How central to the plot is George?

George's role is pretty huge. He is one of our protagonists if not the main protagonist in the book. George is our filter from which we see through. The setting and atmosphere is very lonely and harsh. George allows us to see this in an understandable context. He is level headed, intelligent and responsible. At the same time we see his pain both when he must take care of Lenny and particularly when he must kill him. George allows us to see both the hope and futility of the American dream. Steinbeck uses George as a reliable character through which we can interpret Lennie and the other characters that make up this very beautiful and tragic novella.