Of Mice and Men
question
What was Lennie to George?
Monty J
(last edited
Jul 28, 2012 04:38PM
)
Jul 22, 2012 03:47PM
Wasn't Lennie George's protector? Was he a means to make George look good, "bigger" socially? Or were George's motives unselfish? What could motivate a man to devote himself to another man so completely? They weren't related by family.
It could be said that by devoting himself to Lennie George was seeking social approval in being seen as sacrificing his comfort for the welfare of a mental cripple. Lennie could also be a distraction from George's small stature. He could have been seeking security under the protection of Lennie's physical strength.
George and Lennie could also be two aspects of a male ego--the rational (George) versus the animal (Lennie). Their conflicts would then represent the tension between these. For example, when George lectures Lennie to not look at Curley's wife and stay away from her because "she's trouble," it mimics the inner struggle men have with overcoming lustful desire.
The same is true when George warns Lennie to stay away from Curley. It's the rational mind (George) striving to overcome rage. Lennie's desire warm fuzzy things and ketchup on his beans could be similar manifestations of the inner conflict between the rational/adult mind and the emotional/child mind.
It could be said that by devoting himself to Lennie George was seeking social approval in being seen as sacrificing his comfort for the welfare of a mental cripple. Lennie could also be a distraction from George's small stature. He could have been seeking security under the protection of Lennie's physical strength.
George and Lennie could also be two aspects of a male ego--the rational (George) versus the animal (Lennie). Their conflicts would then represent the tension between these. For example, when George lectures Lennie to not look at Curley's wife and stay away from her because "she's trouble," it mimics the inner struggle men have with overcoming lustful desire.
The same is true when George warns Lennie to stay away from Curley. It's the rational mind (George) striving to overcome rage. Lennie's desire warm fuzzy things and ketchup on his beans could be similar manifestations of the inner conflict between the rational/adult mind and the emotional/child mind.
I like to think of this as a psychological study. Lennie and George are two sides of the same man. While the book is very simple and straight forward, imagine that Lennie is the personification of George's animal potential. In order to grow and realize his potential as a man, George has to take control of this aspect of his humanity.
Note that earlier in the book, Candy only regretted that he couldn't kill his dog himself - foreshadowing. It is also significant that Candy isn't a whole person. George takes responsibility for Lennie and moves on and we all must. I've always thought that this is the lesson that makes the book a classic and the reason it's so commonly taught to young people. It's a very old theme.
Note that earlier in the book, Candy only regretted that he couldn't kill his dog himself - foreshadowing. It is also significant that Candy isn't a whole person. George takes responsibility for Lennie and moves on and we all must. I've always thought that this is the lesson that makes the book a classic and the reason it's so commonly taught to young people. It's a very old theme.
Lennie repeatedly ruins George's chances of making a life for himself, every time he messes up they have to move on. It's only when Lenny finally does something that George can't protect him from and George can no longer sacrifice his own chances in order to save Lenny that George finally breaks the patter.
What Ray says fits in very well with this. It's a part of Geroge's self that he knows is holding him back and does not allow him to fit in with society but at the same time he loves him and would do almost anything to protect him and keep him safe.
That interpretation has made me want to re-read the book!
What Ray says fits in very well with this. It's a part of Geroge's self that he knows is holding him back and does not allow him to fit in with society but at the same time he loves him and would do almost anything to protect him and keep him safe.
That interpretation has made me want to re-read the book!
Both of them have a dream of owning a farm. Lennie is so pliable and submissive that it`s easy for George to take him on as a partner. Lennie is much stronger than George and would sustain a greater load of work. He is also guaranteed Lennie`s loyalty once and if they co-own a farm as Lennie depends so much on George`s judgment. For anyone who has been in business for themselves and had a partner, one knows how important it is to have one who is trustworthy.
The sad thing is that neither man is engaged in a work area that will realize them enough capital to buy a farm. So it is with these high but unrealistic hopes that sustains George through the drudgery of his farmhand labors.
I completely believe that George was Lennie's protector. Even when Lennie fell into bad situations early on, he was there to keep him from harm.
And it was not for selfish reasons George shot Lennie. He was even protecting him then. He was afraid what the people on the farm would do to Lennie if they found him after he accidentally killed Curley's wife (would they have tortured him? Strung him up? George did not want to find out. He killed Lennie when he was filled with a pleasant thought so he wouldn't see the shot coming).
And it was not for selfish reasons George shot Lennie. He was even protecting him then. He was afraid what the people on the farm would do to Lennie if they found him after he accidentally killed Curley's wife (would they have tortured him? Strung him up? George did not want to find out. He killed Lennie when he was filled with a pleasant thought so he wouldn't see the shot coming).
Thoughts:
* I think foremost there is a certain love in the relationship. Lennie's vision of his Aunt near the end mentions how George would give Lennie more than half a slice of pie and give him all the ketchup when he had it. Not to mention the good point CJ expressed about the "mercy kill".
* Second, I believe George "uses" Lennie to keep himself from growing hardhearted (though I think this is an afterthought perk, more than a specific reason for staying with Lennie). He mentions several times how most transitory workers travel alone, and as a result grow mean and hopeless.
* I think foremost there is a certain love in the relationship. Lennie's vision of his Aunt near the end mentions how George would give Lennie more than half a slice of pie and give him all the ketchup when he had it. Not to mention the good point CJ expressed about the "mercy kill".
* Second, I believe George "uses" Lennie to keep himself from growing hardhearted (though I think this is an afterthought perk, more than a specific reason for staying with Lennie). He mentions several times how most transitory workers travel alone, and as a result grow mean and hopeless.
Lennie to George meant family. George took care of him. To me, i see George behaving as a father to Lennie. George says that he could have had a better life without Lennie, which is true, but i don't think George meant it. I reasoned that George prefered taking care of Lennie and attempt to be finacially sound than making life simpler for George by not having to take care of Lennie, and be able to have a financially comfortable life.
As much of a burden as Lennie was, I would still consider them partners. George got to repeating their own farm with the rabbits and whatnot, so much so that it has become his dream as much as it was Lennie's. Though George is obviously the more competent of two, i always their impossible dream of the farm a shared vision between them.
I had never considered the concept of George and Lennie potentially being the rational/irrational sides of man. It adds a new dimension to an already complex book.
I had never considered the concept of George and Lennie potentially being the rational/irrational sides of man. It adds a new dimension to an already complex book.
I think George needed Lennie just as much as Lennie needed George but in different ways. Lennie needed George to take care of him but in return George got someone who cared whether he lived or died. They have a conversation about how they're different from the other men precisely because they have each other for company. George might only have taken him on as a favour to Aunt Clara at first but I think he does care for Lennie.
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