Steinbeck uses language to reflect that despite that George has a companion, he is still lonely. George “laid out his solitaire hand”, the fact that solitaire is a one man game could reflect how George feels that he is by himself even though he is with Lennie because Lennie is evidently George’s intellectual superior. Alternatively, it could convey that George has “laid out his solitaire hand” and even though it is a one-man game he is playing for the both of them. This could be metaphorical for how George is looking after them both even though generally ranch workers go it alone. Furthermore, if George has “laid” down his solitaire cards it could also reflect how George is putting all the cards down and putting all his efforts into making sure that he and Lennie are successful and continue to survive this hostile environment. Moreover, the noun “hand” could be representative of how George is always supporting and is always there for Lennie so George evidently loves and cares for Lennie. This makes the reader feel admiration for George because we can understand that he is a kind and sympathetic character. Steinbeck may have presented George this way to emphasise the loneliness of the life of a ranch worker – as it appears such a relationship was very strange. By using Lennie and George Steinbeck creates a powerful contrast between the realities of the life of ranch workers to such a friendly relationship.
At the beginning of the passage, Lennie picks up a card and “turned upside down and studied it”. This could metaphorically suggest that George is the card and Lennie has taken George’s life and has completely “turned [it] upside down”, as George may have been able to have a different life without Lennie. Alternatively, “turned upside down” could also be foreshadowing how further events will turn George’s and Lennie’s plans “upside down”. The verb “studied” is interesting as it could draw the readers attention to what it is that Lennie is actually studying and actually make the reader study and ponder the relationship between George and Lennie. Furthermore, it may even appear to the reader slightly ironic that Lennie had “studied” the card, as he is not conveyed to the reader as particularly intellectual. Steinbeck may be trying to show here that life is versatile and could change or be “turned upside down” at any moment and that perhaps the life of ranch workers was even more so.
Part (b): How does Steinbeck use their relationship in the novel as a whole to convey ideas about America in the 1930s?
At the beginning of the novella, Steinbeck describes “an ash-pile made by many fires”. This could reflect the theme of the American dream, as it suggests that many people have tried to make “fires” but their fires kept getting burned out and their dream turned into “ash”. During the 1930s, the American Dream was strived to be procured by many. George and Lennie seem determined and willing to test the strength of their relationship by attempting to achieve the American Dream. Alternatively, it could reflect how there is a vicious circle and fires are started then burn out then started again, this could reflect how ranch workers are trapped in their lives and will be unable to escape from them to the American Dream and it will forever stay a dream. It could also foreshadow how George and Lennie will not be successful and the failure will also cost them their relationship. The noun “fires” is significant as the discovery of fire was a moment of great progress, however here it could mean the contrary. It could imply that the 1930s was a time of regress because of the great depression. This conveys to the reader that the 1930s was not only a difficult period for ranch workers, but everyone else also. Furthermore, “fires” are generally seen as one of the most powerful element, this could reflect the strength of Lennie and George’s relationship and like a fire they will keep burning. Steinbeck may have presented the 1930s with such a sense of despair to evoke the reader’s sympathy for the George and Lennie, as we can understand that it will be impossible for them to escape a time of great depression, no matter how strong they are together.
In the beginning of the novella, Steinbeck describes sycamore “branches that arch over the pool”. This could be reflective of Lennie and George’s relationship as the sycamores may be symbolism for Lennie and George. The branches “arch” over the pool, which could convey how George is always trying to help Lennie no matter what the consequences are for him. This makes the reader perceive George as a selfless and loving character. The reader may picture the image in their mind and feel that the trees are arching over the pool to one another, almost defying the laws of nature by stretching to reach one another. This could reflect how Lennie and George’s relationship seems to defy the unspoken laws of ranch workers as they are often alone and do not have such companions. The word “pool” is significant as it could reflect how the future for Lennie and George is uncertain but nevertheless, they choose to stay together and are prepared to tackle anything that life will throw at them. Alternatively, “pool” could reflect how a forth-coming future event will put an obstacle between them that will forever end their relationship. Steinbeck may have symbolised George’s and Lennie’s relationship as the sycamore trees to try and convey that despite the time of great depression in America, there were happy and positive commodities, such as Lennie and George’s relationship and even perhaps that relationships such as Lennie and George’s are significant in a time of great depression to keep one another going in life.
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