Isolation, Friendship, and the Dreams and plans for the future are some of the biggest themes in John Steinbeck's book, Of Mice and Men. The book is set in the 1930’s around the time of the Great Depression. During this time period, men were all looking for work to support their families or support themselves. Lennie Small and George Milton are the two main characters in this story. Most of the story takes place on a ranch in Soledad, California. Where we meet our other characters. Curley, the boss’ son. Slim, the jerkline skinner. Crooks is a crooked back man who is a stable hand. Candy, a ranch hand. Candy, an old ranch worker, who lost his hand in a farm accident. And finally Curley’s Wife, who is very flirty towards the men, especially Lennie. These characters all at some point go through some sort of Isolation, few have dreams for the future, and two have friendship for life. In Of Mice and Men, we have a plethora amount of the feeling of isolation and loneliness with these characters.Crooks is talking to Lennie in his little room about what if George never comes back. After Lennie says that nobody will talk any hurt about George; Crooks said gently, “Maybe you can see now. You got George. You know he’s goin’ to come back. S’pose you didn't have anybody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black. How’d you like that? S’pose you had to sit out here an’ read books. Sure you could play Brown 2 horseshoes till it got dark, but then you
One of the most astounding books Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, took place in one of the darkest time period in American History, the Great Depression. The setting of the book took place in a small country town in Soledad California, near the Salinas River. This book introduces the two main characters, George Milton, and Lennie Small with real life struggles of being migrant farm workers for a ranch. The story opens up with one of the many conflicts that George and Lennie will face throughout the whole story; George and Lennie running away from Weed after feeling a girls red dress. Although Lennie commits certain acts of violence in Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck portrays Lennie Small as having the traits common to the innocent archetype.
John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men follows the journey of two men, George Milton and Lennie Small, who struggle through the navigation of working on a ranch in California and fulfilling their dreams together during a time of financial depression. The novel begins with George and Lennie traveling through the California wilderness to get to a new ranch just south of Soledad where they are going to begin new work. They had to leave their previous jobs in a town called Weed because Lennie had caused trouble with a girl by holding on to her red dress because he wanted to feel it, and this incident spiraled into rape allegations against Lennie. As George and Lennie make their way to the new ranch, Lennie; who is a large, but simple minded man; found a dead mouse and wanted to keep it to pet because he likes soft things. George, who is more serious and protects Lennie, takes the mouse away from him because even though it’s dead, he should not be messing with it. Lennie often does not realize his strength because of his mental incapabilities and as a result, he causes a lot of trouble and harm. George finds taking care of Lennie to be taxing, but he knows that their friendship is an important bond that he does not want to be without. In order to comfort Lennie in the wilderness, George tells the story of their shared dream to own their own ranch where they can follow their own rules and live as they please. When they finally arrive at the ranch the next day, George and Lennie
Friends are needed in a person’s life for emotional stability whom without would lead to a life of loneliness and solitude. In the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the characters Crooks, Candy and Curly’s wife exhibit a form of loneliness. They are driven to George and Lennie’s friendship because they lack support and that emotional stability in their own lives."A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't matter no difference who the guy is, longs he with you. I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an he gets sick" (Steinbeck, 13). Throughout his novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck shows that victims of isolation crave to fulfill a companionship to fill in that void of loneliness.
Of Mice and Men follows George Milton and Lennie Small in an adventure to get their American Dream. It takes place in 1930’s Soledad, California. The novella, by John Steinbeck, focuses on topics of friendship, masculinity, the American Dream, poverty, loneliness, injustice, and mercy. George and Lennie's’ relationship, has a distinct mentor and protegee dynamic.
The novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck is set in America in the 1930’s and it describes the lives of migrant farmers as they go from farm to farm looking for jobs. It also shows the loneliness of the characters and the hard work that they put in. The main characters of the book are Lennie, a man-child, and George, a small man but very powerful character that takes care of Lennie in their journey. Also when they get to the farm they meet the bosses wife who is very lonely and looks for company in the workers. Steinbeck uses characterization to bring his characters to life using various techniques.
Loneliness is one of many central themes in John Steinbeck’s classic novella, Of Mice and Men. Throughout the story many characters sought after the company and attention of others. Each character has a certain barrier that keeps them isolated from the outside world. Three characters who portray this loneliness throughout the novella are Crooks, Curly’s wife, and Candy. Each having a different wall between them and society.
John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men tells a story of two very different friends how both share the dream of one day buying their own farm. George and Lennie are both two workers that take temporary jobs at different ranches. That the new job that they get to meet Candy, the old “swamper” who cleans the bunkhouse; Slim, the “prince of the ranch”; Crooks, the African American stable hand. Then there is also Curley, the boss’s son and Curley’s wife, women that is desperate for the attention. Throughout the story, Steinbeck uses a lot of foreshadowing to prepare the reader what is about to occur. The plans of the characters going “askew,” the death of Curley’s wife, the loss of the farm dream, and the death of Lennie; are four clear examples of Steinbeck’s
Curly and his wife act out often and are constantly wanting attention. This can be seen on page 86. "I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely." Curley's wife also shows us in the book her loneliness and cries for attention. Another example, She says, “I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.” Her marriage with Curley did not make her happy, but it made her feel terrible and unworthy. She has wanted to become a movie star her whole life, but never got the chance. She is also getting avoided by fellow ranch workers because she always causes trouble and brings
In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck utilizes loneliness as an overarching theme, there is however one character that is noticeably longer than the others in Steinbeck's novella. This character is Crooks, a bitter and aloof man, he used to have a family with brothers and a 10 acre chicken ranch. Now he lives the life of a stable buck isolated by his race (he is the only African American on the ranch) among other things (Steinbeck,2002). This loneliness truly characterises him and causes no end to his bitterness. John Steinbeck Portrays Crooks as the loneliest character because, he is isolated by race, disability, location and a lack of companionship.
Isolation occurs when one does not have a support system where they can talk and express their thoughts and emotions. Isolation in the novel Of Mice and Men highlights the effects of human nature by portraying it as something social and dependant on others rather than individuals first. This is shown by the characters when they get affected by isolation and become destructive, delusional, and desensitized from other people.
Isolation and loneliness can plague even those who socialize with others the most. Although all the main characters in this novel live in such close quarters, and socialize with each other on a daily basis, they are still isolated in their own ways. There are many factors that can lead to loneliness, such as race, intelligence and general appearance. The constant fear of being lonely, can also lead a person to be even more isolated. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, isolation and loneliness are evident through several key characters; Crooks, George, and Candy.
Loneliness in Of Mice and Men is shown in many ways, because of this each character was affected by loneliness in different ways and responses. One example of loneliness is with the character Crooks. Crooks is forced to live alone. Away from the other workers because he is African American, “They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me”(Pg. 68). This quote proves how Crooks is very lonely, because the men play cards but don’t let him play because they say he stinks and he is black. Not only does this show how Crooks is quite lonely, but he is also treated unfairly because of racial discrimination. “Well, jus’ forget it,” said Crooks. “I didn’ mean it. Jus’ foolin’. I wouldn’ want to go no place like that.” “Well, O.K.; if you feel like that. Good night.”(Pg. 83). Crooks is saying he is lonely, but he
“Her feet battered in the hay and she writhed to be free; and from under Lennie's hand came a muffled screaming,” (Steinbeck, 91). In the novel Of Mice of Men, John Steinbeck replaces the struggles and realities of the mid-1930s through the characters in his novel. Of Mice of Men details the life of George Milton and Lennie Small who work and travel together. After they begin a new job on a ranch in Soledad, California and plan their future, their lives take a turn for the worst. Eventually, Lennie and another character, depicted as Curley's wife, are killed. Steinbeck portrays the theme of prejudice through these two characters. In the novel Of Mice of Men rash judgments made by characters lead to tragedy.
John Steinbeck's agricultural upbringing in the California area vibrantly shines through in the settings and story lines of the majority of his works. Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, takes place in the Salinas Valley of California. The drama is centered around two itinerant farm workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, with a dream of someday owning a place of their own. Lennie Small is a simple-minded, slow moving, shapeless hulk with pale eyes whose enormous physical strength often causes him to get into trouble. George Milton on the other hand is small in stature, clever, dark of face and eyes, and acts as Lennie's guardian and calming force.
‘Of mice and men’ is a tale of loneliness and hardship felt by the people living in America during the 1930 's. Written by John Steinbeck and published in 1937, it tells the heartbreaking story of two ranch workers during the depression; George Milton and Lennie Small. At the time America was very poor, with a shortage of jobs so people had to travel in search of new jobs. As many people were constantly moving, lasting friendships or relationships were hard to come across. People became scared to have friendships, scared of each other making them lonely and isolated. Most of the characters lived by ‘every man for himself’; only having to care for themselves, not having to worry about others and therefore