Of Mice and Men - George Flashcards
Main points
- As Lennie’s protector/father figure
- Short tempered
- Lonely
- Hope of success
Lennie’s protector/father figure: ‘first man’ ‘follower’
Power dynamics established in first description of George and Lennie
Lennie’s protector/father figure: ’..don’t drink so much.. you gonna be sick’
Cares for him
Lennie’s protector/father figure: ’ I ain’t done nothing like that no more’
George told Lennie to jump into the Sacramento River -> turning point in George’s life. Lennie nearly drowned
George realises power comes with moral duty so praises Lennie to Slim and the boss ‘he ain’t mean’
Lennie’s protector/father figure: Kills Lennie at the end
To escape him of the cruel treatment Curley would have given him + do escape him of the inhumane treatment of asylums
Lennie’s protector/father figure: Context
- George = symbol of human compassion -> contrasts society
- President hoover created the concept of ‘self - reliance’ and ‘its every man for himself’ which he said protected American individualities
- George’s power over Lennie = Landowner’s power over migrant workers
George realises his moral duty to Lennie at the river, but the landowners did not
Short - tempered: ‘you crazy bastard’
George’s aggressiveness contrasts his role as a father figure to Lennie.
Short - tempered: ‘When I think of the crazy time I’d have without you, I’d go nuts’
‘live so easy’ ‘hot water all the time’
George’s insensitivity shows that he feels burdened by the responsibility of Lennie
However he is always there for Lennie -> his frustration shows the extent he will give up his happiness for Lennie
George blames Lennie that he always gets into trouble
Short - tempered: Context
George’s occasional poor treatment mirrors treatment of people with mental disabilities by society
Society lacked understanding on how to care for people with mental disabilities
Lonely: ‘I got you to look after me and you got me to look after you’
Lennie memorises this refrain -> shows interdependency of their relationship. George also benefits from Lennie -> companionship
George always plays solitaire when he’s in the bunkhouse = he is solitary
Foreshadows his loss of Lennie at the end of the novel
Lonely: Context
High demand for workers created hostil + competitive environments
‘Survival of the fittest’
Hope of success: ** ‘We’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres’ **
George’s American Dream - hope of finding success in life
Hope of success: ** ‘living off the fat of the lan’ **
Financially independent + self sufficiency
Life liberty, pursuit of happiness - everyone can succeed through hard work + has potential to live a successful life
