Friendships in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

             Friendships are symbiotic relationships, where people share their talents and qualities to help each other through life. The novel, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, exhibits many forms of these two-way relationships, the strongest, between the characters George and Lennie, and the other friendships between Crooks and Lennie, and George and Slim. These relationships show how each pair benefit from each others companionship, and help each other in the harder times of life, the most important one, being the friendship of George and Lennie.
             The first and strongest two-way relationship shown in the novel was between Lennie and George, who share each other's talents and abilities to fulfil each other's needs. George helps Lennie out in all situations, with health, safety, and mental stability, and is his guardian through all times, whether it is good or bad. George gives all the care and advice he can to Lennie. This is shown when George and Lennie are travelling to the ranch, and Lennie stops to drink out of a pond of dirty water. "Lennie! Lennie for god sakes don't drink so much"... "Lennie, you gonna be sick like you was last night!" This quote shows that George is concerned about Lennie's health and well-being, and that Lennie does not know any better, by drinking dirty water. He plans Lennie's life, as well as his own, and tries to make him as happy as possible, by retelling his dream of owning his own land, with rabbits and a berry patch. George does all of the talking when it comes to getting Lennie a job, and wants him to be his friend, no matter how annoying or irritating he may become. George is aware that if Lennie were left alone with no one to look after him, then he would not survive; therefore George looks after Lennie as he feels as though it is his duty, and because they are the best of friends. Lennie takes care of George in his own way, by giving him all the companionship ...

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Friendships in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 15:49, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/24971.html