An Analysis Of John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

The setting of Of Mice and Men is in California during the Great Depression. “By 1933, when the Great Depression reached its nadir, some 13 to 15 million Americans were unemployed and nearly half of the country’s banks had failed.” – History. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck portrays George as a normal migrant worker during the 1930s, which is why society is eminently stunned by his loyalty to Lennie. His internal conflict shows what it means to be human and surrounds around his loyalty to Lennie and the freedom he could have if he traveled alone. Steinbeck simulates George as an ordinary migrant worker that has an obligation to take care of Lennie. For the reason that George is a awfully normal person, society is particularly astonished by

His loyalty makes him the moral character. George has, of course, plenty of reasons for residing with Lennie. A major one is a promise made to Lennie’s Aunt Clara to take care of him. George harbors throngs of hardships when taking care of him and often thinks back about the freedom he could have without Lennie. George describes their childhood, “‘I knowed his Aunt Clara...When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin'. Got kinda used to each other after a little while’" (Steinbeck 40). The background information that Steinbeck gives the reader summarizes the origin of George and Lennie’s relationship. It of course, hints as to why they are inseparable. Steinbeck also depicts George as someone that is greatly honest and true to his word as he is still loyal to Lennie even after a promise made such a long time ago. To anyone, taking care of Lennie is not an easy task. It's no different for George. He has complained in heaps of occurrences that Lennie is difficult to handle. Since Lennie is mentally challenged, George repeatedly thinks about how much simpler his life could be without Lennie. He has also even told this to Lennie, “‘When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts’” (Steinbeck 12). Steinbeck wrote this to demonstrate how even though George’s life could be simpler and easier without Lennie, George still stayed. This shows how George must have some sort of internal conflict between staying with Lennie and leaving him for a easier life. Lennie has even suggested that he leaves George alone: “‘If you don’ want me I can go off in the hills an’ find a cave. I can go away any time’” (Steinbeck 12). Lennie knows how much trouble he can be and therefore offered to leave George. But of course, George, being a moral and normal person, is worried about Lennie. “George said, ‘I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody’d shoot you