How does John Steinbeck present George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men?

George is the narrative’s central character, its protagonist. Initially portrayed as sharp-tongued, violent of temper, and grudgingly compassionate, events of the narrative gradually peel away layers of personality to reveal a profound sense of loneliness and a deep sense of affection, perhaps even love, for Lennie. George is, it seems, a good man but a markedly wounded one, desperate for something, anything that will bring what he believes to be an empty existence some meaning.

Lennie is George’s traveling companion and best friend, a hulking, slow-witted strong man with a degree of sensitivity to others but not enough intelligence, self-awareness, or self-control to be able to effectively act with sensitivity rather than in response to pure impulse. Lennie is vulnerable and gentle, violent only reluctantly and only when frightened or by accident. He is a figure of pathos, lonely and scared in a world that doesn’t understand him, doesn’t want to understand him, and doesn’t seem interested in giving him a chance to be understood. George is a buffer between Lennie and the world wherever and whenever possible, but there are unfortunately times and places where George is unable to protect Lennie from himself, or those whom Lennie hurts from his unwitting power. Lennie is a simple man with simple, sensitive dreams and needs, and while his death is both pathetic and seemingly unavoidable, the reader (and George) can take at least some comfort in the fact that he died happy, mentally living his dream of a happy life taking care of rabbits.