WHAT DOES STEINBECK WANT HIS READERS TO LEARN ABOUT HUMAN NATURE FROM STUDYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GEORGE AND LENNIE?

In the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ Steinbeck repeatedly explores the theme of loneliness which plagued many people during the hardship of 1930s America. George and Lennie shed a great amount of light onto the intricacies of human nature through the complex relationship they share and Steinbeck uses this to convey to the reader the importance of friendship, loyalty and trust.
George and Lennie are designed by Steinbeck to function as two halves of the same person, they are both complementary and contrasting but when combined form an individual greater than either could be alone. The two men are direct opposites of one another; George is slight and ‘defined’ with ‘restless eyes’ which glow with intelligence and focus whilst Lennie is ‘shapeless’ and his ‘pale eyes’ are filled with a lethargic apathy. Steinbeck forms this unlikely pair to convey to the reader the fact that no one person is ever fully complete, George relies on the physical might of Lennie for protection whilst he guides the larger man with his wily intellect. It is the disparity between the two men which provides the basis for dynamic bond they possess.
The two men remain firm friends despite their differences in character and the resulting friction which often leads to the pair being at odds with one another. Lennie’s limited mental capacity is a source of much frustration for George as can been seen when he attempts to remove the dead mouse from his possession and shouts ‘give it here!’ at his friend. Equally Lennie becomes irritated by the many orders he receives from George which, although he does not understand, are for his benefit. He is enraged by the thought of George not allowing him to tend the rabbits and ‘his anger suddenly rose’ when he looked at the dead puppy he