Relationship Between Lennie Small And George Milton

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With the 1929 stock market crash, the Great Depression ensued. Over one-third of American people were unemployed during this time period, and many had to travel hundreds of miles on foot to seek employment. John Steinbeck's novel of "Mice and Men" depicts two characters, "Lennie Small and George Milton", who live during this period. These two gentlemen remain together and work together throughout the novel. In this work, Steinbeck lets the reader identify and empathize with those who live on society's periphery by depicting their separation from the humanity that surrounds them. Because Lennie is confined throughout the story, readers feel sympathy for him. Despite having George beside him, Lennie lives in his own world owing to his mental …show more content…

'If you don't want me, I'll wander off in the hills and locate a cave.' " (Steinbeck 104). Lennie recognizes that he is dragging George down due to his condition and offers to leave George alone. Even though George expresses his desire for Lennie to stay, he still feels unwelcome. The readers feel sorry for George because he isolates himself from everyone except Lennie. George has the difficult responsibility of taking care of Lennie, and Lennie sometimes fails to listen to George's instructions. "Men like us, who work on "ranches', are the "loneliest" men in the world," Steinbeck writes as George. They have no family... they do not have anything to look forward to" (Steinbeck 13-14). George admits that he feels isolated in the world and that he doesn't have anything to point to. While George is with Lennie, he must spend time ministering to him like he's an …show more content…

The very first time George discusses it is at the start of the story, when he says, "I could be so easygoing and lovely if you weren't following me about. I could live so easily and perhaps have a girl" (Steinbeck 7). George is discussing his love for Lennie aloud. He imagines himself having a far better life without him. Due to his mental impairment and lack of concern for others, George mostly feels alone, even when he goes on a journey with Lennie. Because Candy is ancient and estranged from the other guys, Steinbeck has the viewer sympathize with him. Candy is significantly older, which makes him weak, slower, and less gregarious than the other ranchers. "When they can't find me here, I hope somebody would shoot me," Candy says, ever since his dog is fired and dies. But they're not planning to do something of such. I won't have anywhere to go, and I would not be able to get any more work." (Steinbeck 60). Candy, who is nearing the end of his existence, desires someone who would take him out of his torment; Candy doesn't have anything to look forward