Reflection on George, with bits of Lennie!

George: As portrayed in
the film 

So, some may ask; what is Georges role/function in the text. How is Georges character portrayed? Good, bad, powerful, weak. What do we know about his background history? Lets get started!!

First mentioning

"Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders." - Continuing onto Georges first description; "The first man" I think this is a very unusual way to bring a character into a book, especially after describing him/or rather them, and not mentioning his name. Almost as if Georges identity is unknown. Furthermore - "" The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin bony nose." - Continuing - "Behind him walked his opposite"... And then the description about Lennie comes fourth.

Not revealing!

Even after the dominant features of George are described, and the same with Lennie, the two characters are still not fully known to the reader, and although they may have a visual image of the character, George, he is still quite not known without a name. The way in which George is described, I automatically switched and thought he was some sort of worker, partly because of the descriptions; "Strong hands", and "dark of face" although this could mean he is either tanned or not washed in a while so his face is covered in dirt. (Presumably from working). I think that without a name being introduced, he is almost like a silhouette, not revealing his true identity, even throughout the book, his character is pretty un-precise and unclear.

I find it interesting of how Lennie introduces Georges name into the book and George the same with Lennie, introducing each other. The first impression between George in comparison to Lennie, He is a lot more of a civilized character: an example of this is; "George knelt beside the pool and drank from his hand with quick scoops" whereas Lennie; "Lennie dipped his whole head under under, hat and all, and then he sat up on the bank and his hat dripped down on his blue coat and ran down his back".

Although George is portrayed to the reader with extra emphasis almost, repeated twice, "small", (and also it is quite ironic that Lennies surname is small when he is quite the opposite of that)! Georges height doesn't quite fit his character and same with Lennie; Lennie is described as quite the opposite of George; "... a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws". Lennie is described as a bear, which could describe his act of nature to be animal like, although when he first speaks, his character is let down by his 'simple mindedness', "Look George. Look what I done".
                                                                    





Relating back to George however, later on in the novel between the fight with Lennie and Curley (the boss' son), His character is portrayed very differently, and almost changes. Almost like in a bully gang and he is the bystander, the watcher, the one who shouts 'Fight, Fight, Fight'! Goading and jeering, however instead, George shouts "Get him Lennie" But then shortly after "stop it Lennie": These two quotes from George almost contract  and are contrast with each other; within a way. I also think that George gives Lennie some form of independence for Lennie to make his own actions and decisions instead of looking to George. George is the wooden stick that Lennie leans on for support whenever he needs something to say or whenever he gets stuck or unsure; he knows that George will be there and support but in this certain instance, George isn't there. George gave Lennie the wrong moment to make his own decision because he panics and doesn't realize his own strength. It is also at this moment in time when the other characters in the room, Slim, Carlson, Candy, and even George; (Definitely Curley) Find out of what Lennie is capable of doing and how strong he really is. Like George describes him; "Oh he ain't smart" and directly to his face "You crazy bastard". Lennie seems totally unaffected by this, almost as if he knows himself.

The reader seems to know more about of how George knows more about Lennies past than his himself. (If that makes any sense). With Lennies Aunt Clara, the reader knows that George says in the novel, that he will take care of Lennie and won't let him go off by himself. I like to think of it like this 'Aunt Clara' left Lennie in a 'Will like state' as if Lennie is an object, in a way and is owned or has to be owned; in this case his owner is George. Maybe George is the only one who would be, Caring, kind, has a soft spot, to care for this particular character. Also the fact that Lennie is compared to bear in several references; ".. and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws..." And later on described; "...Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water..." these suggest that Lennie is bear like, clumsy, perhaps can turn wild and they are totally unaware of their strength. Likewise; animals are owned by humans, and just another suggestion that Lennie is owned and maybe not tamed, as of what occurred between Lennie and Curley, where Curley was; attacked by an animal, You could almost say? 

If then comparing Lennies inside and true personal nature, the clue is a little in the title; 'Of Mice and Men'. I think, just by quick glace judgement, Lennie is definitely bear like, wild when angry. However his personal inside nature is like the Mouse. Bang on the cover, Lennies nature is in the title, and when flicking the pages if you get the wrong side of his character, Lennie can Snap, just like the book can Snap shut!