Themes In Sillitoe's The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner

In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck has positioned the characters to help drive the plot, aid or hinder the protagonists, and deliver messages to readers. On the surface, Steinbeck’s novel seems to project a theme of loneliness, and man’s need for companionship. However, often the difference between the lonely and independent characters is obvious, and the contrast between the two groups is extreme. Most characters are completely alone, but how they manage their given circumstances can push the plot, reveal previously hidden traits that may benefit the overall story, and help the reader explore the novel itself more in depth.

Finally, a great contribution to these men feeling lonely is discrimination and not giving people a chance they deserve based on superficial reasons. Examples of discrimination in this novella is displayed through sex, mental ability, and race. Sex discrimination takes place in the novella when the reader is to think about Curley’s wife and the level of loneliness she feels every day. Living on a farm full of men plays a big role when we are to think about how isolated she truly is. Curley’s wife understands how lonely her life is when she can not talk to anyone on the farm except her abusive husband because of the repercussions that will take place if she talks to another man on the farm. Her manner when speaking to men on the farm comes

By taking the reader through Ethan Frome’s winding emotional journey, Edith Wharton in Ethan Frome, examines the effects of both physical, as well as emotional isolation on the human condition. The novel is set in the frigid winter, likely in the late 1800’s, in the rural, secluded, fictional town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. Ethan’s downtrodden farm is on the outskirts of this already remote, small community. Wharton strategically uses the isolated setting, Ethan’s unmitigated poverty and his loveless marriage, to cut her protagonist off from desperately needed meaningful connections. First, the failing health of his elderly parents forces Ethan to forego his dreams of a urban engineering career, to return to his isolated rural farm,

Solidifying the theme of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the protagonist George expresses his significant loneliness despite a strong kinship with his friend Lennie, “’I ain’t got no people… I seen the guys that go around the ranches alone. That ain’t no good’” (41). Published in 1937, amidst the horrific turmoil of the Great Depression, Steinbeck’s novella struck a sensitive chord with readers. Set in the heart of California’s Central Valley, this story follows two men, George and Lennie, as they run from old shadows to a new farm for work. Clinging to the distant dream of owning their own piece of land, the men imagine life outside their present difficulties. Illustrating that life is varied by emotional complexities beyond black and white, George’s longing for companionship and family seep through in conversations with his new co-worker Slim. Despite Lennie’s sheer physical strength, his mental abilities are limited to that of a naïve, innocent, and very young boy; the result is a relationship akin to an uncle and nephew. Lennie, with primal-like behaviors and a gold-fish memory, struggles to adhere to George’s words of wisdom. In the end, tragedy strikes them both as George is forced to kill Lennie due to an accident with the son of the landowner’s wife – a woman who looks for trouble at the onset. Consequently, George’s state of loneliness is bequeathed to a new level as he begins to imagine life without Lennie in tow.

In a society of people all in the same situations how can someone feel so alone. When lives fall apart and people have nothing to hold on to people need each other most, yet are pushed so far from others. The novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, follows the storyline of two men who are displaced farm workers during the Great Depression; they travel around and stick by each other’s sides no matter the circumstance. After many jobs they end up on a farm,the farm they hope will be their last stop. The time spent on the farm is filled with blooming friendships and careless quarrels, yet with an abundance of characters and entertainment- many people on the farm feel alone and out of place. Characters such as Crooks and Curley’s wife often come to mind when the subject of loneliness is brought up. Throughout the book using characters such as Crooks and Curley's wife, John Steinbeck demonstrates that humans are immensely impacted by separation from society and it will change the way that people will act and show themselves to others.

The novel ‘Runner’ by Robert Newton describes the slums of Richmond, where life was really difficult for the Feehan family and the general community. Charlie Feehan is lucky enough to win the prime job, running messages for Squizzy Taylor, who is the most dangerous gangster in Melbourne. But things start to get a little too dangerous for Charlie so he decides to quit the job and run in the Ballarat Mile Race. Life was tough in Richmond and it was the support and love that family and friends gave each other that gave everyone the fuel needed to keep going through these difficult times. The following points will be discussed throughout this extended response; Mr Redmond’s family looking out for the Feehan’s, Charlie using his money for Alice’s

As one is experiencing a life of alienation and loneliness, they may being to act uncontrollable while rebelling against their surroundings, one loses themselves as they feel different than everyone present. Alienation can force an individual to spiral into an abyss of nothingness, nonetheless if one allows others to reach out and inspire than it is possible to break away from the alienation and loneliness. Chief Bromden from the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, written by Ken Kesey, is an Indian who was institutionalized for insanity and is considered a chronic in the ward as he is “too far gone” to be healed. Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D Salinger is a lying, rebellious teenager sent away by his parents to a private school as they are unable to handle Holden’s behaviour. It is evident both experience alienation as their stories progress and actions taken, however the individuals present in their lives motivate changes in the outcomes of these dynamic characters.

In the novel “Of Mice and Men”, John Steinbeck demonstrates the incapability and isolation for ranch workers to endure and survive with loneliness and how they handle it.

‘..Guys like us that work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world they got no family they don’t belong no place.’ This is what many felt during the ‘great depression’ in the 1930’s. John Steinbeck gives us the sense that many felt lonely ‘they got no family they don’t belong no place. The main theme of this novel is alienation; the three characters, Curley’s wife, candy, and crooks are all alienated, and felt it by another person at some point. They all have dreams... it’s the American dream... but not all dreams come true...

“Want me to tell ya what’ll happen? They’ll take ya to the booby hatch. They’ll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog” (Steinbeck 72). Discrimination plays a large role to feeling lonely. In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, characters endure attempts by society to make them “invisible.” These include racism, ageism, sexism, and isolation. More specifically, three of these characters experience loneliness from acts of discrimination. Factors contributing to their loneliness include ageism, disability discrimination, and racism. Each of these characters are migrant workers during the Great Depression who are discriminated against in different ways. Thus, through Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife, Steinbeck reveals the powerful

Everyone becomes lonely due to hard conditions. Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, illustrates the feeling of loneliness on a ranch in the early 1930’s. This book shows how people are driven to try and find friendships in order to escape from loneliness. Steinbeck creates an isolated and blue atmosphere at many times in the book. He uses place names to give the setting a sense of desolation right from the start, and reinforces it with the characters readers meet throughout the book. Curley’s wife and Crooks are clear examples of what loneliness can drive people to do. Steinbeck’s book shows the importance of friendships in overcoming loneliness.

In our society today, it’s a rigorous challenge to survive. Consequently for the ones who live in a threatening neighborhood. Not just to survive, but also to become successful in one’s own life. Luis J. Rodriguez, the author of Always Running, is one of the many people who went through very menacing times in the 1960s as he was part of a gang. Tupac Shakur, who was affiliated with thugs. Malcolm X who was a thief. Every person had their own way of turning their life around from their adverse past life to become a better person.

In Laurence Ralph’s Renegade Dreams, the citizens in Eastwood are susceptible to isolation due the physical injuries and social injuries. My main argument is, the physical injuries and social injuries have impacted their daily lives and have made some residents isolated from others around them. The theme of isolation plays a role in throughout the book as the residents use isolation to motivate themselves and pursue their dreams. This dream is curated from different residents such as Justin Cone, Blizzard, and the gangs (Divine Knights). In the essay, the topics covered are the stories of the characters and the context of isolation in motivating residents to achieve their dreams. This idea can be explained through the ethnographic data, in text citations, and the stories of the characters.

John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is considered one of his best and finest novels of all times. The novel is about two ranch workers, Lennie Small and George Milton, who travel around searching for jobs during the 1930’s. Our main characters go through major conflicts, especially Lennie, who apparently suffers from some kind of mental illness, and at the same time, George gets dragged down because of the problems Lennie causes along the way. Many of Steinbeck’s novels dealt with social issues, especially Of Mice and Men, which dealt with racism, isolation, poverty and loneliness. Loneliness has been developed throughout the entire novel, and the way the author displayed this social issues is through characterization techniques. To show us that we, as humans, fear loneliness in order to survive, or in order to feel “alive”.

At some point in one’s life there is not only contentment or grief, but a state of loneliness. Loneliness is a part of human life, although some suffer from isolation more than others. Being lonely can lead to depression or create a different persona in oneself. Struggling through isolation can eventually kill one’s soul, expecting no hope or ending up in dangerous situations. The novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck portrays the theme of loneliness especially through two characters. Crooks and Curley’s wife experience the state of isolation as they crave for a friend or someone they can talk with. Steinbeck urges readers to feel pathos when analyzing Crooks and Curley’s wife through the nature of their isolation, their actions and