ipl-logo

Companionship In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

1230 Words5 Pages

Companionship plays a huge role in people’s daily lives. It is extremely important for many reasons and from many aspects. (what reason?) Mankind cannot live without companionship; individuals cannot achieve dreams or goals without interacting with others. In the novella, Of Mice and Men, the author, John Steinbeck, portrays the importance of companionship through the journey of two inseparable characters during the Great Depression. The main characters, George and Lennie are migrant ranch workers, who are constantly searching for jobs during this terrible time of poverty. During their journey, many incidents occurred because of Lennie’s childlike mind, but George did not abandon his friend. Instead he kept Lennie close with him and guided him along the way. Steinbeck portrays …show more content…

John Steinbeck use Crooks as an antithesis for George and Lennie’s bond. He uses the way each character acts to illustrate the difference companionship can make in people’s lives. Lennie and George are an inseparable duo. They both share the same dreams and goals. George and Lennie have each other to support and depend on, while Crooks is the exact opposite, he has no one. Since Crooks is a colored man Crooks distances himself from others, because he does not want to cause trouble. For example, when Lennie tried to go his room he dismissed Lennie with “ I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room”(68). Through Crooks’s response Steinbeck reveals how lonely Crooks really is. He wishes to be part of the group, but because of his skin color he felt isolated. This caused him to set up barriers between himself

Show More
Related
95 Words | 1 Pages

The friendship between George and Lennie in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is illustrated as one that is strong and enduring which is not expected of men during the time the book sets. By looking at George and Lennie’s friendship, one can see that they both envision a future that includes both of them and fail to see one without the other. By opposing the themes of friendship and loneliness, Steinbeck creates an example of a friendship that is doomed to end with the use of foreshadowing in the final stages of the

Read More
970 Words | 4 Pages

Examine how far George and Lennie are loyal to each other throughout 'Of mice and men' In the novella 'Of Mice and Men', by the well-known author, John Steinbeck, the reader is introduced to a varied range of different characters on the ranch; within this realm loyalty between George and Lennie plays a significant role in the lonely itinerant lifestyle. The characters in this short novel act in a world of their own, having no connections to any other type of society; through this Steinbeck can strongly depict the theme of loyalty and friendship in dire situations during this period of time. During the 1930's, at the ranch, a predominant role of intelligent white-males is seen to retain power over lesser groups of people, of which Lennie is portrayed to be this part as he is mentally disabled. Despite this George and Lennie strike up a friendship of loyalty: showing firm and constant support. ' Guys like us got no fambly...they ain't got nobody in the worl' that gives a hoot in hell about 'em' sums up the reason why their loyalty and companionship is so vital and special to each other.

Read More
453 Words | 2 Pages

Steinbeck says that with companionship, people act more loving. One of Steinbeck's greatest books Of Mice and Men focuses on companionship. Steinbeck shows how companionship remains in our lives. The theme of the book portrays on how spending life alone affects you. But it also shows the benefits of it.

Read More
1050 Words | 5 Pages

Aireyana Sharp Ms. Bowen December , 2017 7* Title The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression that took place during the 1930s. In the novel “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck each character has their own set of problems relating to the Depression. It could be there race, gender, disability or loneliness.

Read More
650 Words | 3 Pages

“A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. I tell you a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick”. said Crooks (Steinbeck 72-73). One thing this quote shows us is that Crooks feel as if he is going mad because of his loneliness. He shows the need for companionship through the characterization of Lennie “If you don’ want me, I can go off in the hills an’ find a cave.”

Read More
917 Words | 4 Pages

As george and lennie are always on the run, George reaches the limit of how much responsibility he is willing to take. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a novel about the importance of companionship and devotion for one another. George and Lennie are on a journey to find a place where they can both be free, but as challenges come closer George has to take responsibility for Lennie's actions. George takes responsibility for Lennie at every step along the way, up until the very end of Lennie’s life.

Read More
264 Words | 2 Pages

Can you imagine not having mental health care? Lennie can. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie and Crooks are both outsiders because of severe social injustice in the Great Depression. In the early 1900s during the Depression, people like Lennie and Crooks were treated very differently compared to other people. Crooks is one of many examples of this injustice.

Read More
530 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck tell us a story of friendship during the depression. This is a story of two friends, Lennie and George, and how they work together to keep each other company, get through hard times in life, and _____. Lennie and George do everything together and always watch out for eachother. Lennie and George are both very dependent on each other even though they do it differently. George was always there for Lennie weather he was in horrible trouble or not, George was always by Lennie’s side to protect and guide him.

Read More
492 Words | 2 Pages

In the 1930’s loneliness affected a lot of people as an effect of The Great Depression amongst other things. Feeling lonely or alienated is not a good feeling and effects many people. In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck expresses these feelings through Crooks, Curley’s wife, and Lennie. Traveling along with someone doesn't mean you aren’t lonely. John Steinbeck shows loneliness through Lennie when Lennie tells George, “If you don’t want me

Read More
903 Words | 4 Pages

According to my observations, the vast majority of life's contacts function only to make us feel alienated and unwanted. Traveling with someone helps us feel less alone than traveling alone. George and Lennie, the characters of John Steinbeck's classic Of Mice and Men, are two outcasts. They may appear to be different on the exterior, yet they are incredibly similar on the inside. Simply said, here is where true friendships are formed.

Read More
875 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck showed diverse types of strong friendships between characters in the novel. Even though they could not staying for a long time, they understand each other a bit more than understand itself. John Steinbeck exhibits many forms of friendship, and his characters showed the most significant relationship based on Great Depression. Message of author delivered benefit from character’s companionship and help each other in the harder times of their life.

Read More
129 Words | 1 Pages

In ‘Of Mice and Men’, written by John Steinbeck, friendship is portrayed as one of the main themes in this novella and a very important part of people’s lives. Steinbeck also portrays friendship by highlighting the importance of friendship and showing how its presence and absence can trigger many positive and negative emotions. Its presence creates hope, feeling of companionship and a sense of responsibility. In spite of friendship’s presence creating positive feelings, its absence does the complete opposite. It generates a feeling of loneliness and isolation.

Read More
528 Words | 3 Pages

While George and Lennie have each other, Crooks only has his books, and even those books don’t make him happy, he says, “ain’t no good. A guy needs somebody -- to be near him” (72). Crooks room is said to have a lot of stuff lying around unorganized. By creating such a messy image of Crooks room, Steinbeck demonstrates that “being alone, Crooks could Leave his things about” (66). Crooks isolation is him being African-American.

Read More
1437 Words | 6 Pages

Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’, set in the 1930s during the ‘Great Depression’, showcases what life was like for itinerant ranch workers back then when economic depression, poverty and social inequalities conquered America. It was during this time that alongside the ‘American Dream’, the existence of friendship had started to become questionable. Steinbeck, in his novella, uses various characters to emphasise the dire need of a companion in every aspect of an ordinary person’s life. Friendship is a necessity of life according to Steinbeck and as important as shelter is especially as it was during the 1930s. Steinbeck also explicates how his diverse characters are affected when they live with or without Friendship; the presence or absence, of

Read More
382 Words | 2 Pages

A major theme of this novel that shows its truth is the desire for friendship to solve one’s problems. Friendship is powerful. It can combat loneliness and longing and combat alienation. However, friendship was the pitfall of George and Lennie. The relationship between the two men was unique- it was uncommon for a man to travel with another (Steinbeck 35).

Read More

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

Related Topics

Open Document