Do you feel as if it is your duty to take care of or to watch over somebody that you care about? If so, George Milton feels the same way. In the novella Of Mice and Men George travels around with his companion, Lennie Small. Lennies last name is quite ironic because he is an enormous and very strong man. However, Lennies strong build compensates for his lack of intelligence. Lennie is mentally disabled and George feels the need to take care of him because of his disability. Likewise, George relies on Lennie for company. The question is why would George take on the responsibility for another person.
Due to Lennies disability, George has assumed the role of a protective older brother. Lennie forgets and loses many things and George is there to help alleviate the situation. For example, when George buys the work passes for Lennie and himself, he keeps both of them because he knows that Lennie will misplace or forget his pass. Besides forgetfulness, Lennies condition lands him in trouble and when that happens, George is always there to help him. For example, when Lennie breaks Curlys fist, George and Slim make sure that Curly tells the farms boss that he caught his hand in a machine and not say that Lennie broke it. Another example is when Lennie sees a lady walking down the street in a vibrant red dress. Being attracted to it, he touches it and the lady panics. In the process the dress rips and she screams to help. When other men come to the ladys rescue, George leads Lennie into a creek and they both hide until the angry riders no longer look for them. Finally, the ultimate act of protection is when George shoots Lennie to save him from the possibility of being tortured or brutally murdered.
Not only does Lennie count on George, but George is just as dependent on Lennie. For starters, it seems as though George relies on the company of Lennie, which Lennie provides with great enjoyment. Even though George constantly says that he would be better off without him, George hates to be alone and wants to settle down and be with a friend: a friend like Lennie. The fact that George never abandons Lennie shows that George needs Lennies company. Without Lennie, George would probably be alone and without a purpose and someone to protect. George and Lennie are unmistakably codependent because each others flaws are each others strengths. For instance, George is smart and sly, whereas Lennie is gullible and witless. On the other hand, Lennie has incredible strength and is very muscular, and while George is in shape, he is not nearly as strong as Lennie. When Lennie gets into trouble because of his enormous strength, George is there to use his brains to diffuse the situation. Just as real brothers can be different, but still get along despite their differences, so do George and Lennie fill a need in the other and act as blood relatives.
Clearly, George and Lennie are not real siblings; however, George behaves as Lennies brother because he is a compassionate person who does not want Lennie to be mistreated. He is also a man of his words and one who has integrity. Before she dies, Lennies Aunt Clara makes George promise to take care of him. In keeping his oath to protect Lennie, George shows honor by ensuring that Lennie stays with him even after they are both fired from their first job in Weed. What drives George to act as Lennies brother is a basic human characteristic to help those who cant fend for themselves. George makes sacrifices for Lennie just as a person might for a complete stranger just to save them from harm.
In conclusion, Lennie is heavily dependent on George because of his mental disability. On the other hand George relies on Lennie because he doesnt want to feel or be alone, making them co-dependent. Though not blood relatives, George feels the need to act as Lennies older brother because of his human characteristic of wanting to help those who cant help themselves. Now that you have understood George and Lennies relationship, do you believe that it is your duty to take care of or watch over somebody that you care about? Are you your brothers keeper?
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