Of Mice and Men Group

Question:

tkasper52
tkasper52
Student
High School - 9th Grade

Explain the relationship between George and Lennie in Chapter 1.  Prove with quotes.

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Posted by tkasper52 on Sunday November 8, 2009 at 9:47 AM and tagged with george milton, lennie small, of mice and men, relationship.

Answers:

  1. kiwi
    kiwi Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The e-notes guide gives lots of guidance on this issue, with illustrative quotes.

     

    It is useful to note that George is very much the leader of the two, despite Lennie’s  size and height advantage. We learn that George has travelled with Lennie for a long time and acts as a guardian for Lennie. Lennie is mentally impaired which was ascertain from his childish actions such as copying George’s movements :

     

    “ Lennie pulled his hat down a little more over his eyes, the way George’s hat was.”

     

    George and Lennie are unique as they travel together, existing at this stage with the appearance of mutual support

     

    because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.”

     

    Although we realise increasingly that Lennie is a burden to George. They have to keep travelling as Lennie keeps getting into trouble. When Lennie becomes sulky about the lack of ketchup with their beans, George’s frustration comes to the surface

     

    "Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want. God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy."

     The men share a common dream which is to “to live off the fatta the lan’”.It is only as the novel progresses that we see this is not a realistic dream for the two of them.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/of-mice-and-men/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/of-mice-and-men/essential-passages-...
    http://www.enotes.com/of-mice-and-men/essential-passages-...

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    Posted by kiwi on Sunday November 8, 2009 at 9:44 PM