Key Quotations/Ideas - George Flashcards
How is George’s frustration towards Lennie shown?
George first appears to be sullen and bad tempered and this contrasts with his companion. He also swears frequently and even though this could be a feature of the language used by typical ranch workers, it clearly displays George’s frustration towards Lennie.
What is the relevance of George saying to Lennie that he has “never been mad” at him?
This shows that despite his tone which can sometimes sound angry, he values his friendship with Lennie and would never want them to be separated from each other.
How is George relied upon by Lennie?
George is always needed to help get Lennie out of bad situations such as what gained in Weed. As the novel progresses, we also realise that George can be quite understanding and is also able to see possible complications which may occur such as conflict between Lennie and the other ranch workers.
Why did George come up with idea of the dream?
It was a source of motivation for him and Lennie and it was to prevent them both from staying miserable for too long.
How do we know that George is in a typical position of a ranch worker?
When the “water snake swam up” and was replaced by another, this is Steinbeck’s way for displaying to the readers that there will always be another George and another Lennie and that there situation is not uncommon.
How does George help to explore and expand Steinbeck’s main view?
His character displays Steinbeck’s main view and his actions help to display the idea of exploitation of workers through a capitalist society. George portrays the central message of the novel; that hope is pointless as dreams can easily be destroyed by uncontrollable outside forces.
What does it represent when George says “hide in the brush”?
This emphasises George’s ability to foresee complications as it foreshadows the ending of the novel and shows that George knows from the beginning that he and Lennie will never achieve the dream.
What is the significance of George saying “I got you to look after me”?
This shows that despite his frustration, George trusts Lennie to stay loyal to him and him to Lennie.
Why does George rely on Lennie?
He needs companionship in the generally unfriendly and lonely environment of the migrant labourer.
What is significant about George’s surname?
It is Milton and a reference to John Milton, the famous poet who wrote “Paradise Lost”.
What does George’s card game foreground?
He “laid down his cards thoughtfully” foregrounds the sense of loneliness carried by almost every character in the novel and most other typical ranch workers at the time the novel is set. He played “solitaire” which is a cross reference to “Soledad”, the place at the beginning of the novel, meaning “solitude” in Spanish and symbolising the loneliness of the characters.
How does George react to Curley’s wife during their first encounter?
George says something “brusquely” and he is deliberately ignoring her body language and her attempts to make him look at her features which she is trying to show off.
What do we learn about George when he plays cards throughout the novel?
That he is not that well educated but his experiences have made him wise.
Why did George change his opinions on Lennie before the novel?
He used to bully Lennie but became more mature after he realised the power and influence that he had over Lennie when he almost drowned because of something George told him to do.
How do we know that George trusts Slim?
He accidentally reveals to Slim about Weed and then carries on talking to him after he says “You wouldn’ tell?…No, course you wouldn’”. He didn’t wait for Slim to answer as he has unspoken trust for Slim.
