Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

I believe that Crooks is most similar to Candy as in the social hierarchy of the ranch, both suffer from a disability that places them in the lowest rank. As mentioned, Crooks is lonely and isolated from the others due to the colour of his skin, yet Candy is lonely because he’s not as abled as the other workers. Because he is handicapped, he cannot do the work that the other men do, so when they go off to do work, Candy is left behind. The theme of loneliness is conveyed throughout the novel. Steinbeck also portrays loneliness through characterisation. He uses sexism, racism and ageism to get his message across. When George talks to Candy and his antiquated dog, Candy states to the inarticulate George:

Throughout the novel, Of Mice and Men (by John Steinbeck), loneliness is the major underlying theme of the novel. You could almost say that the book has ‘hormonal' up's and down's. Most of the characters are very lonely because they have no family. However, George and Lennie are the contradiction to this. George and Lennie's bond towards each other are so- strong that you can almost see it as you are reading the book. Candy the old crippled man wants to be part of George and Lennie's dream to own a farm and "live off the fatta the land". Curley and his dog are like the metaphor in the book for George and Lennie. Candy has to take care of his dog and George of Lennie. The other two

“Of Mice and Men” is a novella written by John Steinbeck, and it was first published in 1937. The protagonists are George and Lennie. They are ranch hands trying to save a sufficient amount of money to purchase their dream farm. George is short tempered, but he is devoted and caring for Lennie and incredibly dedicated to their friendship. Lennie is large, clumsy and extremely dependent on George; showing characteristics similar to a child. However, Lennie is extremely strong. Throughout the story, George helps Lennie get out of trouble; hence, increasing Lennie’s debt to George. Eventually, Lennie had to pay the debt he owed George; thus, establishing the depressing ending. Therefore, Steinbeck utilizes foreshadowing successfully throughout the story to ultimately create a tragic outcome.

Candy is an example of a character who is extremely lonely; he has almost nothing to live for and no reason to live except for the small jobs he does on the ranch. This is shown through

Loneliness is a lot more deadly than people think. Unlike the lyrics to Williams’ song, it can literally kill you. In the book Mice of Men (written by John Steinbeck) each character is dealing with their own type of isolation. Isolation is not only problem in the the book, but a problem in the real world seen with older people, and people that live alone. It can cause obesity, suicide, early death, and a ton of other mental and physical defects.

Candy, and old swamper who first situates George and Lennie on the ranch, lacks acquaintances and offers to do anything to minimize his time in seclusion. Candy’s first act of desperation occurs one night in the bunkhouse as he rests with his old, blind dog. Carlson, an insensitive and bitter rancher, insists on killing the dog and ending its misery, but Candy claims that he is too close to part with it. Candy also adds, “’ I don’t mind takin’ care of him’” (45). He not only rejects Carlson’s reasonable proposal to kill the dog, but also vainly

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, he wanted people to know about loneliness. So one person that had a lot of loneliness was Crooks. In the book Of mice and Men “Had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn.(66). In the book it said that Crooks has his own room in the harness room. So that means that he cannot talk to anybody about his feelings or his thoughts. Also since he is black nobody really respects him, or wants to talk to him. Also in the book Of Mice and Men “‘Well, I got a right to have a light. You go on get outta my room, I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room.” “Why ain’t you wanted” Lennie ask.”(68). Now Crooks is telling Lennie to leave because he doesn't want

“Let me tell you this: if you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it’s not because they enjoy solitude. It’s because they have tried to blend into the world before, and people continue to disappoint them.” This quote, written by Jodi Picoult, explains the true meaning of how people can become lonely. Sometimes people’s differences can cause others to push them away. In the fictional novella, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, he displays this notion through the diversity of his characters.

Candy is the only old person on the farm, and his dog was the only thing that stopped him from being lonely because of

In “Of Mice and Men”, the motifs of loneliness and male friendships manifest the main theme of the American Dream. George and Lennie’s loneliness allows them to become closer to one another through the power of friendship. This unique bond between the two men reveals a newfound and mutual idea of the American Dream. The organization moves the novel from the themes of innocence to male friendships and finally to loneliness.

Loneliness can be one of the worst feeling anybody can experience. Being isolated can lead to loneliness. Crooks in the book Of Mice and Men is a perfect example of a person being lonely due to isolation. Candy and Curley’s wife are also lonely but for different reasons. In the book Of Mice and Men Crooks, Candy, and Curley’s wife all experience loneliness and isolation.

Candy must work alone leaving him in a prime position to experience the motif of loneliness throughout the novella. Furthermore, Candy continuously reiterates his [levels of loneliness] throughout his conversations with George. Candy’s lack of family leaves him no where to fall back on if he [gets] canned. The isolation burning inside of him leaves him to inform George that he will write his will out to them saying he “ain’t got no relatives nor nothing” (Steinbeck 59). With such a [lack] of family members Candy at the drop of a hat decides that he will leave his will out to someone he just barely met.

Crooks is an African American stable buck who is mistreated every day on the ranch. One of the major reasons why he fits this theme well is because he is not allowed to sleep in the bunkhouse with all the other white men who also work on the ranch. He has his own bedroom in the barn that is filled with objects to keep him occupied. For example, books. He has a wide selection of all kinds of books that he reads so keep him busy. Crooks is not allowed to play in any card games or horseshoe tournament events that the men have or even stay in the same building with the other men. The other men on the ranch do not talk to him either for things other than work because of his color.

One of the main themes in Of Mice and Men focuses on gender inequality and racial issues, despite the main protagonist being white men. One example of this is Crooks, the black man who worked on the ranch. According to Michael Zeitler’s “Freedom in Of Mice and Men,” the author described Crooks’s character as “reduced to nothing” with no ego or personality “to arouse like or dislike” which was a result of the discrimination

Candy is another very lonely character in the novel. The old handyman with only one hand as the result of an accident worries that the boss will soon declare him useless and demand him to leave the ranch. A very important aspect about Candy is his relationship with his ancient dog. The dog, as well as Candy himself, represent the future for people that will not achieve their dreams. Candy has spent the best years of his life working for someone else’s ranch, only to lose his hand and have little money. He is very lonely as he declares “I ain’t no relatives, nor nothing.“ Furthermore his loneliness is shown by his desire to talk to George, the intelligent guy that still has hope for a better future, and shares his dream by promising him money to buy