Of Mice and Men

In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck idealizes the quality of friendship, suggesting that most dignified and satisfying way to overcome the loneliness that pervades the world. For example, George says to Lennie, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. […] We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.” (15). George reminds Lennie that they posses extreme luck to have each other since most men do not enjoy this comfort. Because Lennie and George do migrant work, men like them can’t afford the luxury of having friendships. In addition, Lennie and George posses luck, but they also posses love and support. For example Lennie to George, “but not us! An’ why? Because …. Because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” (15). This shows Lennie and George love one another, and they treat each other like family, they support and understand one another. Threw out Georges life, he becomes Lennie father figure, he takes care of him, help him find work, and keeps him out of trouble, they have each other’s back and posses what no other migrant worker has. When Lennie and George arrive on the ranch they make new friendships that change everyone there.
When George and Lennie arrive at the ranch, they meet new men, befriend them, and confide in the. George confides a man named Slim and tells him about his and Lennie’s past. For example George says, “he seen this girl in a red dress. Just wants to feel it. So he reaches out to feel […] the girl lets out a squawk.” (46). This shows that George needs to express his feelings about his responsibilities for Lennie; he wants a new friend to rely on. In addition, Lennie tells an old man named Candy about him and George’s dream of owning a ranch, Candy speaks to George and says, “S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in.” (65). This shows how Lennie and Georges friendship affects others on the farm. Because