Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice Of Men

Born of African-American descent, his isolation is only worsened from his childhood where he was the only black child playing in a group of white children. Crooks’ father didn't like that he hung around a bunch of white children, however Crooks being so young he didn't know about the racism around him. When he is speaking to lennie in the barn, he tells him that,“”A guy needs somebody- to be near him.” he whined,”a guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long’s he's with you. I tell ya,” he cried, “i tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.””(72-73). This quote from Crooks explains how crook feels, and has felt for most of his life. Crook explains that everyone just needs someone to be with throughout their life, growing up with racism in the world has made Crooks believe that he can't make a connection to anyone ultimately leaving him alone at the farm for the rest of his life.

Loneliness is being without companions. Everyone relishes the company of others. Being without it causes people to become lonely. “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck deals with the theme of individuals who don’t fit into society. The novel represents the idea of loneliness through many different characters.

An idea I found interesting in the novel ‘Of Mice And Men,’ by John Steinbeck was loneliness and isolation. I found this idea interesting because it helped me understand how important it is to be surrounded by people. George and Lennie’s friendship contrasts this idea as they are friends and they have each other, whereas most of the other ranch workers travel alone. The idea of loneliness was strongly conveyed through the characters Crooks and Curley’s wife, they are both key examples of lonely and segregated characters. The location of the ranch also represents the idea of isolation as the Spanish translation of the town’s name ‘Soledad’ means loneliness.

Although, even the other men don’t want any association with her for fear of getting into trouble with Curley. Curley’s wife even admits to Lennie that she gets very lonely when she befriends him.

He is constantly isolated. Even his wife does not want to spend time with him. Inside of the barn during a heart to heart conversation with Lennie, Curley’s wife reveals that she “don’ like Curley” because he “ain’t a nice fella” (86). Know wonder Curley is insecure in his marriage! His wife not only does not

Mice Of Men One theme in the novel “Mice Of Men” by John Steinbeck, is that people thought Lennie was the loneliest when in reality it was George. In the novel there are two guys, Lennie and George, Lennie isn't all there in the mind but thankfully he has George a good friend to watch after him. This novel is about two friends who dream of one day owning a ranch and living a good happy life but have many obstacles that get in the way of that happening. This theme of loneliness relates to the book as everyone in it had some deal of loneliness, like Candy and him losing his dog, or Curley's wife and having no one to talk to.

The Great Depression was a devastating time for the world. Those who prospered were lucky. Then there were the people who barely made it by doing hard labor for low pay. The low income workers like Candy were lucky to have anything other than the loneliness that eats at them. In “Of Mice and Men”, Old Man Candy was had the worst experience with loneliness.

Loneliness is common among most of the ranchmen in Of Mice and Men. John Steinbeck displays many examples of loneliness among minor and major characters. Many characters are lonely due to the fact that they are different from the ranchmen. Having companionship or a close friend is rare among the ranchmen. Candy is an old man who has one arm.

Loneliness can affect people’s choices and behavior in various different ways. It is a reflection of psychological closure. In general, short-term or occasional loneliness does not cause psychological or behavioral disorders, but long-term or severe loneliness may cause certain mood disorders that reduce people's mental health. First of all, both George and Lennie are lonely. At the beginning of the story, George once says that ranch workers like Lennie and him are the loneliest guys all over the world.

Curley's wife is also lonely; she is the only female on the ranch, and her husband has forbidden anyone to talk with her. She counters he loneliness by flirting with the ranch hands, Which ends up leading to her death by "flirting" with Lennie. Crooks is far apart from others because of his skin color. As the only black man on the ranch, he is not allowed into the bunkhouse with the others, and he doesn't spend time and talk to them. He fights his loneliness with books and his work, but even he understands that these things are nothing can happen for human companionship.

Throughout our lives, we find that we just aren't ourselves without a companion, someone to watch our back, someone we can talk to through rough times. Sometimes when we find ourselves lost in life we go to some of our best friends in search for some advice. Its just the nature, the nature in every living thing that pulls us towards a specific companion’(s), to help us complete the journey that is life. Life is not so easy without a friend, the feeling of loneliness that some of us were lucky enough to never come across. Just as shown in Of Mice and Men, a novel that shows what good a companion can do for you in life.

Unfortunately, despite a need for companionship, people set up barriers that maintain loneliness, and they sustain those barriers by being inhumane to each other. One barrier is based on gender: The bunkhouse is a male world, where women are not to be trusted. While Curley's wife is always looking for attention, Curley's jealousy causes all the hands to stay away from her. Although Curley's wife is often portrayed as cruel and troublesome (and therefore, we can see why she is left alone), the real thing that isolates her is that she is a female in an all-male world. Race is another barrier. Crooks, for example, must occupy a room in the stable alone, and he is not welcome in the bunkhouse. For Candy, the barriers are age and handicap. He is

A man of the name William Faulkner once said, “Dreams only have one owner at a time. That’s why dreamers are so lonely.” In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, characters experience hardships; some more than others. Despite their hardships, the characters go on with living their everyday lives with different challenges everyday. Of Mice and Men expresses many thoughts and emotions about dreams, loneliness, and racism that is shown by many characters in a variety of ways throughout the novel.

If one motif could be chosen to define the plot and symbolism in Of Mice and Men, that motif would be loneliness. In many ways, from the outspoken to the subtle, the acknowledgment of loneliness, only defines the actions of the plethora of characters in the book. Steinbeck introduces a profound human truth: Of Mice and Men teaches a grim lesson on the aspect of human existence. Almost all of the characters admit, that at one time or another, having a defined sense of loneliness and isolation. Each one desires the comfort and protection of a friend, but will settle for a less likely stranger. The characters are then rendered helpless by their isolation, and yet, even at their lowest time of need, they seek to destroy those who are even weaker

Imagine walking into work, and no one seems to even notice you. You are not welcomed and the smallest bit of acknowledgment you get is a nasty glare from your co-worker. This is what it feels like to be lonely. The people at your work ignore you to the max and you have no idea what it is like to have a friendly conversation. Many characters in Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men such as Crooks, Curley’s wife, and Candy are plagued by loneliness and alienation and are searching for friendship and acceptance.