George is Lennie's caretaker, first and foremost. Based on an agreement with Lennie's Aunt Clara, George watches out for Lennie, who is severely mentally disabled yet overly physically strong.
George is a man of his word, and he takes Lennie in to watch over him. George sees himself and Lennie as a team of two. George knows that, while he can be annoying sometimes, Lennie provides George with companionship that the other men simply do not have. Because of this, he has a level of respect and admiration for Lennie that shows in his actions.
With us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don't have to sit in no bar room blowin' in our jack jus' because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us."
Though George does this caretaking willingly, he does struggle from time to time with the burden of care. He has to defend his relationship with Lennie to Curley.
"We travel together," said George coldly.
"Oh, so it's that way."
George was tense, and motionless. "Yeah, it's that way."
Lennie was looking helplessly to George for instruction.
And, every time George lies about his relationship with Lennie, Lennie will call him on the lie.
"You said I was your cousin, George."
"Well, that was a lie. An' I'm damn glad it was. If I was a relative of yours I'd shoot myself."
Throughout the novel, readers see interactions between George and Lennie that are loving and supportive, as George protects Lennie from Curley and from being a victim of his mental disability.
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