summary
- George is a protective man, who has been caring for his friend Lennie for a long time. The two men are not related but have been friends since they were children, so as well as enjoying his company, George also feels responsible for his welfare. George often talks to Lennie about their dream.
- Due to Lennie’s mental disability, George has to take responsibility for him and finds this stressful and frustrating at times, due to Lennie getting into trouble. This results in outbursts of anger towards Lennie at certain points in the novel, although George regrets these quickly.
- George recognises that his friendship with Lennie is special because men like George would not have had friendships due to moving around so much for work; it would have been very unusual for two men to travel around together due to work being scarce.
- George is a small, quick-witted man; his intelligence contrasts with Lennie’s throughout the book; as does his size. George often has to think quickly in order to cover up for Lennie’s mistakes. Finally, he feels forced to shoot his best friend in order to protect him from Curley and the other men, who George believes would have tortured Lennie if they found him first.
‘So you for……………………………………………………………………………………..
‘So you forgot that… awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I?’
- George’s rhetorical questions (which he knows that Lennie cannot really answer) shows his frustration with his companion.
- George’s reactions to Lennie when he makes mistakes can be short-tempered and angry.
‘When I think………………………………………………………………………………………..
‘When I think of the swell… time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace.’
- The phrase “swell time” evokes an almost flippant or nostalgic longing for freedom and enjoyment, contrasting with the darker emotional turmoil implied in the rest of the sentence. This could suggest sarcasm or an attempt to mask deeper feelings of resentment.
- George imagines life without Lennie, hinting at dissatisfaction or frustration in the relationship.
- The fact that George says all this and still stays around with Lennie shows their true friendship with each other
‘With us………………………………………………………………………………………….
‘With us it ain’t like that. We got… a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.’
- Plural pronouns we and us are repeated to show that George and Lennie are a unit and stay together, unlike many men like them.
- He builds up the impression of their closeness through giving three short, definite statements about their relationship.
- George recognises that he and Lennie are different to other men because they have each other, which means they are not lonely.
‘No, Lennie, ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
‘No, Lennie, I ain’t mad. I never… been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.’
- George is reassuring to Lennie, even after he has done a terrible thing, by killing Curley’s wife.
- George is just about to kill Lennie here and he is kind to him first, making sure that he knows that George cares about him and forgives him, so that Lennie can die in peace, knowing that George isn’t angry with him.
- George is protective of Lennie and tries to look after him. When he kills Lennie, he is trying to protect him from Curley and the other men.
‘Well, I never……………………………………………………………………………………………
‘Well, I never seen one guy… take so much trouble for another guy’ (Slim)
- In the world of the novel, where most characters live isolated and solitary lives, the bond between George and Lennie stands out as extraordinary. Slim’s comment underscores the rarity of such loyalty and care in the harsh, individualistic environment of the Great Depression.
- Demonstrates George’s care and nurture for Lennie
- This statement reflects the theme of companionship versus isolation that runs throughout the novel.
- Slim’s recognition of their bond contrasts sharply with the loneliness that pervades the lives of other characters, such as Crooks, Curley’s wife, and Candy.
‘George sh……………………………………………………
‘George shivered and… looked at the gun’
- Shows George’s trauma for having to kill a lifelong friend
- Evident of the great depression, as, even though George is dealing with all of this and having to kill his best friend, he is a man and cannot show any emotion
