A friendship is a shared bond with another person, usually around common interests. A friend is honest, loyal, faithful and trustworthy. He is someone with whom you can share secrets, memories, fears and dreams. They stand by you despite any arguments or litigation that may arise. Friendships can bring joy as well as pain; friends want the best for each other and sometimes sacrifices have to be made. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck talks about the benefits and pitfalls of friendship. Friends have a strong influence on each other. George, a responsible but sharp-tongued little man, is admired by Lennie, who is dependent and, with incomplete mental development, childish. The two men have an unequal friendship, where George is superior. Steinbeck quotes: “Lennie, who was watching, imitated George exactly” (Steinbeck 3). Yearning for George's acceptance and approval, Lennie imitates George. In the back of his mind, Lennie understands that he is different and that he must prove himself, and by imitating George, Lennie hopes to be found acceptable. Additionally, George's companionship is what keeps loneliness from consuming Lennie. Lennie shouts, “'He won't do it'... 'He won't do no such thing. I know Georges. Me and ‘him travel together’” (Steinbeck 98). Lennie trusts their friendship, and he has every right to do so, because George has not abandoned him. Despite all the trouble Lennie caused them, George chose to stay with him. This is a display of true friendship, as George could just as easily have left Lennie at any point during their perilous journey. For George, his personality has changed due to his association with Lennie. At the beginning of the novel, George expresses his impass...... middle of paper ... therefore towards a friendship, a lifestyle and a dream. Whether or not George realized it while Lennie was alive, he needs Lennie; their camaraderie is what separates them from the loneliness that all the other workers, like Candy, experience. Steinbeck's text suggests that friendships are not always what they seem. When we think of a typical friendship, some things that usually come to mind include pleasant encounters and happy memories through compassion, caring, and kindness. However, in George and Lennie's friendship, the two share compassion, caring, and kindness, but not with pleasant experiences and joyful memories. On the contrary, for George, hard work and responsibility are what make their bond so strong. Slim notes, “'I almost never saw two guys traveling together'” (Steinbeck 37). Despite the challenges, friendships remain the key to a happy and enjoyable life.