Casi KilanoMrs. ShehanePre AP EnglishApril 18, 2014Is George's love for Lennie sympathy or is it an unconscious effort to compensate for Lennie's mental weakness? Of Mice and Men, a classic short story by author John Steinbeck, gives several examples of how George, a clever little man, is put through various trials to test his love for Lennie. Lennie, a tall, childish migrant worker, who, due to his slight mental disability, relies entirely and wholeheartedly on his closest friend and traveling companion, George, for guidance and protection. Although George and Lennie are both excellent workers, they struggle to hold down jobs because of Lennie's childish mentality and obsession with petting things. George's love for Lennie is simply an unconscious effort to compensate for Lennie's mental weakness, but at the same time his feeling and kindness are out of sympathy. In the first chapter, it becomes apparent to the reader that Lennie does indeed suffer from a mild mental disability, but we do not yet know how serious it actually is. For example, when George asks Lennie what he has in his pocket, Lennie responds, “There’s nothing in my pocket” (Steinbeck 5) as if he’s smart. George knew there was something in Lennie's pocket, but Lennie still tried to act like there was nothing in there. This gives the reader a quick glimpse into the thought process of this complex character who is actually unassuming. George attempts to compensate for Lennie's mental illness whenever he speaks for him throughout the book. A good example of this is when George says to Lennie, "Now listen, I'm going to give him the work tickets, but you're not going to say a word." Stay there and don’t say anything” (6). George knows that... middle of paper ... talking about Lennie's murder and all these horrible acts of hatred against him, but George made a comment to try to help him. “I will come. But listen, Curley. This poor bastard is crazy. Don't shoot him. He didn’t know what he was doing” (98). This shows how much George feels for his friend Lennie. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is about the friendship between George Milton and Lennie Small, who travel together due to the fact that Lennie suffered from childhood mental illness and someone needed to take care of him. of him. Lennie only listens to his friend George, no matter what he says. This novel shows the characteristics of their true friendship and George's compassion towards his companion. George shows acts of love and kindness out of sympathy for Lennie, but he also seems to make an unconscious effort to compensate for Lennie's mental deficiency..