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The relationship between George and Lennie is like a big brother little brother situation where George protects and takes care of lennie. They both share a dream of not being the loneliest guys in the world. George is more like a caretaker for Lennie and must be like his protector, Because when George told Lennie
In chapter one, George talks in the rude way that any person talks to someone they have comfort with. He calls him names and hastily yells at him or speaks in a tone that he wouldn't to most people. “You never had none you crazy bastard” (Steinbeck, 4). George knows Lennie well from traveling with him and that he can get away with speaking to him in any way, so he normally speaks with that offensive, rude tone. Lennie, a dumb boy, always forgets what George has said to him, and constantly needs George to remind him, and to guide him.
“if George sees me talkin’ to you he’ll give me hell” (87). Lennie doesn’t understand that some of his actions are morally wrong. When George gets upset, Lennie becomes increasingly hard on himself, which causes more damage.
George and Lennie 's relationship is closer than most friendships now a days. George is like Lennie 's big brother and cares for him like their family. For example, when Lennie got in trouble in Weed, George did not leave him and helped him escape. Another example of George acting like a big brother to Lennie is, he holds on to Lennie 's work card so he does not lose it. George also really cares for Lennie and does not want him to leave.
George is responsible for making sure Lennie has food, stays out of trouble, and stays safe. These seem like simple things, but not with him. When they were in Weed, he wanted to feel how soft a girl’s dress was, and didn’t let go when she wanted him to. It got completely out of hand and they had the sheriff looking for him. His memory was so awful, that after they ran out of there, he didn’t remember what he had done.
I ain’t got nothing to do. Might jus’ as well spen’ all my time tellin’ you things and then you forget ‘em, and I tell you again.” (STEINBECK 4) George has always been a bully to Lennie, always putting him down.
Their relationship is so strong that Lennie feels that he can ask George anything. They set goals for each other and even though times got hard they stuck together. As much as George wanted to leave and care for himself and get a good job he just worked with what he had because he knew that there was someone that wasn’t gonna make it without him. He knew that their bond was almost unbreakable. No matter what Lennie is going through George is their to comfort and support him.
From the beginning of the story, George always seems to get irked by Lennie’s lack of recollection. He cannot seem to remember anything George advises him, besides the American dream they share, which seems to be vividly engraved in his brain. George makes fun of him for this at times, while other times he gets understandably impatient. “‘I wasn't kicked in the head with no horse, was I, George?’ ‘Be a damn good thing if you was,’ George said viciously.
This also shows the overpowering control George has over Lennie’s conscience, and the consequence that Lennie can’t remember his own actions, only the stories George repeats. He is never truly angry with Lennie for his petty mistakes, he is simply thinking of the limitations of their dreams because of Lennie’s unpredictable actions. It seems George can only control Lennie by threatening him with the thing he cares about most which is the farm, “But you ain’t gonna get in no trouble, because if you do, I won’t let you tend the rabbits” he threatens, trying to make Lennie remember the importance of his actions (36). George is constantly complaining that he could have a better life and even have a farm without Lennie to look after, but he also wants a companion. Lennie is often simple minded and easily influenced, but intuitive enough to manipulate George’s loneliness, “If you don’t want me George I can go up in that cave over there and leave,” George quickly denies this saying “No, look I was just foolin’ Lennie, ‘cause I want you to stay with me” (20).
From the day that Lennie’s Aunt Clara died and from the day George took Lennie in as a friend George was always there for him. If Lennie did not have George, Lennie would have no one to protect him and save him from all of the bad things that he has done. Despite all of the dangers and problems Lennie got George and himself into, George benefited and also learned from Lennie’s mistakes. George needs his ignorant sidekick as much as Lennie needs George.
George’s care for Lennie is also fulfilling a promise he made to Aunt Clara, who was Lennie’s caretaker for a period of time. This can be seen when George says “Lennie-if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush... Hide in the brush till I come for you”(Steinbeck page 15). We see that George tells Lennie to hide in the area they are staying in. He wants to prevent any harm being done to Lennie, because most of the time people tend to just want to kill him.
If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won’t get no job” (Steinbeck 6). George is very directive over Lennie, and does not want him to mess up anything. Lennie listens to George because he does not know any better, and is like a little brother who wants to please his
With Lennie’s mental disability, fending for himself is not always possible thus he has to rely on George’s help for everyday tasks. “‘What you gonna say tomorrow when the boss asks you questions? … I ain 't gonna… say a word’” (Steinbeck 15). This quote exemplifies Lennie’s dependency on George.
Lennie kept annoying George by taking dead mice and forgetting where they were going. Then when he asked George for ketchup, George grew very frustrated with him. He went on to talk about how he could live so much better without Lennie and how Lennie was always something that was holding George back from the potential he had. This is showing cruelty because during this time, it seems that
Although described as a rather large man, Lennie’s role between the two men is very childlike. Lennie is treated like a child by George because Lennie does not have the maturity or mental capability to make decisions for himself. For example, George must continuously remind Lennie of the spot he must come to if in trouble because Lennie cannot focus long enough to process this information. Lennie is also fairly unintelligent and blindly loyal to George. This loyalty is seen when George tells Lennie to jump into a river, and Lennie obeys even though he is unable to swim.
