Friendship In The Age Of Economic Literary Analysis

In a capitalistic world, so invested in consuming, the relationships we form are typically ones that grant gratification; whether this gratification is materialistic or in the form of advantageous aid, it is no secret that most of our friendships and the companions that we keep are of some gain to us as individuals. In Todd Mays’ article for the New York Times, “Friendship in the Age of Economics”, Mays depicts three types of friendships and how they incorporate themselves into daily life during such economically-pressing times. This categorization of three types of friendships did not originate with Mays but with the renowned Greek philosopher, Aristotle. According to Aristotle, the three [types] of friendships were utility-based, pleasure-based,

While Lennie reaps rewards from George’s friendship in the form of a job and protection, George enjoys Lennie’s company, claiming, “‘It’s a lot nicer to go around [travel] with a guy you know.’”(35). Another example of George and Lennie sharing a “true friendship” is how they take of care each other; neither one of them is obligated to do so, especially in such a dog-eat-dog world, but they choose to accompany one another. While discussing other nomadic men, the kind without aspirations, who meander aimlessly through life, George states, “‘With us it ain’t like that. We got a future...’”, and to this Lennie replies, “‘...An’ why? Because...because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.’”(14) It is unequivocal that George and Lennie are not merely beneficiaries of one another. The two share a bond so strong and so authentic that George ends up killing an unsuspecting Lennie before a lynching mob can get to him and most likely torture him before brutally murdering him. Prior to killing Lennie, George recites the story about the two of them “livin’ on the fatta the lan’”, reassuring Lennie, before he “brought the muzzle of it [the gun] close to the back of Lennie’s head...He pulled the trigger...and he [Lennie] lay without quivering.’”(106). In the other two types of friendship, utility and

George and Lennie are “hustlers”, as they are continuously moving from job to job, living paycheck to paycheck, and performing whatever mindless task to acquire funds. When we are introduced to the duo at the beginning of Of Mice and Men, they are traversing through the forest, drinking out of a dank and dingy pond, consuming beans out of the can. In his article, Mays states, “the first [pleasure-based friendships] is...focused on momentary enjoyment”; if George and Lennie shared this type of friendship they would not endure their constant struggles together, such as when they are forced to flee from a town and have to hide in an irrigation ditch (11). This is not to say that the two do not have their “ups”, as they are content to discuss their plans to own a farm together. It is in lieu with Mays’ statement that, “While we draw pleasure from them [true friendships], they are not a matter solely of consuming