3.1.1
George
The Reality and Dreams of Being a Farmer
The Reality and Dreams of Being a Farmer
George represents the itinerant farm worker (someone who travels from place to place looking for work). He dreams to have his own farm.
Itinerancy
Itinerancy
- George has to travel to look for work.
- Because of the economic hardship caused by the Great Depression in 1930s America, these people had little control over their lives.
George's dream
George's dream
- George’s main source of hope comes from his dream of owning his own piece of land and becoming self-sufficient, or living “off the fatta the lan’”, as George and Lennie say throughout the novel. This would have been the dream of many thousands of other similar workers, as Crooks observes: “Ever’ body wants a little piece of lan’”. (Crooks, Section 4).
An unrealistic dream?
An unrealistic dream?
- It is questionable whether there was ever any chance that George could fulfill this dream but, with the death of Curley’s wife and the inevitable consequences for Lennie, George is forced to accept that any hope of the dream becoming a reality is dead: “I think I knowed we’d never do her.” (George, Section 5).
Resourceful
Resourceful
- George shows his resourcefulness and relative intelligence from the very beginning when he is able to arrange work for himself and Lennie, even looking after Lennie’s work permit so that he can’t lose it: “I got both of 'em here. Think I'd let you carry your own work card?” (George, Section 1).
George's destiny to remain itinerant
George's destiny to remain itinerant
- Ultimately, however, the events of the story prove that intelligence alone is not enough, and George is doomed to “work my month an' I'll take my fifty bucks an' I'll stay all night in some lousy cat house” (George, Section 5), just like all of the other lonely ranch workers.
George's Loneliness and Compassion
George's Loneliness and Compassion
George is aware that he needs Lennie as he is afraid of loneliness. His affection for Lennie is seen throughout the novel, and his compassion is seen in his decision to shoot Lennie himself.
Afraid of being alone
Afraid of being alone
- George values his companionship with Lennie because he understands the effects that loneliness can have on people: “I seen the guys that go around the ranches on their own. That ain’t no good. They don’t have no fun. After a long time they get mean.” (George, Section 3).
Needing Lennie
Needing Lennie
- George confides in Slim that he “ain’t got no people” (George, Section 3), meaning that he has no family or friends apart from Lennie.
- It could therefore be said that George might need Lennie almost as much as Lennie needs George. As Lennie says, “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you.” (Lennie, Section 1).
Compassion for Lennie
Compassion for Lennie
- George has developed a strong sense of duty when it comes to looking after Lennie, but he is modest and does not always acknowledge how devoted he his: “he’s a god damn nuisance most of the time” (George, Section 3), but he says he has gotten “used to goin' around with a guy.” (George, Section 3).
Kindness to Lennie
Kindness to Lennie
- George understands that his responsibility to Lennie extends to killing him in order to spare him a brutal death at the hands of Curley and his men, or a lifetime in jail: “But listen, Curley. The poor bastard's nuts. Don't shoot 'im. He di'n't know what he was doin'.” (George, Section 6).
- George’s decision to kill Lennie can ultimately be seen as an act of compassion, and Slim recognises this at the end when he says, “you hadda, George, I swear you hadda.” (Slim, Section 6).
George as a good judge of character
George as a good judge of character
- George immediately identifies Curley as a troublemaker and warns Lennie to be careful around him: “You try to keep away from him, will you? Don't never speak to him.” (George, Section 2).
- George shows that he has a strong sense of justice when he refuses to allow Curley to beat Lennie up for no good reason: “Get ‘im, Lennie” (George, Section 3)
George's Flaws
George's Flaws
Whilst George deeply cares for Lennie, he did not always do so. Furthermore he occasionally chooses to neglect Lennie during the novel.
George's history of being mean to Lennie
George's history of being mean to Lennie
- It is important to remember that George is not simply a father-figure for Lennie who has always acted as a responsible - guardian.
- George hints to Slim that he was not always kind and caring to Lennie when he says, “I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with 'im. Used to play jokes on 'im 'cause he was too dumb to take care of 'imself.” (George, Section 3).
George's sacrifice for looking after Lennie
George's sacrifice for looking after Lennie
- Lennie’s guardian, suggesting he sometimes regrets their partnership: “If I was alone, I could live so easy.” (George, Section 1).
Neglecting Lennie
Neglecting Lennie
- Sometimes, George does try to fit in with the other ranch workers, neglecting his duty of care for Lennie.
- For example, on the night that Lennie speaks with Crooks in his barn, George has gone into town with the other men on a night out, leaving Lennie behind.
1Context & Overview
1.1Context & Overview
2Plot
2.1Section 1 - Analysis
2.2Section 2 - Analysis
2.3Section 3 - Analysis
2.4Section 4 - Analysis
2.5Section 5 - Analysis
2.6Section 6 - Analysis
3Key Characters
3.1Main Characters
3.2Minor Characters
4Themes
5Authorial Method
Jump to other topics
1Context & Overview
1.1Context & Overview
2Plot
2.1Section 1 - Analysis
2.2Section 2 - Analysis
2.3Section 3 - Analysis
2.4Section 4 - Analysis
2.5Section 5 - Analysis
2.6Section 6 - Analysis
3Key Characters
3.1Main Characters
3.2Minor Characters
4Themes
5Authorial Method
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