Lennie continously tries to defend himself by telling his aunt Clara that he "tried and tried" to prevent things from going bad, and ultimately tells her that he might as well just go live in a cave. Which aunt Clara responds to him that he will never do that.
Lennie lost the peice of velvet that his Aunt Clara gave him, now he wishes he had it.
Lennie repeatedly tells Aunt Clara that George never gets mad and he always takes care of Lennie. He insists that he is only a little bit like George and that he always tries to do what George tells him to do.
Aunt Clara's appearance in Lennie's mind serves as a reminder of his past and the guidance and care she provided him. She represents his conscience and his longing for companionship and guidance in his difficult journey. Aunt Clara's presence in his thoughts helps amplify his feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Shared misery and loneliness. Possibly even to have some kind of control of something in his poverty stricken life. It is one of the themes of the whole book. -- Lennie's Aunt told George right before she died to take care of Lennie. It was obligation for George.
curley's wife tells Lennie that "You are nuts , but you kinda nice fella".
George tells Lennie to fight back and defend himself if Curley hits him. George wants Lennie to stand up for himself and not allow others to take advantage of him.
Crooks tells George that Lennie is a nice fella because he recognizes Lennie's genuine kindness and innocence. Despite Lennie's mental disability and social awkwardness, he doesn't have any malice in him and treats others with kindness. Crooks appreciates Lennie's sincerity and straightforward nature.
He says that Lennie was kicked in the head by a horse and that he was George's cousin.
His second visitor tells Lennie about a land they can own and work on together, just like George and Lennie had dreamt of. This reminds Lennie of the conversation he had with Crooks where Crooks had pointed out that most guys have similar dreams of owning land, but they rarely come true.
because to lennie his jokes didnt have an end. like it was serious to him, he would do what george would tell him to do even if it able to kill him
George often looks out for Lennie, making decisions for them and ensuring his safety. He feels guilty when things go wrong and tries to protect Lennie from harm. George also takes on the role of caregiver, providing guidance and support for Lennie.
In the opening dialogue between George and Lennie in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," Lennie's forgetfulness, childlike nature, and dependence on George are hinted at through his repeated requests for George to tell him about their dream of owning a ranch. George's protective and authoritative tone towards Lennie also suggests a dynamic where George takes on a caretaking role for Lennie.