The theme of friendship and sacrifice are both present. However, I do not think that they are in competition. In other words, one does not negate or challenge the other. Rather there is strong case to be made that friendship leads to sacrifice. Here are a few examples.
First, George sticks with Lennie when Lennie gets him in trouble. George does this, because Lennie is his friend. From this perspective, George’s sacrifice is rooted in friendship.
Another example comes at the end of the novella. When Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife, George is faced with a choice. George thinks about the situation, and he knows that the men will come looking for Lennie and kill him in a horrible death. In George’s mind this is inevitable. So, George takes Carlson’s luger and goes after Lennie and shoots him while he tells him their dream of having a farm.
George does not shoot Lennie, because he is angry or bitter. He does this, because he loves Lennie as a friend. He sacrifices Lennie for Lennie.
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