Friendship

• Relationship (George and Lennie)

  • Deep bond resembling brotherhood or paternal care
  • Based on mutual dependence: George offers protection, Lennie provides companionship and purpose
• Key events (George and Lennie)

  • George's sacrifice: George kills Lennie mercifully to spare him from a worse fate, demonstrating the depth of their bond
  • Sharing the farm dream: their collective vision of owning a farm symbolises their hope and commitment to each other
• Key quotes (George and Lennie)

  • 'I ain't mad. I never been mad, an' I ain't now' - George, showing his love for Lennie before his death
  • 'Guys like us that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. But not us' - George highlights their unique friendship
  • 'Because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you' - Lennie reflects their mutual dependence
• Characteristics (George and Lennie)

  • Unusual in their world of lonely migrant workers
  • Built on trust, shared dreams, and sacrifice
• Relationship (Candy and his dog)

  • The dog depends on Candy, just as Lennie depends on George
  • Candy's relationship with his dog mirrors George's role in protecting Lennie
• Key events (Candy and his dog)

  Carlson shoots the dog: Carlson's insistence represents the cold pragmatism of the world, contrasting with the sentimentality of friendship
• Key quotes (Candy and his dog)

  • 'I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup' - Candy expresses his emotional connection
  • 'I shouldn't ought to have let no stranger shoot my dog' - Candy's regret foreshadows George's act with Lennie
• Themes (Candy and his dog)

  • Companionship and utility in relationships
  • The pain of letting go of a loved one for their 'own good'
• Role in friendship (Slim)

  • Respected by all, Slim is the moral centre of the novel
  • Acknowledges the significance of George and Lennie's relationship
  • Acts as George's confidant after Lennie's death
• Key events (Slim)

  • Mediator: Slim ensures Lennie isn't punished harshly for the puppy's death, showing his fairness
  • Supporter: Slim offers silent support to George, emphasising camaraderie
• Key quotes (Slim)

  • 'You hadda George. I swear you hadda' - Slim comforts George, understanding his painful decision
  • 'Ain't many guys travel together. I don't know why' - Slim remarks on the rarity of friendship among ranch workers
• Role in friendship (Crooks)

  • Crooks, isolated by racism, represents the deep human need for connection and the pain of loneliness
  • His scepticism toward George and Lennie's dream underscores his disillusionment
• Key events (Crooks)

  Conversation with Lennie: Crooks briefly envisions joining the dream but retracts after being reminded of his societal marginalisation
• Key quotes (Crooks)

  • 'A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody' - Crooks reveals the mental toll of isolation
  • 'It's just the talking. It's just bein' with another guy' - Crooks expresses his longing for companionship
• Role in friendship (Curley's Wife)

  • Symbolises the failure to form meaningful relationships due to societal and gender role
  • Lonely in her marriage, seeks connection but is misunderstood and dismissed
• Key events (Curley's Wife)

  Death scene: her attempt to connect with Lennie (albeit misguidedly) leads to her tragic death, marking the collapse of any potential relationship
• Key quotes (Curley's Wife)

  • 'Think I don't like to talk to somebody ever' once in a while?' - reflects her yearning for friendship
  • 'I get awful lonely' - highlights her emotional isolation on the ranch
• The dream farm is a symbol of friendship and unity
• Meaning (The dream farm)

  • Represents the hope and bond between George and Lennie, and later Candy
  • Embodies the shared belief in a better life and mutual reliance
• Key events (The dream farm)

  • Candy joins the dream: highlighting the power of shared dreams to forge connections
  • Dream shattered: Lennie's death symbolises the fragility of hope and friendship in a harsh world
• Key quotes (The dream farm)

  • 'We could live offa the fatta the lan' - Lennie's repeated vision of the farm signifies hope
  • 'Tell me about the rabbits, George' - a ritual that reinforces their friendship
• Friendship in Of Mice and Men is rare and contrasted with pervasive loneliness among the other ranch workers
• Steinbeck uses relationships like those of George and Lennie to highlight what is missing in the lives of others, such as Crooks and Curley's wife
• Candy's regret about his dog parallels George's decision about Lennie, reinforcing the theme of painful sacrifices in friendship
• Friendship provides hope and purpose but it fragile in an unforgiving world
• Steinbeck emphasises that friendship is essential but often unsustainable in a society dominated by isolation and survival