George Milton And Lennie Small Essay

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck is a very well known book. It is about two migrant workers in Soledad, California.Together, they travel and try to find work. The story takes place in the late end of the Great Depression. For such a short book, these two characters are very memorable and striking. The two characters names are George Milton and lennie Small. Lennie is a mentally challenged character, who is defenceless, devoted to George, and motivated by a dream of owning a farm and petting soft things.
Lennie is defined and restricted by his mental retardation. In a time like the Great Depression, people didn’t understand what Lennie’s problems were. Often George would lie and say that he was kicked in the head by a horse. People could understand this easier. Lennie does not understand many concepts such as death.

George met Lennie when Lennie’s Aunt Clara died. Since then, George has taken care of Lennie. Lennie sees his Aunt Clara in a vision she says, “I tol’ you , ‘Min George because he’s such a nice fella an’ good to you,’ But you don’t never take no care. You do bad things” (101). This shows how hard George was working for Lennie. Lennie wants to be good to George and help him, but cannot help it when he does these bad things due to his mental challenges. He knows that he is hard on George and tries his best. Many times he has said, “George you want I should go away and leave you alone?” (12). He is aware of the burden he places on George. Lennie probably wouldn’t go off and live on his own because he only knows George and nothing else, but it is the idea that is meaningful. George wouldn't let him because it seems he finds comfort in taking care of Lennie. Lennie is very simpleminded and George like this because Lennie can be happy at the smallest things. It gives purpose and to George’s life to take care of lennie. They are an unusual pair but are able to keep each other company in the migrant worker