Explore How Steinbeck Initially Presents the Relationship Between George and Lennie and How This Foreshadows the Events Which Follow in the Novel.

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Throughout ‘Of Mice And Men’ Steinbeck portrays George as a resentful father figure to Lennie; however this task proves to be a lot of work, as Lennie is rather an annoyance towards George due to his lack of intelligence and knowledge of the world. Consequently this means George has to focus upon keeping Lennie safe and protected and unfortunately his own ‘American Dream’ is temporarily abandoned. When starting at the ranch George is judged for travelling around with Lennie, his boss assumed he was using Lennie for labour purposes and taking his money; ‘Funny how you an’ him string along together.’ Similarly the workers also feel George is going to a lot of effort to keep someone who is ‘slow’, like Lennie, with him when it would be easier to travel alone. The adjective ‘funny’ suggests the situation is unusual and no one has ever bothered to do the same, nor have they ever seen anything like it before. However earlier in the novel George describes him and Lennie as the, ‘loneliest guys in the world’ implying that he doesn’t feel the same way. Perhaps Steinbeck intends for the couple to look as if they travel together however it is something of a hindrance for George to travel with Lennie as it can restrict his work and how long he can stay in one place. Steinbeck uses the noun ‘string’ inferring they are only travelling together as long as it is convenient. This also could mean Lennie simply strings along behind George, as in the opening when he walked single file with George is leading him, ‘even in the open one staying behind the other’ – as if he is Lennie’s safety blanket and is in front for protection purposes. The notion of George and Lennie being partners is foreshadowed in the ending before Lennie dies, ‘we got each other, that’s what.” Steinbeck is implying that Lennie is still unaware of the stress he is putting upon he and George’s relationship

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