Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Loneliness is one of the primary themes in Of Mice and Men. Throughout the novel, John Steinbeck shows the enormous effect that loneliness has on the characters. Steinbeck most clearly illustrates this theme through Crooks, Candy, and Curley 's wife. Ranch hands are ideal types of people to portray as being lonely, because their constant travel leaves them without someone to talk to or share things with. Steinbeck also shows how important it is for every human being to have a companion. Companionship is necessary in order for someone to live an enjoyable life. Although loneliness affects each one of the characters in Of Mice and Men differently, they all experience negative feelings from their lack of

Loneliness is an theme deeply represented in Of Mice and Men. From the obvious examples

In John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, he illustrates the journey George and Lennie have throughout a significant part of their lifetime. Throughout the novel, many characters, including George and Lennie, are facing lonesome and they struggle to deal with it the right way. Most of the men are all alone because they have no family left or they isolate themselves from their peers. Loneliness touches each character at some point in the novel and it really emphasizes the impact it can have on an individual. Steinbeck uses the characters Curley’s wife, Crooks, and Candy to develop the theme that containing loneliness will make someone’s desperation deepen.

The first example of a character who experiences loneliness is Crooks. Crooks is an African American stable buck. He is the lowest at the ranch because of his race. Crooks lives alone in his own bunkhouse because he is not allowed in the bunkhouse where the white workers live. He has no one to talk to because he is different than the rest of the group. Later in the novela, Crooks confides in Lennie. “A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody” (Steinbeck 72). Lennie is the only person on the ranch willing to listen to Crooks. Crooks is telling Lennie that it drives him mad that he doesn't have anyone to talk to. He sits alone in his bunkhouse reading books.

Isolation and loneliness can plague even those who socialize with others the most. Although all the main characters in this novel live in such close quarters, and socialize with each other on a daily basis, they are still isolated in their own ways. There are many factors that can lead to loneliness, such as race, intelligence and general appearance. The constant fear of being lonely, can also lead a person to be even more isolated. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, isolation and loneliness are evident through several key characters; Crooks, George, and Candy.

Loneliness in Of Mice and Men is shown in many ways, because of this each character was affected by loneliness in different ways and responses. One example of loneliness is with the character Crooks. Crooks is forced to live alone. Away from the other workers because he is African American, “They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me”(Pg. 68). This quote proves how Crooks is very lonely, because the men play cards but don’t let him play because they say he stinks and he is black. Not only does this show how Crooks is quite lonely, but he is also treated unfairly because of racial discrimination. “Well, jus’ forget it,” said Crooks. “I didn’ mean it. Jus’ foolin’. I wouldn’ want to go no place like that.” “Well, O.K.; if you feel like that. Good night.”(Pg. 83). Crooks is saying he is lonely, but he

Loneliness is a revolving topic throughout the book. Many characters are impacted by it and this changes the outcome of the book. In Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, he develops the concept of loneliness through Candy's disability, Crooks unable to fit in, and Curley's wife in order to demonstrate that loneliness impacts people by causing anger and depression.

Crooks mentions “A guy need somebody-- to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody”(72), which shows that he wished to someone’s company since he feels he needs any sort of company. Also, Crooks deformed and crooked back forces him to have limited amounts of contact with the other men since all he can do is tend the horses in the barn or play horseshoes. Which results as an increase in his feeling of loneliness. In addition, even though he degrades Lennie as they begin to converse in the barn, Crooks’ loneliness forces him to talk with Lennie since he has no one to talk to. As Crooks says in the novel “A guy sets alone out here all night, maybe readin’ books or thinkin’ or stuff like that. Sometimes he gets thinkin’, an’ he got nothing to tell him what’s so an’ what ain’t so… he can’t turn to the guy and ast him”(73). Throughout the novel, as Crooks develops a character, his loneliness is demonstrated each time he is mentioned.

Loneliness can be the death of people. Some think that loneliness does not taint our world but they are dead wrong. In the story Of Mice and Men, author John Steinbeck portrays the loneliness and independence portrayed on people who live on ranches. Crooks is a black man who has separated himself from everyone else because he doesn't feel welcome as he is black and he feels a certain friction to be independent. But really, all he wants is someone to talk to. Curley’s wife is a woman who is depicted as being a cruel and mean person but really all she wants is someone to talk to as well because she is lonely. Lastly, Lennie is a very kind man who is slow and all he wants to do is pet soft things but he is too aggressive and hurts or kills things when he panics.

The first character that shows loneliness is Crooks. Two other examples of characters that show loneliness are Curley's wife and Candy. In the story Of Mice and Men loneliness affects even the happiest people. One example of loneliness shown in the book is Crooks, the black stable buck. Crooks is lonely because he isn’t allowed to go into the bunk house and he has to sleep in a little shack because he is black.

In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, he shows us what it is like for

Loneliness affects everyone at some time in life, unfortunately some more than others. In the novella, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, loneliness affects everyone in the story. Three of the characters who suffer from loneliness for assorted reasons are Lennie, Curley’s Wife, and Crooks. Lennie’s loneliness is due to his mental disability, Curley’s wife due to a bad marriage, Crooks from racism. Lennie is lonely because of his mental disability.

“Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty…” (Courtesy: Anonymous). Anybody in the world can be lonely and be filled with loneliness when they do not have someone to interact with or talk to. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, characters deal with loneliness throughout the course of the book. Through the characterization of the characters Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife the author reveals the theme of loneliness.

Mother Theresa once said, “Loneliness and feeling that nobody needs you is the worst kind of poverty”. The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck has some very important themes. Loneliness is one of the major themes that is portrayed by almost every character in the book in some way. Race, age and gender are some of the key factors that make the characters lonely. In Of Mice and Men, different variations of loneliness can be seen through Crooks, Candy and Lennie.

Loneliness is a feeling, not physical nor visible but it's toll is immense… Curley’s wife, Candy, and Crook all suffer from Loneliness in the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Curley’s wife is burdened by being avoided, Crook is racially slurred and also avoided, and Candy has no family or friends too be there for him.