Of Mice and Men Part 1

1) I believe that Lennie is dependent on George because he cannot get by himself, and there is no one else around or willing to help him. Lennie is clearly, as George has stated many times, not bright, meaning that if left on his own, lacking the survival skills that he relies on George for, he would not make it. He would most likely not be able to get any kind of job, therefore he would not be able to buy food. Even if he was able to afford food, there are many things he would not be able to prepare. He does not understand how the world works, and he clearly lacks social skills, because he would let people walk all over him, not understanding that their intentions aren't always good. He is also constantly forgetting things, which would make it extremely difficult for him to learn these skills.

2) In my opinion George doesn't get rid of Lennie, mainly because he feels sorry for him. Even though at first having to deal with Lennie would seem annoying, George eventually got used to the odd things about him, and got to know him as a person. Lennie is really nice and George can recognize that, he knows that Lennie means well. George knows that without someone to take care of him Lennie would not be able to function, and that is not by his own choosing. If George ditched Lennie, no one else would take him in, and George could not do that to him.