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Title: What is the relationship between George & Lennie?
One of the things that stood out to me in part one is the relationship between George and Lennie. As they were introduced, I couldn’t help but wonder if George is Lennie’s “caretaker”. Steinbeck didn’t answer this question, so here I am to investigate! The first thing I noticed right away is that all throughout pages 2, 3, and 4, Lennie emulates George’s actions. For example, “Lennie who had been watching, imitated George exactly” (4). This, together with Lennie’s child-like persona helped me surmise that he is the intellectually disabled character that Ms. Dunson/Walsh prepared us for. Therefore, I thought that George could be Lennie’s caretaker.
One of the things that stood out to me in part one is the relationship between George and Lennie. As they were introduced, I couldn’t help but wonder if George is Lennie’s “caretaker”. Steinbeck didn’t answer this question, so here I am to investigate! The first thing I noticed right away is that all throughout pages 2, 3, and 4, Lennie emulates George’s actions. For example, “Lennie who had been watching, imitated George exactly” (4). This, together with Lennie’s child-like persona helped me surmise that he is the intellectually disabled character that Ms. Dunson/Walsh prepared us for. Therefore, I thought that George could be Lennie’s caretaker.
Did anyone have any other thoughts about George & Lennie’s relationship?
COMMENT 1:
Hi Ms. Dunson! I really enjoyed your post about George possibly being Lennie’s caretaker because I hadn't considered that angle before. I, too, wondered what their relationship was, but what stood out to me was when George mentions Aunt Clara. After Lennie recalled getting mice from someone in the past, George clarified, “‘Lady? Don’t even remember who that lady was. That was your own Aunt Clara’” (9). What do you think about the idea that George and Lennie might be related? Cousins perhaps?
COMMENT 2:
Ms. Dunson & Mrs. Walsh - - Thanks for shedding some light on this interesting topic. I now see that there is a possibility that George could be Lennie’s caretaker OR they could be related, BUT I thought of it in another way! After George went on his big tirade and chewed Lennie out for all the trouble he causes, I also thought George was just a caretaker or family member who was obligated to stay with Lennie for those reasons. However, almost immediately after yelling at Lennie, George corrected himself and said, “‘I want you to stay with me, Lennie’” (13). Furthermore, he describes migrant workers as “the loneliest guys in the world’” but Lennie knows things are different with them. He prompts George to continue saying, “‘With us it ain’t like that” and Lennie confirms, “‘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’” (13-14). Therefore I truly believe that George and Lennie are friends.
Ms. Dunson & Mrs. Walsh - - Thanks for shedding some light on this interesting topic. I now see that there is a possibility that George could be Lennie’s caretaker OR they could be related, BUT I thought of it in another way! After George went on his big tirade and chewed Lennie out for all the trouble he causes, I also thought George was just a caretaker or family member who was obligated to stay with Lennie for those reasons. However, almost immediately after yelling at Lennie, George corrected himself and said, “‘I want you to stay with me, Lennie’” (13). Furthermore, he describes migrant workers as “the loneliest guys in the world’” but Lennie knows things are different with them. He prompts George to continue saying, “‘With us it ain’t like that” and Lennie confirms, “‘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’” (13-14). Therefore I truly believe that George and Lennie are friends.
Take a look at my blog post to check out why I think their unusual friendship is so important to the novel!
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