The Use Of Symbols In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Through her actions, Curley's Wife shows that she is lonely. Curley's Wife says to the men, "I'm lookin' for Curley" (Steinbeck 31). This quote represents that Curley's Wife is trying to be evasive, saying that she is searching for her husband but what she really demands is attention. In the barn with Lennie it appears that she needs companionship when she is sharing with him about her past. Curley's Wife talks about how she could be in the movies (Steinbeck 88). This passage suggests that she is sad that there aren't a lot of people around her because that is what it could be like if she was in the movies. Through the words about her husband Curley, she shows she needs companionship. She discloses that she doesn’t like Curley because he doesn’t let her talk to anyone but him (Steinbeck 87). This quote proposes that Curley isn't a very favorable companion because he isn't likeable and he doesn’t let her converse with anyone. During the novel Curley's Wife shows she is lonely and needs companionship through her feelings, her actions, and other

The long, hard war of human equality in society, has been a war since the beginning of civilization. The Great Depression, a tragic time in America’s history, reflects American determination, but also social inequality. In the fiction novella, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses symbolism and characterization to address ableism and sexism in society. Steinbeck addresses these flaws in society in an attempt to ultimately bring awareness these riffs before society falls.

The character Crooks is not accepted due to the fact that he is an African American male in a white dominated society. The ranch owner has Crooks segregated from the rest of the workers, and in his own separate room. All of the people treat him unfairly by the things they say to him just because of the color of his skin. Referring to Crooks as the n-word quite often, they only see this situation from their point of view. “‘Sure. Ya see the stable buck’s a nigger’” (20). Because of these characteristics of Crooks he is lower than the typical man in society. Crooks also does not fit society’s ideal image of a person because he is also handicap. When Crooks was younger he was kicked in the back by a horse, and now he has a crooked back. “‘Got a crooked back where a horse kicked him’” (20). One night, when George and all the other guys went out to town, they left Lennie behind at the barn with the puppies. Later on, Lennie found his way into Crooks’ bedroom in the back of the barn. Of course it was different at first, and they did not seem

     There is only one thing in life that is really needed and that is friends. Without friends, people would suffer from loneliness and solitude. Loneliness leads to low self-estee. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the characters, Crooks, Candy, and Curly’s wife all show some form of loneliness. They are curious of George and Lennie’s friendship because they do not have that support in their life. Through his novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck demonstrates that many times, a victim of loneliness will have a never-ending search to fulfill a friendship.

Not stopping there, Steinbeck created another character, Curley’s wife, who was engulfed in loneliness. Loneliness during The Great Depression

“Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.” This quote is an ideal representation of how Curley’s wife feels during Of Mice and Men. Curley’s wife is alone in a world of men and she yearns for a companion whom she can talk to. Another character, however, that can deeply relate to Curley’s wife is Crooks. Crooks is a perfect example of the need to be accepted, due to the fact that he feels isolated from the white ranch hands in the small shed by the barn. The desire to feel accepted in society leaves Crooks, and Curley’s wife desperate for a connection that will no longer leave them feeling isolated and alone. John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men provides a life lesson regarding human natures desire to

Curley’s wife is trapped in her husband's ranch and is very lonely as she has no friends. She is the property of Curley, that's all she is in her life. (Moss) “ Well, I ain't giving you no trouble. Think I don't like to talk to somebody ever once in awhile?

Lastly, the theme of loneliness impacts the plot of the story by causing Curley's wife to act a certain way due to the loneliness she feels. Curley's wife constantly gets lonely because she is in a loveless relationship and she doesn't have anyone to talk to. Her loneliness increases by the day due to not getting the attention she needs as a human. This causes her to get more assertive in the way she tries to get attention by talking to people more aggressively. She tries to remedy her loneliness to the point where she talks to Lennie, who broke her husband's hand and even lets him touch her

In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife, along with others are constantly searching for friendship. “I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely”(86), says Curley’s wife. Steinbeck portrays how people desperately need fraternity through his writing in Of Mice and Men. Loneliness causes the characters in this story to desire things that are very unlikely, do things that they otherwise wouldn’t have done, and look for friendship in unlikely places.

Crooks and Curley’s wife lack friendship and contain loneliness. The lonely characters seem just like the average ranch worker in the first place yet all misconceptions are washed away when the reader finds out how lonely those individuals feel later when the individuals show their true self. Steinbeck shows the reader how loneliness played an important role back in

“I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick” (Steinbeck 72). This quote from the character Crooks from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck demonstrates the powerful effect loneliness has on the human mind and body. Loneliness heavily impacts both the plot of Of Mice and Men and the actions and emotions of characters throughout the novella. It directly leads to the deaths of Lennie and Curley’s wife, as well as playing a crucial role in the day to day lives of Crooks, Lennie, Candy, and Curley’s wife.

Curley’s wife depicts women as trouble makers who drive men mad in this book. She walks the ranch as a temptress but in the end admits to being lonely when she talks to Lennie in the barn. George changes throughout the story, he learns that it is wrong to take advantage of people who are physically and mentally weaker after he admits that he once abused Lennie for his own amusement. In the end of the book he spares Lennie a merciless death that would be much more violent if done by Curley and everyone else. He also kills his own dream of sharing a farm

All of these conflicts make it difficult for Curley to develop friendships with the rest of the men. With being secluded from the rest of the men, Crooks, finds it rather difficult to make friends. He is the only black man on the ranch and is forced to bunk in the harness room since he is forbidden to set foot in the bunkhouse with the others on the account of the color of his skin and the fact that people think he smells atrocious. He spends most of his days alone reading books and engulfing himself in his work. Another character who experiences loneliness is Candy.

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

For example, on page 68 Crooks gets angry over white people on the ranch coming into his space because he is not allowed in theirs. Crooks then lashes out at Lennie when he comes into his room, by telling him that George left and is not coming back. Crooks mistreats Lennie so that he knows how if feels.