How Does Steinbeck Show the Importance of Friendship in...

Of Mice and Men is a book about two men and their struggle to achieve their dream of owning a small ranch through their companionship. The two men are completely different, one being a retarded fellow (Lennie), and the other, a typical ranch hand(George) who travels with him. On the path to achieving their dream, they run into obstacles, but stick together, stressing the importance of true friendship. Steinbeck wrote this book to tell us how important it is to have a friend to share your life with. The book starts off set in Soledad, which, when translated into English means lonely. But when Lennie and George are together, they are anything but lonely. They share a friendship so great that if either person dies, or both are†¦show more content†¦We see the interview with the boss, George becomes protective toward Lennie, â€Å"I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy.†(P43) and when Curley’s wife enters into the attention George is seriously apprehensive about Lennie, â€Å"Listen to me†¦ you leave her be.†(P54). Later on, when George finds Lennie in Crook’s, the stable buck’s, room, he looks disapprovingly at Lennie, â€Å"George stood framed in the door, and he looked disapprovingly.†(P115), this is very parent like. Steinbeck reinforces the contrast between them and everybody else. Slims says â€Å"Ain’t many guys travel around together†(P57) Lennie is unquestioning in his loyalty to George . We see this in George’s anecdote about the Sacramento River. â€Å"‘Jump in.’ An’ he jumps†(P66) Lennie has a childlike obedience. Steinbeck shows us this in the fight between Lennie and Curley. Earlier on, George tells Lennie to not fight with Curley, Lennie remembers this and due to his childlike obedience, his â€Å"hands remained at his sides; he was too frightened to defend himself.†(P91). Once George tells Lennie to â€Å"Get him†(P91), Lennie immediately crushes Curley’s hand completely. Most mature people would know whether they should break the rules or not, because they wouldn’t get as badly hurt, but with Lennie, it is a different story. It is this childlike obedience that Steinbeck uses to show us how George needs to act as a parent towards Lennie. Although he frequently speaks of how much better his life wouldShow MoreRelatedTo What Extent Is Of Mice and Men More Effective Than Rainman in Giving Us Understa ndings of Loneliness and Friendship?1553 Words   |  7 PagesSteinbecks novel Of Mice and Men cannot accurately be compared in effectiveness of its themes with the movie Rainman. 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