In a society in which ranch-hands and migrant workers
generally travelled alone, George and Lennie, the protagonists in Of Mice and
Men, stay with each other as they move from place to place looking for work.
At the beginning of the novel, readers quickly understand that Lennie is mentally
handicapped, and that he relies on an often resentful George for many of his basic
needs. While Lennie loves George and eagerly looks forward to achieving their goal of
owning a farm and living "off the fatta the land," George often sees Lennie as a burden
who keeps George from having the kind of life he feels he
deserves.
In a telling conversation with Slim in Chapter
3, George explains that he used to play tricks on Lennie in the past but has since
stopped doing so. He maintains that Lennie isn't stupid--he's just simple--and explains
that Lennie would do anything George asked him to do. Lennie's unwavering loyalty to
George eventually caused George to realize the error in his ways, and George's ultimate
commitment to Lennie is evident throughout the rest of the novel.
Although George is often frustrated with Lennie (he yells
at him, becomes angry when Lennie asks him to repeat things over and over, and becomes
upset when Lennie doesn't follow directions), readers recognize that the two characters
have a mutual love for each other. They share a common dream of owning land, and
they've become so accustomed to each other's company that it is difficult for readers to
imagine one without the other.
The ultimate example of
George's love for Lennie comes at the end of the novel, when George kills Lennie to save
him from Curley. Though it may seem impossible to imagine a situation in which killing
another human being is an act of love, given Lennie's history and potential future (a
painful death at the hands of Curley and the others), George knows that killing Lennie
is actually an act of mercy.
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