George and Lennie, two best friends, who stand side by side in just about anything. Lennie is developed mentally challenged, his mind works slower. In this novel, Lennie isn't part of a home that helps him, he is still walking around, free and enjoying what life has to offer. This is very very diverse from the world today. If there is a mentally challenged person today, they are quickly being put in homes, and are looked at differently; in the book we see that Lennie still has the hardships of a regular person. The relationship that they have together is very unique. It can happen to almost anybody but its amazing how these 2 men have stuck by each other and they are so different, they are more like a father and son. George doesn't really know if he wants Lennie with him or not. This decision is not a matter of what he wants, its a matter of what he needs. Of course George wants Lennie to be there, but he doesn't necessarily need him there, he can prosper without him. It also depends on George, if he knows the meaning of love, and hate. These 2 words are not the same, but share some qualities. For instance, sometimes when you love a person so much you are willing to do just about anything for them, even though this person hurt you many times and you hate him/her. That is similar to George because he hates Lennie for "ruining" his life, for making him run away, and for crushing his dreams; but at the same time he loves him because he's a great friend, has an amazing personality and understands things even though it takes longer.

The relationship between Lennie and George is a love hate relationship. Georges always says how he doesn't want Lennie with him, and how his life would be much easier. George thinks that without Lennie he would be able to "eat any place I [he]want, hotel or anyplace, and order any damn thing i could think of". Since George is hinting out to Lennie that he doesn't want him there, Lennie just says that he would "find a cave". When Lennie tells that to George, he quickly responds, "No- look! I was jus' foolin' Lennie. 'Cause I want you to stay with me." George needs him there, maybe without Lennie George has nothing to protect, or anyone to talk to. We understand how George really feels about Lennie, cares about him with every ounce of his heart.

John Steinback, author of Of Mice and Men was born on February 27, 1902 in Salinas, Califorina. He was one of the best authors of the 20th centuries. John usually wrote about the "homeless and the hopeless". Since his mother was a teacher, he loved to read and write books. A Cup of Gold, and Of Mice and Men were his first book and he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962, and died on December 20,1968.