Symbolism of Loneliness in ‘Of Mice and Men’ by Steinbeck

Symbolism of Loneliness in ‘Of Mice and Men’ by Steinbeck

Steinbeck’s novel ‘of mice and men’ is set in the time of the Great

Depression after the stock market crash of 1929. The currency is

almost worthless and people can afford little possessions. Because of

the situation there are many people moving from place to place to find

work. This means they are never in one place long enough to form any

relationships, so this is a very lonely existence: “Guys

like us, that live on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the

world.” All that the men really ever spent their

money on was the cathouses and bars, so they can never break free from

their dire lives.

Steinbeck emphasises loneliness, powerlessness, and isolation, and his

hatred for it throughout the book. He contrasts this with the

companionship of George and Lennie. They are the only men who actually

travel together, and this is proved by the way everyone is suspicious

of their friendship, for example when they come to get the job at the

ranch the boss

says:

“you got a stake in him?!” He thinks that George must be taking

Lennie’s pay because it is so unusual. If not for each other, then

George and Lennie would be all alone, with no friends, like all the

men like them, who are itinerant workers - working from ranch to ranch

without making any friends, and living a solitary life. They have a

dream to get a place of their own together where they can be safe and

secure and live a good life ‘off the fat o’ the land’ and Lennie can

tend to the rabbits.

The first ...

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... because of this. Eventually, he tries to find friendship by attempting

to join the dream of George and

Lennie:

“I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some.” He tries

to show that the he could be useful to persuade them to let him in.

The relationship between George and Lennie is very similar to that of

Candy and his old dog. Both George and Candy and lonely, even though

they have companionship; Candy cant talk to his dog, and George can’t

have a really serious conversation with Lennie either. This is why

they all need the dream of the place of their own. It is interesting

that the Candy’s dog and Lennie have the same fate; both are shot in

the back of the head unaware of what is going to happen.