Please take a moment to complete this survey below
Library's collection Library's IT development CancelIn Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck fully
gives his attention to the commoners, the life of
the dispossessed migrant workers, realistically.
This study is heavily concentrated on the
friendship of the two main migrant workers, George
Milton and Lennie Small. Their friendship is
special as they have very contrasting character
traits. Lennie Small has a giant physics but he is
a mentally retarded person. On the other hand,
George Milton is a little wiry man whose logical
thought always comes first when dealing with
problems. 0ne question directly strikes the mind
is how these two persons can maintain their
friendship harmoniously. The thesis writer finds
out that Atkinson and Morgan state five factors in
psychological theory which may explain this
phenomenon. To analyze the work, the writer uses
characterization as his literary tool to define
their character traits and utilizes the
psychological theory of friendship from Atkinson
and Morgan which may greatly influence the forming
and maintaining of George and Lennie’s friendship.
Through this analysis the thesis writer finds out
that the factor of physical closeness is essential
as George and Lennie have lived in the same
neighborhood since they were children. They have
always been together, so they are close to each
other. Moreover, the sense of familiarity is seen
when George gets familiar to Lennie and the other
way around. Then, the thesis writer also finds
attitude similarity between them in the way they
hold the same opinions or way of thinkings upon
certain problems. In addition, physical
attractiveness of George to Lennie is obvious
since Lennie is undoubtedly a physically
attractive person for George, who is seeking a
protection. At last, social exchange can be viewed
in their dream as something they exchange socially
in their life. They are the five factors that make
them able to maintain their relationship. The
friendship they have is something normal and
understandable thing to do between them, because
they can even complete each other.