress because he cannot have a relationship with the woman he always wanted. The traditional American perception of...

    Read More

  • Relationships in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and The Movie The Mighty

    1631 Words  | 4 Pages

    It is amazing how much Biology has in common with the social world when it comes to the relationships among human-beings. Symbiosis is the interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association with each other and they include mutualistic, parasitic, and commensal relationships. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and the movie The Mighty, the key relationships of symbiosis are executed in many of the characters’ interesting adventures throughout both of them. The characters relationships in the book and the movie can be traced back to symbiosis in a way that shows how the mind works when people create relationships. The novel Of Mice and Men and the movie The Mighty show symbiotic relationships that are visible to the eye.

    Read More

  • Relationship between Curley and his Wife

    810 Words  | 2 Pages

    Steinbeck’s point in exploring these relationships is to teach people about how the isolation drives people into forging relationships with each other. While it should be obvious that a marriage would result in a much more loving and caring relationship, in this story, that is not the case. As shown, Curley and his wife’s relationship is nothing but stressful and a burden on both of them. Neither people are helped at all by the marriage, as both of them are still very lonely, even together. However, the most unlikely of connections, George and Lennie’s, perseveres and is truly a mutualistic relationship. While their relationship is not fully of platonic love, it is clear that both men do care for each other. Steinbeck wanted to teach us that people need each other. We as humans crave social interactions and the feeling of being respected and wanted. Sometimes, conventional relationships - like those of husband and wife - do not provide that, while unconventional relationships can truly have

    Read More

  • Of Mice And Men - The Importance Of George

    1823 Words  | 4 Pages

    Even from the very start of John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, the uniqueness of George, as a character, is already noticeable. He is described as “small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp strong features” and has an obvious dominance over the relationship between Lennie and himself. This lets the reader know from a very early stage in the book that George is different, and probably the essential character. George’s character seems to be used by Steinbeck to reflect the major themes of the novel: loneliness, prejudice, the importance of companionship, the danger of devoted companionships, and the harshness of Californian ranch life.

    Read More

  • Book Review- Of mice and men

    418 Words  | 1 Pages

    It was as if America did not accept friendship at that time, that’s probably why friends broke up soon. It’s not me who’s saying all this, its Steinbeck’s novel. I never knew friendship could cause these many problems. It was only friendship that made the first main character kills the second main character.

    Read More

More about Relationships In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Open Document