Freindship Flashcards
How does the first scene highlight the strength and uniqueness of George and Lennie’s friendship?
Their opening conversation shows familiarity and routine—George scolds Lennie, then reassures him. It mimics a parent-child dynamic, showing George as protective and Lennie as trusting. Their bond offers stability in a rootless world.
What does the quote “We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us” show about their friendship?
The repetition of “we” and “got” reinforces unity and hope. This companionship challenges the norm in 1930s America, where itinerant workers were typically alone. Steinbeck uses their bond as a critique of capitalist isolation.
Why is friendship so rare in the world of Of Mice and Men? (Context)
Set during the Great Depression, Steinbeck shows how economic hardship breeds isolation. Workers constantly move for jobs, making lasting bonds nearly impossible. George and Lennie’s friendship feels almost rebellious against this culture.
How does the American Dream relate to friendship in the novel?
Their shared dream of a farm symbolises more than land—it’s a vision of belonging and mutual care. Steinbeck suggests that friendship can fuel dreams, but also that dreams rely on human connection to survive.
How do Candy and Crooks respond to George and Lennie’s friendship? What does this reveal?
Candy sees hope: he begs to join them, showing how friendship equals dignity. Crooks is cynical at first (“Nobody ever gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land”), showing how loneliness poisons belief, but even he softens at the idea of companionship.
Why is Curley suspicious of George and Lennie’s bond?
Curley sees friendship as a threat to power. His suspicion shows how dominance and fear replace trust in a competitive world. Steinbeck exposes the toxicity of mistrust bred by capitalism and masculinity.
What does the ending of the novel suggest about friendship and survival?
George kills Lennie to protect him from a brutal lynching, showing friendship as both deeply loyal and tragically helpless. Steinbeck implies that in a violent world, true companionship cannot endure—dreams and love are casualties of reality.
How is George’s final action both loving and heartbreaking?
He retells the dream to soothe Lennie, then kills him with a stolen gun. It’s an act of mercy masked as betrayal. The scene mirrors Candy’s regret over not killing his dog himself—George ensures Lennie dies with dignity and love, unlike the cruelty of the world around them.
What does Slim’s line “You hadda, George” reveal about Steinbeck’s message on friendship?
Slim’s understanding shows that true empathy exists but is rare. In a society where most people “don’t understand,” Steinbeck gives us Slim as a symbol of compassion and shared burden, quietly upholding the value of friendship.
quotes for George and Lennie’s friendship?
‘i got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you’ - this mantra emphasises the mutuality of care in George and Lennie’s friendship. goes against capatalism as george doesnt exploit the weak.
‘He’s sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull’ goes against society, as Capitalism suggests that others are your competition (especially for work in GD), but George wants to see him do well.
- ‘now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys’ - carlsons inability to somprehend an actual meaningful friendship shows his detachment and disregard for human life. (catastrophic consequences of ‘rugged individualism’ )
- ‘what stake you got in this guy?’ - boss immediatly suspicious over why people might have freindships and how the weak wouldnt be exploited (highlights what he would have done in george’s situation)
quotes to show how George is lonely despite having Lennie?
- ‘imitated him exactly’ - highlight how their relationship is more paternal, lennie copys him like a child - huge responsibility on george.
- ‘solitaire’ - george is often seen playing this highlighting his lonliness and that his relationship with lennie is not apt companionship for him.
- ‘don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you’ - crooks identifies as the loneliest on the ranch the importance for connection regardless of the quality of it.
quotes to show how friendship brings humanity?
- “a guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody”
- “can’t we, george, can’t we” - candy still clings to the dream of community despite lennie’s death.
- “swell guy, ain’t he” - curley’s wife opens up showing he need for companionship.
- “invited confidence” - slim is immediately friendly, highlighting steinbeck’s perfect american.
quotes that show friendships are too risky?
- “maybe ever ‘body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.” - slim, wise character, observes peoples loneliness stems from fear - what a capitalist society creates, everyone competes with each other, too risky to focus on anything but survival.
- “i could get you strung up on a tree…” - crooks opens up and is swept up with the idea, is reminded of oppression.
- “body flopped like a fish” - curley’s wife opening up causes her death.
- “his eyes blinded with tears” - should never have entertained it, it was never going to happen in this society.
- “he gets into trouble all the time” - was their friendship beneficial
friendships are presented as too risky. - no government aid so if you fail to make money your on the streets. Steinbeck highlights changes that need to happen.
what is the overall message of friendship in OMAM?
- Humans need connection. It brings us comfort and reminds us of our own and other’s humanity.
- The capitalist economy contradicts our human needs to create a landscape that makes it almost impossible to have meaningful friendships. (bit of a call to action to change the system)
