John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, explores the dynamic of human relationships. His main characters, George and Lennie, have a unique relationship that most migrant workers of the time do not have. Many of the other characters do not understand the workings of their friendship because the two have very different personalities. Throughout the novel, the reader sees their relationship grow and how their different characteristics work together and against each other. George and Lennie have very different personalities, however, they compliment each other. George is portrayed as a more dominant character in Of Mice and Men. “The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him …show more content…
Steinbeck shows this by Lennie’s need of George to tell him the story of their dream farm over and over again. “Lennie spoke craftily, “Tell me-like you done before’” (Steinbeck 13). Steinbeck also shows this is his physical description of Lennie. “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders; he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws’ (Steinbeck 2). He gives Lennie childlike facial features but the powerful figure of a man. This is how Steinbeck physically shows how Lennie is unaware of his physical strength. “And Lennie said softly to the puppy, ‘Why do you got to get killed? You ain’t so little as mice. I didn’t bounce you hard’” (Steinbeck 85). Lennie does not know how to handle his strength and because of that he is dangerous to himself and to the people around …show more content…
“‘Well I ain’t never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. I just like to know what your interest is’” (Steinbeck 22). George was given the job of Lennie’s caretaker from Lennie’s aunt Clara. George and Lennie have worked many jobs together. After being run out of Weed, George and Lennie travel together to a farm in the Salinas Valley. George tries to protect Lennie from his own strength as well as the people around them who do not understand him. In a sense, George is Lennie’s protector. “‘I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself. No, you stay with me’” (Steinbeck 13). Lennie, on the other hand, gives George companionship that he otherwise would not have. George is able to find a friend in Lennie. They both have no family and find a family in the other.
GEORGE: With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us…
Lennie: But not us! An’ why? Because...because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why (Steinbeck