Of Mice and Men Theme of Friendship

In this novella, friendship isn’t discussed heavily. George and Lennie don’t talk about how they feel about each other or why they should stay loyal – they just stand by each other, and that’s that. It’s a very gruff, rough and tumble atmosphere, and though feelings aren’t talked about, you get the sense that the men take nothing more seriously than their friendship. For George and Lennie, as they make their way through the Depression, all they have is each other.

1. Friendship generally seems like a good thing, but the ranch life is naturally a solitary one. Are there some circumstances under which it’s simply better to be alone? Does George have to learn this lesson the hard way?
2. Is the friendship between George and Lennie fully reciprocal? Do both members contribute and receive equally from each other?
3. Are there any other sets of friends in the book? Why is friendship so rare?
4. It seems like everyone, from Crooks to Slim, spends an awful lot of time complaining to his friends about how he has no friends. Are these guys really that lonely, or do they simply not recognize they’ve all got one other? Do they all have one other?
5. George says quite a bit about how much better his life would be if he didn’t have to take care of Lennie. If this is true, why does he stay with Lennie?

Friendship is a negative relationship in the novella; every time any character gets close to any other, something goes wrong.

If George had really been Lennie’s friend, he could not have killed him. Lennie understood their friendship unconditionally, but George viewed it practically.