Please take some time to post two responses to Of Mice and Men before you return to class on January 4. Each post should be at least 100 words long and should include direct references to the text you are discussing. Even if you are responding to a quote in the prompt, you should bolster your own response with other references. Those references should include internal citations to note where you are in the book (p. #). When you make a post, please read all other posts for that question so that you are participating in a conversation. Please do not repeat what other students have already said. There are many questions from which to choose, so you should be able to discuss your ideas somewhere without being redundant. Remember to make some post-it notations about symbols and archetypes, along with any other ideas you would like to discuss when we get back to class.
Feel free to respond to as many prompts as you would like. If you respond to more than two, please asterisk the responses that are NOT for evaluation. Be sure your name appears on each comment, so I can see who you are. I think you will need to log in to your Google account as you work. If you can, please post with your school Google identity. If you post as "Anonymous" without your name, you will not be able to receive credit for your work, so be sure your name appears within the comment if you do that.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Lennie and George
Discuss the roles Lennie and George play in their
relationship with each other and why these roles are important to them or to
the book as a whole.
The relationship between Lennie and George is very strong, but also very similar to the relationship between a father and a son. George takes care of Lennie, and tries to help him learn from his mistakes.Throughout the book, their relationship is steady, and doesn't change much. Lennie is very dependent upon George, and George seems to need Lennie. George was very good at soothing Lennie and giving him hope, as he described the the farm and rabbits that he hoped for them in the future. In the end of the book George decides to let Lennie go. He "raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie's head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hands steadied. He pulled the trigger" (106). George knows that doing it himself is more humane and a greater expression of his love. He truly cares about Lennie, and does not want to watch him suffer anymore, especially with Curley hunting him down. The strength of their bond really showed in this scene, as he did one of the hardest things possible for the love of his friend. This shows how commendable George is, as he wants to do what is best for Lennie, no matter what it does to him.
George and Lennie are inseparable because they are dependent on each other in their own ways. For Lennie it's more obvious - he depends on George to be able to keep a job and stay out of much trouble. George's dependence on Lennie is less obvious, but it is still there. Without Lennie to look after, he would have no one to keep him out of trouble. On top of that, having someone to travel and stay with is essential to keeping anyone's sanity. The end of the book, where George shoots Lennie is similar to how Candy shoots his ancient dog - George had to let go of Lennie eventually, but he had to be the one to take action. On page 61, shortly after Carlson shot his dog, Candy says "I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't let no stranger shoot my dog." Candy felt that he needed to take the action of letting it go himself. George shows this same thinking in his actions at the end of the book. He doesn't do it out of anger or obligation to do it as a part of the hunt for him. He has finally come to the decision to let him go, and he would rather do it himself than have the angry charging mob get him first. Even if it is a terrible thing to do, George knows that this is what's best for Lennie.
Agreeing with what others have previously stated, Lennie and George do obviously have a strong and dependent relationship; however it is anything but healthy and beneficial. Though the “father son” connection does immediately come to mind when reviewing the roles played in their relationship, I would not use that title unless I was referring to an abusive father figure and a son that had no self-worth or confidence. It seems at times, that those these men consider themselves friends, their relationship is built less on personal commitment and emotional attachment, and more so and common necessity. True, George does not “deserve” to have to take responsibility for someone like Lennie, neither should Lennie have to be looked after by someone so criticizing and harsh. In the very beginning of the book we see the rough way George always responds to Lennie, ‘"Where we goin', George?" The little man jerked down the brim of his hat and scowled over at Lennie. "So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you're a crazy bastard!" "I forgot," Lennie said softly’ (4). George is already well aware of Lennie’s mental capabilities, but he continues to act as if Lennie should know the answers to all the questions he asks. Though answering the same question multiple times may become irritating at most, there is no excuse for George to treat Lennie with such cruelty and exasperation. Because of George's outbursts, Lennie seems to have little confidence in himself, and always worries about upsetting George and never about his own personal well being. Though this relationship is cringe-worthy to read about in Of Mice and Men, it does reinforce the themes of loneliness and powerless during this time period. Both receive companionship from this relationship, and George gets to have a certain feel of powerfulness by commanding Lennie and controlling all aspects of their lives.
The relationship between Lennie and George is very strong, but also very similar to the relationship between a father and a son. George takes care of Lennie, and tries to help him learn from his mistakes.Throughout the book, their relationship is steady, and doesn't change much. Lennie is very dependent upon George, and George seems to need Lennie. George was very good at soothing Lennie and giving him hope, as he described the the farm and rabbits that he hoped for them in the future. In the end of the book George decides to let Lennie go. He "raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie's head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hands steadied. He pulled the trigger" (106). George knows that doing it himself is more humane and a greater expression of his love. He truly cares about Lennie, and does not want to watch him suffer anymore, especially with Curley hunting him down. The strength of their bond really showed in this scene, as he did one of the hardest things possible for the love of his friend. This shows how commendable George is, as he wants to do what is best for Lennie, no matter what it does to him.
ReplyDeleteMesa Tinger
George and Lennie are inseparable because they are dependent on each other in their own ways. For Lennie it's more obvious - he depends on George to be able to keep a job and stay out of much trouble. George's dependence on Lennie is less obvious, but it is still there. Without Lennie to look after, he would have no one to keep him out of trouble. On top of that, having someone to travel and stay with is essential to keeping anyone's sanity.
ReplyDeleteThe end of the book, where George shoots Lennie is similar to how Candy shoots his ancient dog - George had to let go of Lennie eventually, but he had to be the one to take action. On page 61, shortly after Carlson shot his dog, Candy says "I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't let no stranger shoot my dog." Candy felt that he needed to take the action of letting it go himself. George shows this same thinking in his actions at the end of the book. He doesn't do it out of anger or obligation to do it as a part of the hunt for him. He has finally come to the decision to let him go, and he would rather do it himself than have the angry charging mob get him first. Even if it is a terrible thing to do, George knows that this is what's best for Lennie.
~Michael Meerdink
Agreeing with what others have previously stated, Lennie and George do obviously have a strong and dependent relationship; however it is anything but healthy and beneficial. Though the “father son” connection does immediately come to mind when reviewing the roles played in their relationship, I would not use that title unless I was referring to an abusive father figure and a son that had no self-worth or confidence. It seems at times, that those these men consider themselves friends, their relationship is built less on personal commitment and emotional attachment, and more so and common necessity. True, George does not “deserve” to have to take responsibility for someone like Lennie, neither should Lennie have to be looked after by someone so criticizing and harsh. In the very beginning of the book we see the rough way George always responds to Lennie, ‘"Where we goin', George?" The little man jerked down the brim of his hat and scowled over at Lennie.
ReplyDelete"So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you're a crazy bastard!"
"I forgot," Lennie said softly’ (4). George is already well aware of Lennie’s mental capabilities, but he continues to act as if Lennie should know the answers to all the questions he asks. Though answering the same question multiple times may become irritating at most, there is no excuse for George to treat Lennie with such cruelty and exasperation. Because of George's outbursts, Lennie seems to have little confidence in himself, and always worries about upsetting George and never about his own personal well being. Though this relationship is cringe-worthy to read about in Of Mice and Men, it does reinforce the themes of loneliness and powerless during this time period. Both receive companionship from this relationship, and George gets to have a certain feel of powerfulness by commanding Lennie and controlling all aspects of their lives.
-Katherine Healy
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ReplyDelete