Zusammenfassung der Ressource
OM&M: George
- APPEARENCE
- Small, short, quick, "dark of
face" with restless eyes.
- His eyes show intelligence and nervous awareness of what is
going on around him. Also show he is reluctant to trust anyone.
- "sharp and strong" "slender" arms and his nose is thin and bony.
- His defined face is contrasted with Lennie's
which is described as "shapeless" This highlights
the different levels of intelligence between
them.
- The two are similar in the way they dress, both wearing shapeless hats, denim trousers and coats.
Their poor dress links them together and highlights low position in society.
- PERSONALITY
- HERO
- He has courage.
- He is not prepared to be intimidated by Curley upon their
first meeting. Where as Lennie, who is physically more
intimidating and stronger, "twists with embarrassment"
- George stands "tense and motionless" refusing Curley to get the better of him.
- He is brave.
- He risks his own future at the ranch by encouraging
Lennie to defend himself against Curley.
- Final act of bravery when he decides on Lennie's fate by carrying
out the act of killing him to spare Lennie from a long painful death
at the hands of Curley.
- SENSITIVE
- He tries to distract Carlson from killing Candy's dog by changing the
subject "I seen a guy in Weed that had a Airedale could heard sheep"
- Also shown by his inability to accept compliments, when Slim praises him "smart
little guy" he comments that he is not intelligent because he's still "bucking barley
for my fifty and found" This also suggest he has low self esteem.
- His sensitivity makes the impossibility of the dream even more sad.
George seems deserving but the economic pressures of the time makes
work hard to find and he has the burden of Lennie.
- LONELINESS/RELATIONSHIP
WITH LENNIE
- George is SELFLESS for agreeing to look after Lennie who could be said to
secure them jobs but is quickly the reason they lose them too.
- They have a father-son-style relationship and George is
shown to be LOYAL to Lennie where others wouldn't be.
- George benefits from this as Lennie's childlike devotion stops him from
being alone like most people at this time. Lennie's friendly presence
improves George's self esteem as it sets his apart from the other men.
- George sets himself apart b/c he considers himself different to men
that "ain't got nothing to look ahead to" b/c in Lennie he has someone
who "gives a damn" about him.
- The fact he has a companion adds a sense of importance b/c the only
other man with a human companion is Curley who is of a higher class.
- George has a need for companionship but
can be sharp-tongued with Lennie and admits
that he "beat the hell outta' him"
- This is out of frustration as Lennie is unable to stay out of trouble or
remember much. George used to take advantage of Lennie's devotion
but hasn't since he almost drowned when George told him to jump in
Sacramento river, knowing he couldn't remember he couldn't swim.
- George puts Lennie first. This is shown during Lennie's hallucinations when
he says "if George had a piece of pie he would give you half or more than half"
- This is also shown when George kills Lennie. He does this to save him a long, painful death even though it
means putting an end to his dreams and future, he also loses a sense of importance and companionship.