Friendship

Question 1

George and Lennie

Answer 1

Have one of the only real friendships in the novel

Lennie is reliant on George to live, he looks up to him ‘Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly’

George often complains about him ‘I could get alone so easy and nice if I didn’t have you on my tail’ but deep down he needs him. Fraternal relationship. Dichotomy in the relationship

George sticks up for Lennie and speaks highly of him ‘he’s a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull’He tried to protect him, telling him to keep quiet and giving him advice

Their share in the dream keeps them close

George eventually kills Lennie because he knows it is for the best and he wanted him to be comfortable and happy in his last moments, rather than having to endure whatever Curley had planned for him.

Question 2

Candy

Answer 2

His only companion was his dog. Which he loses. He gets very upset by this ‘no i couldn’t do that. I’ve had him too long’

’ so used to him’ ‘I had him from a pup’

He eventually realises that it is for his own benefit as the dog is in a lot of pain. Foreshadows the ending with George and Lennie.

His dog is a representation to the fact that he fears he too is becoming old and useless and will soon be ‘canned’ and thrown off the ranch, with no where to go and no friends to care for him.

Question 3

Curleys wife

Answer 3

Lacks friendship

• married to Curley, only woman on ranch
  ‘I get lonely. I can’ talk to nobody except Curley or else he gets mad’
• ‘any you boys seen Curley’ repeated
• the men make fun of her calling her ‘a tart’ and saying ‘she ain’t concealing nothing’
• her lips are ‘rouged’ and she wears red shoes and nail varnish to symbolise that she is a danger to the men because if they talk to her they will get beaten up
• mention women’s roles in the 1930s for context
• she not given a name to show how little she is respected
• ‘think I don’t like to talk to nobody ever’ once in a while?’

Question 4

Crooks

Answer 4

Lacks friendship

• ‘nigger’ offensive derogatory term that was totallt acceptable back then shows the prejudice against him.

He is isolated from the others and forced to live with the horses because of his colour- this shows that he is dehumanised and discriminated against. Refer to the fact that this reflects the racial hatred in the 1930s

Not allowed to work or room with the men

• ‘I can’t play because I’m black’ discrimination
• ‘a guy needs company- somebody to be with’
• he tells Lennie that the fact that he has so many books could show that he is lonely and lives his life through Interactions with characters in stories