From a close study of the opening of the novel Essay Example for Free

From a remnant study of the opening of the refreshed EssayFrom a close study of the opening of the novel and with reference to oppositewise stages throughout, discuss the relationship of George and Lennie, commenting on how it relates to the theme of forlornnessBy Matthew KeaneIn the novel, the two main characters, George and Lennie, have a parent-child relationship, as George leads the way for Lennie he withal gives him advice and teaches him. Lennie follows any advice that George gives him. The imagination of a teacher-student relationship is evident because George shows all signs of intelligence he gives all the advice, and has all the ideas. Lennie on the other hand, is mentally challenged, and needs all the advice that George bunghole give him. Lennies mental capability is reflected in his descriptive appearance, he is often compared to animals, his actions and reactions are bare(a), and he also has a bad recollection. However, Lennies bad memory can lead to fric tion, as George can lost his temper with him because he often has to remind Lennie several(prenominal) times before he can remember. Overall, theyre more equal father and son than equal adults.From the prime(prenominal) time they are introduced, we immediately get the impression of one being a follower and other being a leader, we can tell this by the line,They had base on ballsed in single file down the path, and evening in the open one stayed behind the otherThe word even in this sentence signifies that no matter what, George will eternally lead Lennie, even though there was plenty of space for Lennie to walk next to him, he still stayed behind George.The reader is given an immediate insight to Lennies character when Steinbeck uses animal imagery most of his actions are compared to animals,Lennie dabbled his big pawThese animal comparisons tells the reader that Lennie shares the innocent qualities, as most of his actions are made on impulse, and he doesnt think about what hes doing. Lennie also has a simple-minded innocence, because he has the mind of a child and again doesnt think about his actions. However, Lennies animal-like behaviour shows that he can have an unpredictable re orderation, as his acting on impulse can have unexpected results.The childlike qualities that Lennie displays can sometimes lead to friction between him and George. This happens when Lennies memory loss causes George to lost his temper frequently,So you forgot that already did you? I gotta tell you again do I? Jesus Christ, youre a crazy muttThis happens frequently in the novel, this quote is taken just after the bus driver drops them off at the wrong place, George has a reason to chastise Lennie about his poor memory, these outbursts also show that he is in guard of Lennie.Steinbeck reinforces the point about who is in control of the relationship by the description if when Lennie books a utterly lift in his pocket, and George forces Lennie to give him the mouse.Lennies closed hand slowly obeyed. George took the mouse and threw it across the pool to the other side, amongst the brushThe tone used by George Give it here clearly shows that he is in control. When Lennie retrieves the mouse from the bushes, George shows he is in control by snapping his fingers, and then Lennie immediately returns the mouse.There is another purpose in this episode, which is to show us Lennies irresistible urge to embrace things as later on in the novel it has an important role, as the urge lands him in trouble when he accidentally kills Curleys wife by interruption her neck. So this part in the novel his significance to tell us about Lennies urge to pet soft things. The stroking of soft things symbolises that Lennie wants a soft and easy life, and doesnt want the hard life that he has now. Lennie wishes for something soft that represents the desire for something finer, to be held onto in literal reality leads to tragic consequences of Curleys wifes death, made more po ignant, roughly dramatic irony takes place at the moment the news arrives that confirms that the ranch is theres.Clearly without George around, Lennie has no control. This control that George has over Lennie also corresponds that Lennie is totally dependant on George. As a result, George often seems groundless or upset at Lennie. In the opening, George seems easily angered because of the bus driver, we can tell this by the tone that he speaks to Lennie in,Youre a crazy bastardThis brings the negative side of the relationship to the surface,If I was but, I could live so easyThis proves that George can see Lennie as a hindrance to his life, that without Lennie, George wouldnt have to always look after him. George also bring up the subject of what happened in Weed, just to get to Lennie purport bad,Jus wanted to feel that girls dresswell, how the hell did she do you just wanted to feel her dress?Also he makes Lennie feel bad by saying that its Lennies fault that they both lose t heir jobs,I got you You cant keep a job and you lose me ever job I getThis long passage acts as a warning to what happens later in the barn with Curleys wife, we also learn of what happened in Weed,How the hell did she know you jus wanted to feel her dress? She jerks cover version and you hold on like it was a mouse. She yells and we got to hide in an irrigation ditch all days with guys looking for usThis shows us Lennies urge to touch soft things, such(prenominal) as a dress, or Curleys wife hair. The incident with Curleys wife has an uncanny resemblance to what happened in Weed, as while stroking Curleys wifes hair, she gets scared and tries to scream, Lennie tries to stop her screaming and holds on to her, but he unfortunately breaks her neck.Although George is degraded to anger, he doesnt want to hurt Lennie, when George realises he has hurt Lennies feelings, he immediately feels bad,His anger left him suddenly, He looked across the fire at Lennies anguished face, and then he looked ashamedly at the flamesThe true nature of their relationship is revealed as father and son when George apologises to Lennie and then explains to him,No look I was jus foolin, Lennie. Course I want you to stay with me. Trouble with mice is you always kill emHe then tries to reason,First risk I get, Ill give you a pup. Maybe you wouldnt kill it. Thatd be better than mice.This passage ends with George re-counting theyre dual-lane dream,Well have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickensThis stand up phase of the opening chapter clearly shows how George also gets much from this relationship. The unreserved love that Lennie extends to George sets them both apart from the other drifters and farm hands who generally have nothing.Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They dont belong no place.Even though, while angry, George tells Lennie that he could behave like the other men,If I was alone I could live so easy.wh en the end of the month came I could take my fifty bucks and go into townspeople and get whatever I wantHis true feelings are revealed later while George is telling slenderize why he and Lennie are so close, he tells Slim of how one time he ill-treat Lennies trust, while swimming in the Sacramento river, he tells Lennie to dive in the water, even though he cannot swim. George then dives into the river to barely Lennie, and since then George realises how much Lennie depends on George.This closeness is confirmed by Georges reaction when Curleys wifes bole is found,Maybe theyll lock im up an be nice to himGeorge also tries to defend Lennie as he knows that Lennie didnt mean to kill Curleys wife,Lennie never done it in meanness he said All the time he done bad things but he never done one of em meanThe relationship completed in the opening is then illustrated throughout the novel.The first time that George and Lennie meet Curley, George protects Lennie from Curley.What the hell are you get into it for?We travel togetherOh so its that way?Yeah its that wayAlso, when Curleys wife first appears, George is again careful to make sure Lennie doesnt make a mistake similar to the incident in Weed,Listen to me you crazy bastard, he said firmly, Dont you even take a look at that bitch. I dont care what she says or what she doesThe idea of a father-son relationship is continued during the passage where Curley is attacking Lennie, but Lennie will not fight back until George orders him to,Georgemake um let me alone, George.This shows us that Lennie waits for George to give him permission before hell do anything. When Candy finds Curleys wifes body, George makes it clear that he will not let anyone hurt LennieMaybe theyll lock im up an be nice to imThis shows the potentiality of their relationship, as George knows that Lennie has done something bad, and should be punished, but he still doesnt want anyone to harm him.Unfortunately, George was unable to save Lennie from hi mself, and so when Lennie accidentally kills Curleys wife, George has no other option, but to shoot Lennie, he has to take this option because if Lennie was put into prison, he would be alone, with no-one to look after him properly, and condemned to a life if terror and madness. Curley, on the other hand, wants Lennie to give out in pain and suffering.Shoot for his guts. Thatll double im overSlim, being the voice of authority in the novel, gives the final examination confirmation on the killing of Lennie,I guess we gotta get imIn my opinion, the novel was very good, the violate ending was very surprising and unexpected, but a closer look throughout the novel foreshows us what happens, such signs as what happened in Weed, the mice that Lennie kills, the need to pet soft things, all of this gives the reader clues to what happens at the end. In my opinion, the relationship between George and Lennie is less than a relationship between two equal adults, and more like father-son, as on e of the pair continually leads the other, while the other always follows