George explains to Slim in Chapter 3 that he and Lennie were born in the same town and after Lennie's Aunt Clara died, Lennie just started to accompany him "out workin'." George adds that he and Lennie became used to each other so that it felt odd to be alone.
As further explanation to Slim, George tells Slim that he has witnessed many men who travel alone that have become anti-social and even mean because they are alienated and on the defensive:
"I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone....They don't have no fun. After a long time they get mean. They get wantin' to fight all the time."
Slim agrees that the men are mean, and adds that these men withdraw and do not even talk to others.
This scene is a significant one as it underpins the theme of the fraternity of man that Steinbeck stresses in his novella set in the Depression. Steinbeck felt that in a fraternity men were stronger and could overcome oppressive conditions with the strength of others.
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