Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Crook’s is possibly the loneliest in the entire ranch. Although he is a permanent, he is discriminated mainly because of his race. He is not allowed to play cards with the other men, or go into town with them. Crook’s has witnessed many men fail, but still has dreams to hoeing a patch of garden on Lennie’s farm, while Candy latches onto George’s vision of one day owning land. Candy lives on the ranch, but because he is old and missing one hand he is just waiting for the day they give him the boot. Just like they did his “stinky mutt” who was once a fine sheepdog. He explains it, "They'll can me purty soon. Jus' as soon as I can't swamp out no bunk house, they'll put me on the

Although Crook, Curley's Wife, and George are lonely, ultimately you need to have someone in life.

“Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for.” Dag Hammarskiold

In his novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck exhibits a multitude of different themes, such as the impractical nature of the American dream, social standards, and powerlessness. Each of these themes affect all of the characters, whether they should or not. A character, such as a Curley, lives the American dream, does not suffer from social standards restricting him, or powerlessness, is depicted as an evil man, full of rage and contempt, yet he has everything he could ever desire. Curley, who uses his status as the boss’s son as a personal benefit, masks his small size with his mean-spirited nature, pugnacious tendencies, and his possessiveness towards his wife.

“They left the weak ones here” Curley’s wife stated when the other men went off into town, leaving herself, Candy, Crooks, and Lennie. Though in Of Mice and Men George and Lennie seek friendship and asylum with each other, there is a sense of division between the strong and the weak. The weak, being Crooks who is isolated because of race, Candy who is isolated because of his age and injury, Lennie who is isolated because of his mental disability, and Curley's Wife who is an outcast because she is female, are treated as less than the other men, dehumanized throughout the writing itself. Lennie is compared to several animals within the first chapter, "...and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws." (pg. 2) as well as a horse and a terrier.

Throughout the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, many themes are present such as friendship, dreams, or one of the most interesting themes, loneliness. Loneliness is usually taken as something bad or unpleasant, but in this book, the author showed that loneliness can also be advantageous. Being alone gives a person independence, and the ability to only look out for themselves, which can sometimes make it easier for a person or a character. Isolation was shown through certain characters such as Crook (an African American worker), George Milton and Lennie Small, and Curley's wife where the author depicts ways how independence can be better than dependence. Although loneliness can be difficult and miserable at times, being isolated can

Another character that was very lonely was Candy. Candy’s only companion was his dog, which Carlson had killed. When the dog was killed Candy was all alone and did not know what to do, which was why Candy took so long to agree to killing the dog. Crooks was also a very lonely character. Crooks was the only African American on the ranch so he had to stay in the barn and was not allowed in the bunkhouse with the other ranch workers.

Curley’s wife dreams of becoming an actress, but her loneliness causes her to seek the attention of the men of the ranch, which results in her death. Curley’s wife is first introduced when Candy is showing George and Lennie around the bunkhouse. She comes into the bunkhouse dressed up with make up on her face, asking them if they have seen Curley while leaning forward to show her body. This shows loneliness because she tries so hard and dresses up to catch the attention from someone on the ranch. Curley’s wife again comes when Candy and Lennie are in Crooks’ room because all the other men are out in town. She again asks the men if they have seen her husband. They look to the door to see her face heavily made up while breathing heavily as if

1. In the story, Crooks demonstrates extreme loneliness and isolation throughout the story. For example, Lennie and Candy were in Crooks’ room when Crooks said, “Guys don't come into a colored man's room very much. Nobody been in here but Slim. Slim an’ the boss”(75). Crooks tells how nobody but Slim comes to talk or visit with him. How he is just left alone on the ranch to do his own thing. Crook’s has lived on the ranch for most of his life, but no one thought about him, they just expected him to do his own thing. For instance, another example of this is, Lennie had come to Crooks room and Crooks told him how, “I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse…”(68). He told how no one wanted to be near him or with him, no one wanted anything to do with him. Crooks is the character

Loneliness is something you don't want in you life. But this is a very sad story because a lot of the people are lonely. They have hard lifes. But thesis are some of the people that are lonely in this story. One person that is lonely in this story is Crooks.

Many people live lonely and isolated lives. People who live lonely lives often begin to get comfortable with being lonely and like to be by themselves. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, expresses how many people live lonely, isolated lives. Through three main characters, Candy, Curley's wife, and Crooks. John Steinbeck shows the effect that loneliness has on people.

“ A guy needs somebody - to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody.” Discuss how ‘Of Mice and Men’ explores loneliness.

‘Of Mice And Men' by John Steinbeck is a classic novel, tragedy, written in a social tone. The authorial attitude is idyllic, however, as the story develops it changes into skeptic. It is evident that Steinbeck knew the setting and places he is writing about.

Of Mice and Men, is a world-famous novel which was written by John Steinbeck back in 1937. The novel is mainly about George and Lennie and their life. But I am not going to write about that. I am mainly going to focus on the characters which live on the ranch in the book (Crooks, Candy, Curley and Slim).

Crooks, Curley, Candy and Curley 's wife are all lonely, but all for different reasons such as discrimination and prejudice. Crooks is a black man who has always been pushed aside from every group. He is treated as second class, he