What is friendship? Friendship is having someone who you care for and have fun with. A friend will always help you both physically and mentally. The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck exhibits many forms of friendship. Lennie, George, Candy, and Slim show the most friendship in this novel, benefit from each other's companionship and help each other in the harder times of their life.

George's friendship is probably the most prevalent in the novel, directed at most of the characters on the ranch and mostly at Lennie. George always helps Lennie out in all situations, in health, safety, and mental stability. For example, when George and Lennie were walking to the ranch, Lennie stops at a dirty pond and drinks the water. “Lennie!” He said sharply. “Lennie, for gods sakes don’t drink so much”…”Lennie you gonna be sick like you was last night(3).” This quote shows that George cares for the well being of Lennie and doesn’t want Lennie to get sick and maybe become bedridden and die. He wants Lennie to be his friend and does not want to lose him. George told Slim about an incident where he almost lost Lennie because of his stubbornness, and was very regretful. He was in the bunk and was telling Slim about how he used to play tricks on George. “I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with ‘im. Used to play jokes on ‘im ‘cause he was too dumb to know.”…”Tell you what made me stop that. One day a bunch of guys was standin’ around up on the Sacremento River. I Was feelin’ pretty smart. I turns to Lennie and says ‘Jump in.’ An’ he jumps. Couldn’t swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get to him. An’ he was so damn nice to me for pullin’ him out. Clean forgot I told him to jump in. Well, I ain’t done nothing like that no more (44)”. This incident made George more aware that he was more in control of Lennie then Lennie was of himself. He doesn’t do anything like that to Lennie anymore because he’s afraid that the next time Lennie will get hurt not only physically, but mentally as well. George always tries to make Lennie happy because he doesn’t want Lennie to leave him. For instance, George promised earlier that he would give Lennie a puppy. When they overheard Slim talking about his dog that just gave birth, George leaped at the chance telling Lennie “Yeah! I heard him Lennie. I’ll ask him (40).” Because earlier he took Lennie’s dead mouse away, he kept his promise to get him a puppy so Lennie would forgive him. George’s friendship towards Lennie is unbreakable even in the hardest of times.

Lennie’s friendship towards others is mostly because of the fact that he doesn’t know any better. Lennie always persists to make friends with everyone he meets, regardless of their stature. A perfect example is when he was finished playing with his puppy in the barn sees Crooks’ room and wants to go in to rest and when he sees Crooks in the room, he immediately tries and become friends with him. After a brief argument, Crooks says “Come on in and set a while, long as you don’t leave me alone, you might as well set down (76)” because deep down Crooks really did want a friend or at least someone to talk to since he wasn’t allowed in the bunk with the other men because he was black. Lennie, like George, also doesn’t want to risk losing a friend over something that’s stupid. When Lennie wanted some ketchup and he saw that he made George angry by keep asking for what they don’t have, he immediately apologized and said “I wouldn’t eat no ketchup, George. I’d leave it all for you. You could cover your beans with it and I wouldn’t touch none of it (13).” Lennie offered George ketchup to try and cheer him up and not be angry at him anymore. Lennie always likes to hear about his special bond with George, so he always prompts George to talk about the way they aren’t like other guys. George always says to him “other guys get in jail and they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. Bout not us.” Lennie breaks in. “But not us! An’ why? Because you got me to look after you and I got you to look after me, and that’s why (15).” Lennie likes to hear this to be reassured of his special friendship with George. Lennie’s friendships is very valuable because he always cheers up anyone who needs it.

Slim and Candy are also very helpful in situations that require a friend to talk to and consol with. After Lennie killed Curley’s wife, and Candy and George found her body, Candy wants to help Lennie and tells George “We oughtta let’ im get away . You don’t know that Curley. Curley gonna wanta get ‘im lynched. Curley‘ll get ‘im killed (103).” Candy knew that if Curley found Lennie, he’ll kill him painfully and he doesn’t want that kind of cruelty to his friend. Slim is a guy who listens and talks reassuringly that everything is always alright. A perfect example would be after George shot Lennie, Slim tells him “never you mind, a guy got to sometimes (117).” Slim wanted to reassure that George had to do what he did, and that it was the right thing to do. Slim and Candy both have qualities that all friends should have.

Friends are people who care for you and help you when you are in trouble. George, Lennie, Slim, and Candy all show these characteristics and much more. They provide love, which is not easy to come by. Friendship is perhaps the most important thing in life and everyone should possess it.