“The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it.”---Hubert H, Humphrey. The novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck has a reoccurring theme of friendship. George and Lennie are two migrant farmers trying to find work in the 1930’s around Salinas, California. George Milton and Lennie Small are trying to unite with friendship that puts them over all others. George treats Lennie like a brother. Friendship is in George when he is fighting with Lennie at the beginning of the novel down by the river in the brush he says, ‘“No, I want you to stay with me’”(13). George wants Lennie to stay with him. When George and Lennie are in the bunkhouse and Curley comes in and tries to talk to Lennie then Curley accuses George of taking
It is not, however, a one-sided friendship. George must be very close to Lennie because he goes to a lot of trouble to make sure that they both stay together. When Lennie got himself into trouble in Weed George didn't abandon him; they ran away to a different ranch together. I think George relies on Lennie for companionship because of the unfriendly and lonely environment they are in. he obviously cares about lennie because he says, "God, you're a lot of trouble.
To begin with, according to Lucius Annaeus Seneca, “One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood”. Even this quote explains that true friendship is when an individual stands for another individual. In the novel Of Mice and Men, author John Steinbeck examine the idea of friendship between two migrant ranch worker even when there was difficulties. Through the character of Slim and George, author Steinbeck illustrates friendship and reveals that friendships stand up for each other even when is difficult time.
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.
Friendship is a key theme in the novel written by John Steinbeck, titled Of Mice and Men. The friendships that some of the men have with each other contributes to how well they cope with everyday obstacles. The men with greater friendships seem to be happier and have certain goals for their future. The presence or absence of friendship in Of Mice and Men affects characters in their actions, relationships, and their happiness.
In Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the importance of friendship is constantly being illustrated. George Milton and Lennie Small, the two main characters of this story move to Soledad, California in search of a job. Throughout the story, their friendship encounters many trials and tribulations that seem to only contribute to the strength of their relationship. In reality, underlying sorrow and anger has forced George to make a challenging decision, killing his best friend. Lennie demonstrates naivety and dependance in his relationship with George, which shows that unstable friendships push people to make difficult decision.
First of all, George has given off a sense of friendship to a lot of other characters. First of all, George will always be supportive of Lennie in the long run. Lennie has gotten in trouble in weed and now they are on their way to Soledad. It is nighttime and George is a little bothered with Lennie, but he does not want Lennie to feel bad about anything. George says to Lennie “I want you to stay with me, Lennie.” (13). George needs the companionship from Lennie no matter what situation they are in. He does not ever want to upset Lennie. Even though Lennie gets them in trouble every job, George still needs him just to be with him because he loves friendship. George will always stick with Lennie. In addition, George tries to cheer Lennie up if he is confused or just did something wrong.George and Lennie are still on their way to Soledad after what happened in Weed. Lennie wants to be cheered up after having issues in Weed. George says to Lennie, “ Ok someday-we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs.” George is telling Lennie no matter what happens to us at this moment later in life they are going to have a whole house together. Lennie loves when George tells him a story because Lennie knows that there is hope in their dreams. No matter what George will try to cheer Lennie up. George knows how much Lennie loves animals, and telling him this will keep their friendship very strong. George and Lennie will always have a friendship because they have been with each other for such a long period of time.
Curly and Lennie, two men that traveled together everywhere they went. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck describes friendship, dreams, and personality to describe Lennie and Curly adventures.
‘If you don’t want me, you just’ got to say so, and I’ll go off in those hills right there.’” (Stenbeck, 1). This shows true friendship, because the reader can pick out how they are both being virtuous towards each other. Lennie is upset, and wants to leave, so George wants to show how much he cares to keep him around since he enjoys him. They truly care, and do not expect anything from each other, just the care within the bond they have.
Whether it be a man and a woman or a dog and his owner everyone needs someone to love. In the book Of Mice and Men by John steinbeck a popular topic that occurs is companionship. Companionship is vital in everyone's life. Without someone to bring fill you up, you are never whole.
One would not expect a friendship to be one of the most risky things in life. John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is an example of a risky friendship. Both characters show a trust and bond for one another in a time where true friendship is hard to come by. While friendships can make people vulnerable, it can also add significance to their lives and make it improve. People in friendships can be vulnerable because of themselves, another person, or their own goals.
"Were born alone we live alone die alone. Only through love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that were not alone” Orson Welles. In this novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck focuses on the loneliness of California ranch life in the 1930’s. One of the most important things in the life is to have a friend, without friends people will suffer from loneliness like in this novel, not everyone in the novel has the same connection and special friendship like George and Lennie’s. Of Mice and Men is the story about lonely men who travel from ranch to ranch not really communicating with other ranch hands. Candy, Crooks and Curley’s wife all were lonely and dealt with their loneliness in different ways.
In Of Mice and Men, friendship is a very important theme. For readers, it is obvious that Lennie can be a strain on their friendship. George shows compassion to Lennie by protecting him. He also learns from other characters that he has to think of others and do what’s right for friends. George also puts his feelings aside for his loved ones. The end implies that George will do anything for a friend. Readers conclude that friends keep each other
The famed nurses study from Harvard found “Not having a close friend is as detrimental to your health as smoking.” Lennie and George’s friendship is necessary to keep the better for each other. Throughout the story, Lennie and George need each other and look out for one another no matter what. Lennie and George’s friendship and journey throughout the story symbolizes the struggles to achieve the American dream. Steinbeck, in the story Of Mice and Men, combines characterization and symbolism to prove friends do whats best for eachother.
“‘Sure, we kinda look after each other’” replied George. (Steinbeck 34). This quote shows that George is not afraid to say he and Lennie travel together and is not embarrassed to be with him. Another example of friendship shown in the novel would have to be when George and Lennie talk to the boss and George says to Lennie, “‘Let me do all the talking’” (Steinbeck 23). George helps Lennie out because he knows that Lennie is not good with his words. George has always wanted the best for Lennie and he knew that Lennie would either be tortured in the end or get killed anyways. ...
Even though the book has its rough spots, Steinbeck portrays the true bond of friendship that even people as close as siblings have. Throughout the story, George and Lennie stand up for each other, understand one another, and George always knows what is best for Lennie. George did not want to kill Lennie, but at the same time, he did not want him to have to suffer the horrible consequences; he knew that Lennie’s death would be beneficial to Lennie in the future. Furthermore, George knew what was best for Lennie and decided to kill him for his own good.