George
‘Of Mice and Men’
Behaviour
George’s behaviour is very different to everyone else on the ranch because he isn’t selfish and cares about
other people for example “I know there ain’t. You got it in your hand. What you got in your hand – hidin’ it?” This
is a quote from chapter one where George is trying to get the dead mouse off of Lennie. This shows he cares
because he doesn’t want Lennie to be petting dead animals. This also shows that he is a nice guy and kind.
Although George is kind and he cares he can also be short tempered when talking to Lennie “So you forgot
that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you’re a crazy bastard!” This shows that George is
getting angry with Lennie. George only gets angry with Lennie and never to anyone else. This also shows that
Lennie is a bit simple and it is easy to get short tempered with him.
George is also bossy over Lennie because he hasn’t got much sense and someone needs to look out for him
so he doesn’t get in trouble. “Courses you did. Well, look. Lennie – if you jus’ happen to get trouble like you
always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush” George is telling Lennie not to get in
trouble but he knows something probably will happen so he prepares in advance. This shows that he is cleaver and
organised because he prepares for what is going to happen.
George is like a father to Lennie because he always looks out for him and tells him what to do. “O.K. Now
when we go in to see boss, what you gunna do?” This is in the first chapter when George tells Lennie not to say
anything when they first get on the ranch. This shows that George really worries about getting money and food it
also shows that he cares for Lennie and doesn’t want anything bad to happen to him.
Key things George says
“With us we ain’t like that. We have a future together……” This is when George is talking about the dream
with Lennie. This is a key quote in the book because it is said over and over all through the book. It is always
George that is talking about the dream to Lennie or he tells Candy once and they say that he can live with them
because he has money and if he chips in then they can get their dream quicker. Lennie also tells Crooks briefly
about the dream in chapter four.
“Get him, Lennie. Don’t let him do it” This is a key quote because it shows that George is like a father to
Lennie and that he really cares about him so he doesn’t want him to get hurt or to get chucked off the farm.
“Sure, right now. I gotta. We gotta.” This is a key quote because its one of the most important parts in the
book and it shows what life is really like in those and that people can actually kill someone that they are so close to.
George’s purpose in the book
George’s purpose in the book is to guide Lennie and act like his father to him. “I know there ain’t. You got
it in your hand. What you got in your hand – hidin’ it?” this is George trying to get the dead mouse off of Lennie
because he cares about him and does want him to be petting a dead mouse. This also shows that George is cleaver
because he knows that it is not good for him to be petting dead animals.
The significance of their name
The name George means a lot in this book because it is the name of great men like George Washington and
King George 3rd. These two men where great leaders and honoured their countries. George shows great leadership
throw the book and he looks after Lennie how George Washington and King George 3rd would have looked after
their countries. At the end of the book George lets Lennie die honourably by not letting him be killed by Curley.
Appearance
George, wore a denim jacket and denim trousers to match, he also wore a black shapeless hat and carried a
tight blanket roll on his back. George was small and quick, much like his personality. He could walk around
without people noticing him and he is also a very quick thinker. George has a dark face, with restless eyes and
sharp strong futures. Every part of George’s body is defined as small, plus he has strong hands, slender arms, and a
thin bony nose.
Key things other people say about them
In chapter 3 slim says to George “….its jus’ seems kinda funny a cuckoo like him and a smart little guy
like you travelin’ together” this shows that George is one of a kind.
In chapter 4 crooks says to Lennie, “s’pose George don’t come back no more, s’pose he took a powder and just aint
coming back no more what’ll you do then ?” lennie gets worried and panics “he wont do it ! George wouldn’t do
nothing like that. I been with George along time. He’ll come back tonight” this shows that George is responsible
and reliable and that Lennie depends and relies on George to protect and look after him.
George’s dream
George and Lennie have the same dream to “live of the fatta the land”, and to own their own ranch, to have
their own vegetable patch and to own their own animals, and live in a place where no one can tell them what to do,
and they want to be their own boss “someday were gonna get the jack together and were gonna have a little place
and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs and well have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens
and when it rains well say the hell with going to work and well build up a fire in the stove and set around it an
listen to the rain coming down on the roof nuts!”
How does Steinbeck portray George?
Steinbeck portrays George as a quick and fast thinking character he is also shown as intelligent and wise.
In chapter 3 Slim says to George “….its jus’ seems kinda funny a cuckoo like him and a smart little guy like you
travelin’ together” this shows that Steinbeck made his charter one of a kind and unique compared to all the other
charters.
Key events that George is involved in
George is involved in the fight between Curly and Lennie as he tells Lennie to protect himself when Curly
attacks him.” George was on his feet yelling “get him, Lennie. Don’t let him do it!” George yelled “get ‘im Lennie.
George then tells Lennie as he’s crushing Curley’s hand “leggo of him Lennie let go!” Page 63.
George is also involved in the shooting of Lennie in chapter 6 page 105.2 George raised the gun and steadied it and
he brought the muzze of it close to the back of Lennie’s head the hand shock violently but his face set and his
hand steadied he pulled the trigger Lennie jarred and then settled slowly forward.