Introduction
The value of friendship is a major theme in John Steinbeck's classic 1937 novella Of Mice and Men. Set during the Great Depression, the story follows two migrant workers, George and Lennie, and their unlikely friendship as they seek work and aim to fulfill their dream of owning their own farm. While their friendship meets tragedy by the story's end, Steinbeck poignantly explores how even the most vulnerable human connections can provide meaning and hope. This essay will examine the complex dynamics of George and Lennie's friendship, how it provides them shelter from the loneliness of the open road and hostile world around them, and how it tragically collapses under the weight of circumstance, sacrifice, and loss. Through an analysis of this meaningful relationship between two men struggling to survive, we can reflect on both the fragility and strength of human bonds in an indifferent world.
Friendship in the Context of the Great Depression
Of Mice and Men, while fictional, provides insight into the hardships faced by many during the Great Depression in America. This was a time of widespread poverty, harsh working conditions, and exploitation of migrant laborers and rural communities. Many were forced to leave their homes and travel from place to place seeking work, which often required physically demanding and dangerous labor for little pay. This transient lifestyle isolated workers and left them hungry for companionship. It is in this context that we meet George and Lennie, two men who have formed a tight friendship despite the odds against them. Their bond seems unlikely at first glance - George is intelligent and cynical, while Lennie is large and strong but intellectually disabled. However, they complement each other, with George providing guidance and insight, and Lennie offering protection and devoted companionship. Through their travels together, Steinbeck explores how even the most vulnerable can find solace in true friendship.
Shelter from Loneliness - The Companionship of George and Lennie
While life on the road is isolating for most workers during this era, George and Lennie’s friendship provides comfort from the loneliness around them. Their companionship is built on true understanding, trust, and concern for each other’s welfare. For example, George tolerates Lennie’s childlike behavior and looks out for him, while Lennie relies on George for guidance and reassurance. Steinbeck writes, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place,” describing the migrant condition (13). Yet George and Lennie have a place with each other, signaled through their ritual of sharing dreams about the future. Their vision of owning a farm, where Lennie can care for rabbits, provides hope during trying times. Even when others belittle or dismiss Lennie, George stands by him, giving him dignity and shelter. Their friendship brings meaning to their otherwise transient, difficult lives.
Tragedy and Sacrifice - The Destruction of George and Lennie's Friendship
However, despite the strength of their bond, external forces and choices tragically destroy George and Lennie’s friendship. After a deadly accident places them in jeopardy, George is forced to make an agonizing choice. To save Lennie from a brutal death at the hands of a lynch mob, George ultimately takes his friend’s life himself – an act of mercy and supreme sacrifice. While Steinbeck argues the men’s vision of farm ownership was likely an unrealistic pipe dream all along, he still casts the dissolution of their friendship as profoundly heartbreaking and representative of the fragility of hope. Yet even in his darkest hour, George stays loyal to Lennie, doing what he believes is right to protect someone he cares for deeply. Their relationship, while cut short, models true camaraderie built on seeing the humanity in others.
George's So-Called Freedom
Some may argue that George ultimately benefits from Lennie’s death. After all, he is now free from the burden of caring for a disabled companion and could pursue his independence. However, Steinbeck makes clear that George has lost so much more than a burden – he has lost the person who gave his difficult life joy, purpose, and meaning. George may have lamented his responsibilities at times, but his final action to protect Lennie demonstrates his deep loyalty and love, not relief at being free. Their friendship, full of laughter and shared dreams, was a shelter and respite. In the harsh world of the novella, such connections matter immensely.
Conclusion
In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck movingly reminds us that friendship and human bonds can provide even the most vulnerable and mistreated with moments of shelter. George and Lennie’s companionship reveals that relationships require sacrifice, understanding, and seeing the dignity in others. Their tragic end cautions us that external forces can destroy even the most loving bonds. However, ultimately Steinbeck argues that the fleeting opportunity to care for one another makes life meaningful – a gentle message emerging from a cruel time that still echoes today. Though fragile, friendship brings hope.
