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Of Mice and Men Loneliness Essay

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Of Mice and Men Essay: ‘Soledad’ means loneliness. Why is this relevant in ‘Of Mice and Men’? The relevance of ‘Of Mice and Men’ being set in the town of Soledad comes from the parallels drawn between the meaning of the name ‘Soledad’ and the deeper sense of loneliness expressed through the characters of the novella. The symbolism of the loneliness that is associated with the town of Soledad establishes an underlying sense of loneliness in all characters. The author uses a variety of techniques to develop this underlying loneliness in each of the individual character’s lives. Such individual characterisation building on the loneliness established in the connotations of Soledad is evident in Curley’s wife, Crooks, George and Lennie, …show more content…

The power of their friendship is conveyed in the exchange between Lennie and George, “’Because I got you’ ‘An I got you.’” The repetition and dialogue used in this extract conveys the intensity of their companionship, and the way they finish each others’ sentences demonstrates the strength of their long lasting relationship in that it has prevailed through all they have struggled through. Ultimately, however, the world they live in is too harsh and predatory a place to sustain such a relationship as theirs, tragically separating the two and leaving George as lonely as the other men on the ranch. Lennie’s death is not only representative of the end of their friendship, but also as the end of the hope that someday them may fulfil their dream of living on their own land, and this is shown when George says “I think I knowed from the very beginning. I think I knowed we’d never do her.” The sad and dejected tone used here evokes devestation in the responder and allows them to empathise with Lennie and George as the possibility of one day living away from the pressure of society is crushed. The symbolism used here shows how even though they are chasing their dreams throughout the novella, they were always destined to have their dreams crushed. With the devastating separation of George and Lennie, a rare friendship vanishes, but the

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