George in "Of Mice and Men"

Paper Summary:

The paper examines George, the main protagonist in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" and his tragic flaws. The paper discusses George's shooting of Lennie and shows how this action proves that George is a true tragic hero. The paper also explains how the shooting was at once self-sacrificial and self-centered and thus labels George as a conflicted character and a complex hero.

From the Paper:

"Classical heroes have tragic flaws that prove their humanity and fallibility. Usually the hero's tragic flaw is hubris: which can manifest in many ways depending on the character's main quest and its circumstances. Although George does not seem arrogant, the protagonist in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a victim of false pride. George lets Lennie fantasize about situations that will never come to pass and also seems tragically out of touch with reality. He covers up for his friend and speaks for him, instead of letting Lennie take responsibility for his actions and possibly grow from the experience. George also acts as if Lennie is an extension of himself. In many ways Lennie is attached to George and dependent on him. Thus, George's overprotective nature is borne of compassion as well as codependence. The tragic finish of Of Mice and Men shows why George's actions and his personality clearly classify him as a tragic hero. George is a hero for killing Lennie because the act signifies his tragic sense of responsibility for his friend."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Reed, Aretha. "A Teacher's Guide to the Penguin Edition of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men." Retrieved July 1, 2008 from http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:39O2Mtpjx6MJ:us.penguingroup.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/ofmiceandmen.pdf+george+of+mice+and+men+hero&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a
• Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. Retrieved online July 1, 2008 from http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=nE_Si_bv-W4C&dq=of+mice+and+men+steinbeck&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=dBip2k3sYH&sig=cUprL5mcNaT2lz333WRfMNZtGCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA93,M1

More papers on George in "Of Mice and Men":

• Analytical Essay # 127211 : "Friendship in "Of Mice and Men"
• Analytical Essay # 2892 : "The 'Soledad' in "Of Mice and Men"
• Analytical Essay # 62571 : "Themes in "Of Mice and Men"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: