Of Mice and Men †George and Lennie Essay

How does Steinbeck pre displace the characters of George and Lennie? During the Great Depression of the mid-thirties when America was plunged into financial crisis following the W tot all in ally Street Crash of October 1929, levels of unemployment and p all overty were at an all sequence high. In this ear vivification was a struggle and the mentality of society became survival of the fittest, invariablyy human being for himself. Migrant thrashers toured the country in search of labour to provide money for food typically sent to relatives living on the bread line elsewhere in America.These men lead lonely and cold lives, which are reflected through Steinbecks portrayal of his characters in his famous, yet bleak, 1930s novella Of Mice and Men. In the novel, George and Lennies consanguinity diversifies them from the some different ranch workers for the reason that they rely on each other for support and guild I got you and you got me. In particular, the ideate they share of owning their own land, reflects the American Dream of being the ringleader of your own life with a level of self-sufficiency.Steinbeck first introduces the reader to George and Lennie at the beginning of the novel a few miles to the south of Soledad, in the evening of a hot day where rabbits sat as quietly as for compressful gray, sculptured stones. Disrupting the tranquil atmosphere two men emerged from the path as the place was newly exanimate for a moment. At first, the author flummoxs George and Lennie as typical migrant workers, both wearing denim tro single-valued functionrs and carrying skew-whiff blanket rolls en route to their next ranch.After creating the impression that the couple up are similar, Steinbeck reveals that actually this is non the case behind him walked his opposite. George inhabits a small body with healthy, sharp features whereas Lennie has a shapeless face and a huge body. Irrespective of their appearance, it is inferred that both George an d Lennie are victims of society restless eyes and dragging his feet constantly on guard as well as fatigued from both work and travel.Further into the first chapter, we understand that George has a level of authority over Lennie and it could be suggested that he stands as a father assure to him. As Lennie snorts into the piss George sharply orders him non to drink so much and informs him to never drink water when it aint running. At this moment it becomes evident that Steinbeck intends to present George and Lennie as Master and pet the yet way Lennie can cope is to be like a tame dog, tethered always to his acquire George and never let out of his sight deity youre a lot of trouble. As the checkmate settle for the night under the stars, Steinbeck uses Lennies character to portray that the mate desire simple possessions I like em with ketchup which they can only but dream of having Well we aint got any. In this scene Steinbeck intends to emphasise that George and Lennie are unfortunate and the reader is able to sympathise with them because basic creature comforts are caren for granted in society today.The scene also exhibits the situation that although George and Lennie are migrant workers they do not fit the typical profile, this being because during moments of violence George describes what life would be like if he did not mother Lennie to take care of if he was a lone traveller, a typical migrant worker I could stay in a Cat House all night or set in a pool room and play cards. Although George sometimes foresees Lennie as an inconvenience it is occur that Steinbeck wishes to present George a companion to Lennie he looked a dishonourdly as well as loyal I want you to stay with me, somebodyd shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself. This is poignant because it demonstrates that although Lennie keeps George in hot water all of the time, George continues to care for Lennie because he cognises the consequences of Lennie travelling only if a nd perhaps is also frighten offed of being lonely himself that aint no good. In the same chapter, Steinbeck first incorporates the 1930s American Dream An live off the fatta the lan. Lennie makes George tell the familiar story of the small farm he intends to barter for, delighting in hearing that he has a future.Evidentially, George does not believe the dream will ever become man as he rhythmically reels off the words to Lennie as a matter of habit alternatively than optimism. That said, it is garner that although George does not believe the dream will come true he is thankful to have Lennie by his side somebody to talk to that gives a damn well-nigh us which perhaps implies that although Steinbeck presents the pair as victims, he also presents them as lucky in the fact that they have each other and care for each other enough to build a firm race.To Lennie the dream is all about the rabbits he intends to keep and pet, rather than an engine of hope which drives George to con tinue the struggle. Lennie excites in the idea that one day he will own a rabbit hutch An have rabbits because he is unable to see further than his own desires, however George dreams of simplicities such as how thick the cream is on the milk implying that all he would like is a stable home. Regardless of their differences in the importance of aspects ncluded in the dream, their dream bonds them unneurotic in a shared goal which is to get a stake so they can buy a little house and a couple of acres. Many migrant workers shared in ideate of a better future but had nobody to share it with as everyman was for himself, making George and Lennies relationship a rare occurrence.Towards the end of the first chapter, George tells Lennie that if he gets in trouble he should go and disguise in the brush until George comes for him I want you to come right here an hide in the brush. This is because George recognises the cyclical nature of Lennies behaviour and uses his clever nature to devise a plan, something which Lennie would never have vox populi of doing as he is unaware of his own strength therefore he needs George for survival in the same way a child needs their parents for protection from the outside realism. When George and Lennie arrive at the ranch, George reminds Lennie that he is not to speak when they are interviewed by the boss because the boss will not allow Lennie to work on the ranch if he knows of Lennies mental instability.George excuses Lennies silence telling the boss he got kicked in the head, just aint bright and assures the boss Hes a God damn good skinner. Here, Steinbeck presents George as the verbalize of the pair and Lennie as the labourer, it could possibly be inferred that Steinbeck intends to present them as a team rather than Georges one man band with Lennie walking behind because Lennie is strong and can work twice as fast as one man alone, boosting their reputation leading(a) to more work and more pay to add to their savings for t he farm.It is also noticeable that the boss has never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy which infers not only that the boss surprised by George and Lennies relationship but also that because society was hostile and egotistic the boss assumed that George was takin his pay away. This further infers that relationships were far and few for migrant workers during this era and that Steinbeck intends to present George and Lennie in the way he does because many would overlook the idea of a level of humanity during the 1930s.Georges companionship with Lennie staves of loneliness, but it also gives him a role in life he has a clear task, looking later on Lennie. When George explains the situation to slim in the second and third chapter we kinda look after each other, lose weight offers the suggestion that everbody in the whole damn world is scared of each other. Here the author offers the theme of violence because many people had lost the curse of those around them and w ere prepared to use violence to protect themselves, their belongings and any pride they had.George is honest with Slim Made me seem God damn smart alongside of him admitting that early on it made him receive superior and he forced Lennie to do stupid things for the fun of it. However as his sense of shame stopped him, George began to realise that he is dependent on Lennie as much as Lennie is dependent on him because who would fight George if they knew they would have to fight Lennie as well. There are positives of George having Lennie, they defy the ethos of everyman for himself and at this stage it appears this is a key asset in their work.In the middle of the novella, George and Lennie both believe, for a short period of time, that their dream will come true This thing they had never really believed in was coming true payable to Candys offer of money for a place on the farm. Steinbeck demonstrates that although both men know their position, they easily become wrapped up in a fa irytale unable to predict their serving of grief and pain, instead of promised joy. A significant part of the novel showing the devotion of George and Lennies relationship comes when Curley, bringing with him the theme of violence, picks a fight with Lennie.Showing his sense of justice, George wont let Lennie get weakened as he is innocent Get im Lennie, whereas the other men are reluctant to take sides persuasion of their own safety first. Experience with Lennie allows George to recognise Lennies strength and to encourage or deter the use of it when appropriate. As the novel passes the midpoint when George leaves Lennie at the ranch to go to the local brothel with the other ranch hands, Lennie sees the light in Crooks room and curiosity leads him inside.Crooks is not used to visitors in his room because of his black skin colour which he is heavily discriminated because of by the other ranch hands. He faces segregation and nobody ever wants to talk to him, this is why his bunk i s away from the others. Lennie, being unaware of the complaisant hierarchy I thought I could jus come in is confused as to why Crooks is not wanted and so perseveres in conversation with him.Obviously, had George been around to keep Lennie on his tether, the situation would have been avoided. Lennie tells Crooks me an him goes ever place together through this it is apparent that Lennie is totally dependent on George which Crooks sees as an opportunity to frighten vulnerable Lennie spose he gets killed or hurt. It is at this point where Lennie shows his sense of protection for George Who hurt George? and he begins to lose control of his strength walking dangerously towards Crooks.Clearly, Lennie believes he should defend George because he is a friend, the man who is going to help him get the rabbits to tend even when George is not around Lennie is constantly withdrawing about him and his safety, just as George worries for Lennies safety. As the novel draws to the end, Lennies lac k of control over his strength becomes paramount. Stroking Curleys wifes hair, the atmosphere is relaxed and slightly playful as she prompts him to tonicity how silky it is. When Lennie does not let go and Curleys wife began to panic struggled violently so does Lennie and he began to cry with fright before he broke her neck and she flopped like a fish. Recognising that he has do a bad thing, Lennie acknowledges that he shouldnt have did that. George ll be mad. Significantly, Lennie has no moral ruling and things are good or bad to him depending on what George would think of them George could be perceived as the voice of Lennies conscience. Without George to guide him Lennie is lost, the pair are essential for Lennies survival.At the end of the novel, George becomes aware of the fact that Lennie has become a wild dog, needing to be put down by his owner I know, I know for the best intentions of both men. Features brought to George by his responsibility for Lennie, including his sense of shame and level of compassion and justice, all combine to force him to shoot Lennie and as Slim confirms, he hadda. Just before George releases the bullet, he encourages Lennie to think about the dream in order to ensure he draws in peace and happiness.This is significant in the relationship between George and Lennie as the other men from the ranch have no mercy for the curt bastard it is only George who believes although Lennie should die, he should die a painless death. Overall, it is clear that Steinbeck presents George and Lennie as accepting victims of the economical crisis of 1930s America. He gives them a dream which should be realistic but is unfortunately out of hand and offers nothing but a chance of hope for better things to come, a reason to keep going.Ultimately, Steinbeck presents the pair as dependent on each other for their own needs. The reasoning behind Steinbecks use of George and Lennie comes from his intention to provide a novel that demonstrates t hat in the end fate is ways the winner no matter how you plan to avoid it. In this fiction, Lennie was like the mouse in the title destined to die from the start as he is not fit for society and unfortunately George has to go on alone for himself because he recognises that with Lennie his too is closer to the hands of fate.