Analysis Essay On Of Mice And Men Friendship

558 Words3 Pages

What makes a good friend? According to World Book Online, friendship is a social relationship in which people help each other in times of need. This definition of friendship is evident in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. The novella takes place during the Great Depression, a time when seeing two guys travelling around together like George and Lennie is rare. George and Lennie’s friendship is strong because they care for each other, George’s leadership over Lennie, and they work through tough times to remain content in the end.
George and Lennie’s care for one another illustrates their friendship pleasantly. George points out the great period of time him and Lennie sustained by saying, “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). This portrays that George cares for Lennie and was there to help George when he was grieving …show more content…

They work together through tough times to remain content in each other's balance. Crook proves hope and companionship are needed to survive by telling George, “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. I tell ya a guy gets too lonely and sick” (Steinbeck 80). By saying this, Crook’s reminds George he should be grateful for his friendship with Lennie. During the Great Depression, seeing two guys as close as George and Lennie was strange, this only made their friendship unique. When discussing how George and Lennie travel together, Slim remarks: “Ain't many guys travel around together, I don’t know why. Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other” (Steinbeck 35). They have one another which separates them from the other men. Another reason why George and Lennie are constantly working together is because they contain traits that the other does not have. Lennie is strong and passionate, while George is smart and