Bench Mark Essays :Beyond the Line

How does the relationship of George Lennie relate to that of characters in a show you’ve watched before?

George and Lennie’s relationship is an interesting but awkward relationship. While George can be upfront and sarcastic with Lennie he always his there to watch his back and never intimidate him or let anyone else do the same. In the book, Of Mice and Men, George tells Lennie to watch out for Curley’s wife because she causes trouble on the ranch and not to be afraid of Curley and his bulling ways. On the other hand he likes to snatch mice from Lennie and throw them away. A motif that keeps coming up in the book is how repeatedly George tries to make Lennie seem like an animal by talking to him in such a stern way. For example, when Lennie kept forgetting where they were going when they traveled to the ranch. And when George asked Lennie what he did with his bus pass Lennie thought he lost it when actually he never had it from the beginning.


George and Lennie’s relationship reminds me of a lot of television shows I’ve watched before but nothing relates more than the characters from Rugrats. It seems very extreme that I would compare babies and children’s’ relationships to theirs. It’s really hard for me to narrow down to what characters they remind me of in the Rugrats because in some kind of way all of the children relate to George and Lennie. Lennie reminds me of Chucky because out of all the other babies Chucky is the most scariest, lame, and naive characters. He has this “uh duh are you stupid” type of attitude like he’s stuck on stupid same as Lennie. Now on the other hand George reminds me of leader of the pack or kids named Tommy. Tommy always tries to take up for the rest of the babies if they are being harmed by Angelica’s bullying. He even tries to help Chucky get over his fears in some episodes. Angelica even reminds me of Curley because she never picks on people of her age she likes to mess with the babies and she flaunts her new toys and neat clothing that her mother spoils her with. Sometimes she even uses these things to bribe the babies including Chucky, Lil, and Phil, to do her dirty work.

One particular relationship from the Rugrats that relates to that of the book is Angelica and Chucky’s. Although George doesn’t really bully Lennie to like Angelica to a certain extend he uses Lennie. The ways he uses Lennie is by taking him along on his adventure so that they can be more exciting because in realty who wants travel alone. Everybody wants company when traveling. And just like Chucky, Lennie won’t resist George’s leadership and guidance. The author, John Steinbeck, tries to make it seem as if Lennie needs George to survive but can’t we also say that George would get bored to death with Lennie there. So in a sense we can say the same for George. In the cartoon show Rugrats, I remember in one episode Angelica tells Chucky, “ Go get me a Popsicle you twerp and do it fast or else I will burry you in the sand box . Now fetch.” Angelica harsh attitude reminds me of George’s sarcasm and sternest attitude towards Lennie.

It amazes me how much the characters from a cartoon really relates to that of a book. If I didn’t know any better I would think that the cartoon was based on the book somewhat. I could go on and on never ending when comparing the two that’s how much the characters have in common. I never noticed that just until I asked myself this question, “How does the relationship of George and Lennie relate to that of characters in a show you’ve watched before?” I had no idea that would have so many traits alike.

Characters’ relationships can relate to other characters whether in another literary work, real life, or on a show. But there nothing like a comparison from the book, Of Mice and Men, and the cartoon show, Rugrats. George and Curley both remind me of Angelica because George carries along Lennie for enjoyment even though he can sometimes be a pain. And like Angelica, Curley can be a bully. Also at the same time George shows traits of Tommy when he takes up for Lennie and looks after him in Lennie’s best interest. Therefore the relationship of George and Lennie’s relates to that of Tommy and Chuckey’s because Tommy tries to stop Angelica from bullying the babies especially chucky and Tommy tries to help Chucky get over his fears of Angelica. Like in the book George warns Lennie about Curley. And Lennie is scary, lame, and naïve about situations like Chucky.