In the novella, Of Mice of Men, George is described as being, “small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong hands, slender features. Every part of him was defined” (2). The other main character, Lennie, is expressed as, “his [George’s] opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.”
Lennie is different from most people because of how he is simple-minded and unaware of the consequences of his actions. After Lennie couldn’t find his work card and bus ticket in his pocket, he reached back in his pocket to grab something, and told George, “Ain’t a thing in my pocket…It’s only a mouse, George… Jus’ a dead mouse, George…I found it dead” (Steinbeck 5). Lennie is much more foolish than others, he found a dead mouse and kept it in his pocket. Many would never think twice about keeping a dead mouse with them, which differs Lennie from many.
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The relationship between George and Lennie presents itself as a parent and child. When Lennie says he could leave George because he feels like a burden, George replies with, “I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody shoots you for a coyote if you was by yourself. No, you stay with me. Your Aunt Clara wouldn’t like you running off by yourself” (13). George feels the responsibility to keep Lennie safe, which is extremely similar to the role of a parent. Lennie relies on George, who has gotten Lennie out of trouble many times.
George and Lennie have to leave Weed because of Lennie’s behavior which could have been perceived as inappropriate. When George is furious at Lennie, he exclaims how Lennie “Jus’ wanted to feel that girl’s dress...She jerks back and you hold on like it was a mouse. She yells and we got to hide in an irrigation ditch all day with guys lookin’ for us” (11). Lennie lacks common sense, which makes him want to pet a woman’s dress only because it looks soft, which in turn causes her to be alarmed. This caused the pair to have to flee Weed to escape the men looking for them.
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