Of Mice and Men Literary

Throughout life, many of our journeys leave us feeling despondent and unwanted.

It is when we travel with another human soul that we are not left feeling so austere. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie are two wandering souls, both very different in stature and appearance, yet very alike in spirit. It is in this relationship that the true foundation of companionship is expressed. In the beginning of Steinbeck’s novella, George and Lennie have set up camp and are starting to cook supper.

Lennie annoys George by stating a simple luxury, and George recoils by exclaiming he could “live so easy. [He] could go get job an’ work, an’ no trouble” (11). After an explosion from George, like a child caught stealing from the cookie jar, a bewildered Lennie responds sheepishly when he says that he “don’t want no ketchup. I wouldn’t eat no ketchup if it was right here beside me” (12). This shows Lennie’s passive attitude toward George, and his want for serenity.

Lennie is blindly committed to his image of George and the little farm articulately molded in his mind.Lennie’s tranquil outlook on reality leads to his demise, but also helps create an inner facade that contradicts his outward appearance, which makes his intangible character beautiful beyond comparison. George’s first words, “Lennie! . .

. you gonna be sick like you was last night” (3), reveal the quality of his friendship shared with Lennie. While this is indeed an firm warning, it proves the devoted love George has for Lennie. Though George makes numerous remonstrations against his life involving Lennie, he never fails to maintain his dedication to protecting his friend.Whenever Lennie asks him to retell the farm story, he snaps “you ain’t gonna put nothing over on me” (13). However, his constant snub to retell the story of the farm always wavers, showing the importance of George’s need to feel desired.

George actually believes in this farm that has been formed in his mind. George changes drastically throughout the novella, from a brusque and stern guardian to a deeply emotional and affectionate friend. After Lennie has inadvertently murdered Curley’s wife, Curley’s lynch mob go out in search of Lennie.George’s decision is almost inevitable to spare Lennie’s life, rather than let Curley and his gang destroy the bit of life Lennie has. Near the beginning of the story, George explains to Lennie that if he happens to get in some trouble he cannot get out of, to “come right here an’ hide in the brush” (15).

After the killing, and to George’s surprise, Lennie has remembered as he “appears out of the brush” (100). This one specific element of Lennie and George’s relationship is more than a mere coincidence, but emphasizes the way Lennie disregards any command or memory of anyone other than George.When George arrives at the brush, and sees Lennie in a state of shock, he is forced to act. As the lynch mob draws near, George is able to fantasize the farm one last time before “sparing” Lennie’s life. But as George aims the gun at Lennie’s head, he kills the thought of a harmonic life he could have shared with Lennie.

George and all readers learn from this story about the merciless and callous effect the human nature has on mankind. The general theme of the novella highlights the voracious and often malevolent aspect of human nature.The novella in its essence flails at the idea of ‘every man for himself’. George learns many lessons throughout the book that can be applied to a reader’s everyday life. Loyalty and Sacrifice accentuate the novel and the relationship between Lennie and George. Is it better to shoot the miserable dog, or let him suffer through pain and confusion? Is it better to be buried in dirt with your heart or liver or brain with your body intact, or is it more logical to bestow it upon a bedridden child?Lennie and George’s companionship is the true example of the belief in love.

Near the beginning of the story, George explains to Lennie that if he happens to get in some trouble he cannot get out of, to “come right here an’ hide in the brush” (15). After the killing, and to George’s surprise, Lennie has remembered as he “appears out of the brush” (100). This one specific element of Lennie and George’s relationship is more than a mere coincidence, but emphasizes the way Lennie disregards any command or memory of anyone other than George.When George arrives at the brush, and sees Lennie in a state of shock, he is forced to act.

As the lynch mob draws near, George is able to fantasize the farm one last time before “sparing” Lennie’s life. But as George aims the gun and pulls the trigger at Lennie’s head, he aims the gun and pulls the trigger at any harmonic life with Lennie. George and all readers learn from this story about the merciless and callous effect the human nature has on mankind. The novella in its essence flails at the idea of ‘every man for himself’.

George learns many lessons throughout the book that can be applied to a reader’s everyday life. Loyalty and Sacrifice underscore the parable and the relationship between Lennie and George. Is it better to shoot the miserable dog, or let him suffer through pain and turmoil? Is it better to be buried in dirt with your heart or liver or brain with your body intact, or is it more logical to bestow it upon a bedridden child? Lennie and George’s companionship is the true example of belief in love.