Describe how Lennie and George are presented in Of Mice and Men
Compare how George and Lennie are presented in Of Mice And Men.
George and Lennie are described in very different ways, as they’re being presented as opposites; Lennie being presented as the large, clumsy, forgetful one, “I forgot again” and George being the small, clever one with a snappy tone to ensure his point is fully expressed and understood, “snapped his fingers.” However, these characteristics lead to a brilliant, caring friendship (revolving around trust and compassion) which is described throughout the story. This friendship is the strongest factor that links Lennie and George together, because – despite their differences – they are described as lonely ranchers and Steinbach stresses this in order to show the bond that the lonely ranchers share together. "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world...They got no family. They don't belong no place...With us, it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us..."
Lennie is a clumsy and confused character, however this is shown to the extent that suggests that he is mentally handicapped “Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers,” for example, which shows – at the time what would be considered as – very strange behaviour for a fully grown adult. Not only is this shown by direct speech, in order we fully understand what he his saying and the manner in which he is expressing it, but Lennie’s speech is written in such a way that suggests a child has said it shown by “dabbled” and “big paw.” Lennie is also very interested in childish things, such as petting animals “You broke it pettin’ it” –George. This refers to the disability, or childish behaviour, again shown by the abbreviated name “Lennie”, short for Leonard in order for it to be simple to say and less sophisticated (a quality that Lennie doesn’t seem bothered about.) As well as direct speech this is shown by narration: Lennie continued to snort into the pool, not
George and Lennie are described in very different ways, as they’re being presented as opposites; Lennie being presented as the large, clumsy, forgetful one, “I forgot again” and George being the small, clever one with a snappy tone to ensure his point is fully expressed and understood, “snapped his fingers.” However, these characteristics lead to a brilliant, caring friendship (revolving around trust and compassion) which is described throughout the story. This friendship is the strongest factor that links Lennie and George together, because – despite their differences – they are described as lonely ranchers and Steinbach stresses this in order to show the bond that the lonely ranchers share together. "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world...They got no family. They don't belong no place...With us, it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us..."
Lennie is a clumsy and confused character, however this is shown to the extent that suggests that he is mentally handicapped “Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers,” for example, which shows – at the time what would be considered as – very strange behaviour for a fully grown adult. Not only is this shown by direct speech, in order we fully understand what he his saying and the manner in which he is expressing it, but Lennie’s speech is written in such a way that suggests a child has said it shown by “dabbled” and “big paw.” Lennie is also very interested in childish things, such as petting animals “You broke it pettin’ it” –George. This refers to the disability, or childish behaviour, again shown by the abbreviated name “Lennie”, short for Leonard in order for it to be simple to say and less sophisticated (a quality that Lennie doesn’t seem bothered about.) As well as direct speech this is shown by narration: Lennie continued to snort into the pool, not