How is George important in 'Of Mice and Men'?

Answer 1

Animals are significant in the story both through symbolism and reflecting characters' personalities. Candy's old dog represents migrant farm workers when they get older in that they become tired and are gotten rid of. The puppy and mice Lennie gets and accidentally kills show the strength he cannot control and his compassion for soft things. The rabbits that Lennie hopes to have and care for give George control over Lennie by threatening him with not allowing him to tend the rabbits if he does not behave.

Animals are significant in the story both through symbolism and reflecting characters' personalities.

For example 'long gulps, snorting into water like a horse'. This shows how Steinbeck portrays Lennie because off how he behaves and the structure off his body is built up showing us that he`s strong like a horse or bear? 'Dragging his feet a little, way a bear drags his paws'

Carlson insists on shooting the dog because he claims it is too old and ill to be of any use. Candy is devastated. He has a very old dog, which he has had from a pup. It is his only friend and companion. Candy's dog parallels Candy's dilemma. Though the pet was once a great sheepherder, it was put out to pasture once it stopped being productive.

Candy realizes that his fate is to be put on the roadside as soon as he's no longer useful; on the ranch, he won't be treated any differently than his dog. Worse than the dog parallel, though, is that Candy (unlike his dog) is emotionally broken by this whole affair. He can't bring himself to shoot his pet himself, and we suspect this is going to be the same fear and reticence that keep him from making anything more of his life. Candy can't stand up for his pet because Candy can't stand up for him.

The puppy and mice Lennie gets and accidentally kills show the strength he cannot control and his compassion for soft things.

The rabbits that Lennie hopes to have and care for give George control over Lennie by threatening him with not allowing him to tend the rabbits if he does not behave.

"Tonight I'm going to lay right here and look up. I like it." This seems to relax Lenny, within this space he is more animal-like "snorting into the water like a horse." Lenny is content within nature. This could show that Lenny, like the wilderness, is not man-made, not molded by society.

The ending was indeed shocking but it shows the strength of George's love for Lenny. It was the most amazing act of kindness he could bestow upon his friend. Our world does not take well to difference. Lenny was different, childish even. The way he was stereotyped made him another victim of our society.

Steinbeck created a world; a world of dreams and hope. Lenny carries these qualities. With the destruction of his character came the destruction of these childish fantasies.

Steinbeck uses the immense power of the written word to show the struggle of immigrant workers, he knew as a child during the American depression.

George and Lennie share a dream - to own a little patch of land and live on it in freedom. Lennie's main desire is to tend the soft-haired rabbits they will keep. He is so set on the idea that he even knows of some land that he thinks they could buy.

Answer 2

Dreams are SO important

the point of the novel is that nobody's dream will come true

the major theme of the novel is THE AMERICAN DREAM

the point is that regardless of their plans:

(george and Lennie want a farm

curley's wife wants to be an actress

etc. )

they will fail

Answer 3

The barn symbolises a coffin, the puppys innocent and the dad puppy obviously death. The beam of light as a passage to heaven for the temptation in the read dress (Curleys wife). I think that the barn is important as steinbeck has a hidden message in it. It is also where the death of Curleys wife is which changes the whole plot of the novel.

Only a GCSE student but hoped I helped.

Answer 4

How is interpretation different than paraphrase?

If saying what the text means, in other words, is not paraphrase, what then are we doing? What can the interpretive critic do to go beyond paraphrasing, and in a way reducing the test to a specific meaning or set of meanings in less beautiful words?

Answer 5

Steinbeck uses animal imagery to incoperate how lennie small and george milton are just like candy and his old sheepdog, because lennie and george have always been with each other, just like candy and his dog. The old dog represents the way 1930's america was, however slims new dog lulu and her pups symbolise the new life and the future.

Answer 6

George is important in 'Of Mice and Men' as he serves as a father figure and protector to his friend Lennie. He embodies the themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the American Dream. George also grapples with the moral dilemma of how best to care for Lennie while also pursuing his own hopes and dreams.

Answer 7

Well, considering he's one of the book's main characters.........

He's Lennie's best friend.

Answer 8

The giant rabbit is Lennie's ideal pet: soft to touch, yet impossible to kill.