Of Mice and Men

Dusk falls at the bunkhouse. After a hard Friday afternoon’s work, George thanks Slim for giving Lennie one of his dog’s puppies. Slim compliments Lennie’s strength and work ethic: “There ain’t nobody can keep up with him” (44). Slim comments on George and Lennie’s relationship, which at first makes George defensive, but soon George confides in Slim. He explains their history, beginning with George’s friendship with Lennie’s Aunt Clara, who raised Lennie since infancy, and the fun he had with Lennie when they were young. George used to beat up Lennie just because he could, until one day when George casually instructed Lennie to jump in a river. Lennie jumped in even though he couldn’t swim. George continues: “An’ he was so damn nice to me for pullin’ him out” (45). Since then, George has appreciated that Lennie’s friendship has kept him from “wantin’ to fight all the time,” like “the guys that go around on the ranches alone” (46). George confesses to Slim the real reason George and Lennie left their last job in Weed, explaining that Lennie, in his enthusiasm for soft things, saw a girl in a red dress and “reache[d] out to feel this red dress an’ the girl [let] out a squawk” (47).