Thursday, 21 February 2013

'Of Mice and Men' Revision: Friendship (student notes)


·         At harsh time of Great Depression – community on ranch

“The shouts of men, playing, encouraging, jeering” (p.120)


·         George has his companion, Lennie – he enjoys travelling around with him even if he can sometimes find him annoying – their friendship is the strongest

“Lennie’s a God damn nuisance most of the time but you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him” (p.67)


·         Curley’s wife doesn’t have any friends on the ranch (only woman)– so tries to make friends with the workers

She seems to have a connection with Lennie + takes advantage of his weak mental ability, considers Lennie as friend

“She turned to Lennie, ‘I’m glad you bust up Curley a little bit.’”

·         George doesn’t want Lennie to become friends with Curley’s wife and get involved with her – knows the result and what could happen (could lose job)

“Don’t you even look at that bitch.” (p.54)


·         Slim has a strong connection with George – he metaphorically hugs George at the end after he kills Lennie.

 Likes the fact that Lennie and George travel together, “Ain’t many guys travel round together, I don’t know why.” (p.57) – builds on friendship with George.

Because of his mystical qualities and kind manner Slim is liked by all the men on the ranch and gets on well with them all – they look up to him and seem to be his ‘worker friends’, “A quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke.”


·         Candy and his dog have a light friendship – both of them had similar qualities

Loneliness hit Candy after his dog died – showed this friendship meant a lot to him, “Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent” (p.76)

Wants to find hope with George and Lennie (share their dream) – shows want to be friends with them and build on his own life

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