Of Mice and Men Group

Question:

belsabeth
belsabeth
Student
High School - 10th Grade

What type of relationship does George and Lennie appear to have in the novel "Of Mice and Men"?

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Posted by belsabeth on Wednesday May 21, 2008 at 4:53 PM and tagged with characters, george, lennie, of mice and men, relationship.

Answers:


  1. sullymonster Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    The best way to describe their relationship is that of caretaker (George) and dependent (Lennie).  Lennie is quite advanced enough for their relationship to be a true friendship.  Although he respects and cares for George, Lennie is like a child to George, the father.  He does what he can to please George, and will rebel against George's wishes when his desires overcome him.  This is what happens when he sneaks in to see the puppies, and ends up killing one.  George also told him to stay away from Curley's wife, but Lennie doesn't listen.  He is too eager to touch the soft hair, which we know is a fatal touch in the end.

    George demonstrates his role as caretaker in a number of ways.  He vouches for Lennie, gives Lennie orders, and keeps track of Lennie.  He tells Lennie stories to keep Lennie happy.  He also takes the ultimate step as caretaker by killing Lennie in the end, knowing that the mob (i.e., Curley) will soon arrive.  He wants Lennie's death to be painless, so he does it himself.  He cares about Lennie, but again it is in the role of a parent, not as a friend.

    George expresses his frustration at having to be a caretaker in Chapter 1:

    Whatever we ain't got, that's what you want. God a'mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, an no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/ofmice/characters

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    Posted by sullymonster on Wednesday May 21, 2008 at 5:07 PM