The Nature of Friendship and Sacrifice

Traces the theme that true friendship involves sacrifice, as demonstrated by George's decision to kill Lennie out of love and mercy.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Friendship as Responsibility

The Burden of Friendship George's Role George is responsible for Lennie. He feeds him, protects him, and guides him. The friendship is a burden, but George accepts it. He does not leave Lennie, even when he could. The Companionship Despite the burden, the friendship is also a source of companionship. George and Lennie have each other, which is more than the other men have. The friendship is a rare gift. The Cost of Friendship Friendship costs George. He loses his freedom, his money, and his peace of mind. But he gains a purpose. The novel explores the cost of friendship and the value of it.

Friendship as Sacrifice

The Ultimate Sacrifice The Decision to Kill George's decision to kill Lennie is the ultimate sacrifice. He gives up his own happiness to save Lennie from a worse fate. The sacrifice is an act of love. The Loss of the Friend After the killing, George is alone. He has sacrificed his friend for the sake of mercy. The friendship is lost, but the act of sacrifice defines it. The Meaning of Friendship The novel suggests that true friendship means being willing to bear the unbearable for the other. George's sacrifice is a model of profound friendship. The theme is that friendship is not just about companionship; it is about sacrifice.

The beginning of the novel

The end of the novel