friendship Flashcards
Why is friendship unusual in the novel?
Friendship is unusual in the novel due to the hostile and lonely life of a ranch worker.
George and Lennie have been friends for a long time:
‘Got kinda used to each other after a little while.
Shared background leads to familiarity. George understands Lennie:
‘He never hurt her. He jus’ wanted to touch that red dress, like he wants to pet them pups all the time.’
George looks after Lennie when he gets in trouble. He sticks with Lennie even when it could be fatal for him.
‘But you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you cant get rid of him.’ George does seem to have affection for Lennie even if he doesn’t express it in words often.
George recognises the fact that he does have the capacity to willingly hurt Lennie at times:
‘I’ve beat the hell outta him’,’He damn near drowned.’ Perhaps Lennie’s nature stops George from indulging these darker impulses.
At the end of the novel the true friendship between George and Lennie is truly shown when they are talking about how they will be there for one another. Steinbeck makes us wonder whether George killing Lennie is an act of friendship.
‘“Because I got you an’–” “An’ I got you. We got each other, that’s why, that give a hoot in hell about us,” Lennie cried in triumph’
Curley’s Wife:
‘Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody.’ Emphasising how much she really craves companionship and would really value a friend’s company.
When Candy’s dog gets put down. The separation of these two life-long friends is tragic.
‘Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent.’
How does George show Lennie he forgives him before he dies
no lennie. i ain’t mad. i never been mad. i ain’t now. that’s a thing i want you to know
