“The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.” This quote by Ulysses S. Grant, stresses the importance of having a friend you can lean on in times of adversity. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George and Lennie face adversity, but use their friendship as a tool to get them through it. They both help one another in different ways, relieving them from the discouraging situation they were in. Strong friendships help people endure challenging times, and provide support in times of need.
TT [Lennie holds George back, but George cares so much for Lennie that he’s willing to overcome the challenges.] Lennie has issues, he can’t help it, but it’s real hard on George. When George gets really agitated from Lennie he doesn’t mean to yell, but he can’t help it. It hurts Lennie, he once told George that he “should go away and leave [George] alone,” that he “could go off in the hills” and “some place [he’d] find a cave” (12). T1 [George felt bad hearing his best friend say that, as much as that would get rid of George’s challenges, he cares too much for Lennie to lose him] George’s agitation might harm Lennie, but George has to ventilate his anger somehow.
Lennie needs George, but it is equally true that George needs Lennie as well. George was also a harsh, mean and derogatory to Lennie, however, it is also very evident that George never left Lennie despite his life would have mean much easier without him. Lennie is George's hardship, but George loves him regardless. Since the death of Lennie's Aunt Clara, George took it upon himself to take responsibility of him and his special needs by finding him jobs, feeding him, and making sure he is safe. Their mutual dependence on one another is what keeps George and Lennie together.
He has no understanding over the situation, and drinks just because he's thirsty. George quickly chastises him, explaining how the water could be "bad" and make Lennie "sick ". This shows that George cares for Lennie, as he is worried about him getting sick. As we've already seen, George tries to take care of Lennie. In their relationship, George is in control like a parent, while Lennie is just like a little kid.
Doodle's big brother's fear of being made fun of led him to being ashamed of his little brother. This subsequently led to him to teach Doodle how to walk. He also did not want to have a brother that could not do anything. Doodle's brother only helped Doodle for his own reasons and for himself. Doodle's brother was cruel.
Character Description 1: Lennie Small A very important main character we are introduced to in this story is Lennie Small. In my opinion Lennie is the most interesting character in the story because he differs from the other characters in many ways. Lennie Small as well as his companion George Milton are migrant workers who travel around the country working on ranches. They hope that one day they will pursue the dream they share of owning their own land or as Lennie says “living off the fatta’ the lan”. Lennie is incapable of making decisions by himself and relies and depends on George entirely and also looks to him as sort of a big brother.
We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us” (Steinbeck 13). George and Lennie’s lifestyle encourages their closeness because they have no one else to rely on. Like George and Lennie, Crooks’ isolation leads him to desire companionship. Crooks illustrates this need when he invites Lennie into his home and attempts to educate Lennie on the repercussions of loneliness, “A guy needs somebody—to be near him.
When you first meet candy in the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck, you see Candy with his beloved dog. Raising this dog from a pup, Candy felt a very strong bond with his companion, even though the dog could not speak, sometimes words don’t need to be said to show an un-dividing love. Candy was very proud of his dog, boasting things such as “You wouldn’t think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen.” (Page 47) But, Carlson insisted on putting the dog out of its misery as he was very old, could not eat solids, could not see and it was obvious that it hurt him to move and eventually Candy gave in. Candy didn’t want to let go of his companion because his dog kept him company and without it he would be lonely, and this was an obvious fear of his, which Candy showed by his reluctance to give his dog to Carlson. The reason for Carlson’s eagerness to get rid of the dog was because he didn’t share the special bond between Curly and his dog.
Firstly, dreams serve as a vital escape mechanism for the characters, to help them cope whilst living through the American Depression, where life is lonely and difficult. They are the foundations of what makes life worth living. George and Lennie’s dream means different things to both of them. ; Lennie is mainly concentrated on his childlike aspiration to ‘tend the rabbits’ due to his love of petting soft things, while the crux of the dream for George is to have ‘our own place where we belonged’ because he is desperate to work for himself and have people around him to which he belongs. George tells Lennie ‘You know all of it’, which shows the huge importance of their dream, that even forgetful Lennie has memorised it - they use their dreams as an escape from the harsh reality of life on the ranch.
Like Candy's dog, Lennie depends on George to take care of him and show him what to do. Candy, like George, is different from the other ranch hands because he has his dog as a constant companion, someone devoted and loyal to him. That at the time the novel is set, most men were alone as they didn’t have the company of another and so they were lonely and drawn into themselves. Candy takes such a shine to George