Consequences Of Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

The Great Depression one of america's worst economic downturns in history. During this time many Americans struggled to get money and make a living. That's what the main characters have to face in the novel Of Mice and Men. In the novel George and Lennie form a bond to try to survive the Great Depression. Throughout the story the idea about being without a comrade gets brought up many times and the consequences that come with it. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck he develops the concept of loneliness throughs the characters Candy, Crooks and Curley’s wife emotions to show how loneliness makes people depressed and grumpy.
John Steinbeck utilized the character Candy to develop the concept of loneliness through his age. Candy one of the many depressed characters that George and Lennie meet at the farm is also one of the loneliest. In chapter 3 the issue of Candy's dog is brought up either to put down his dog or not. In the end Carlsson puts down the dog since Candy can't bring himself do it himself. This leaves Candy depressed since he lost his only best friend he really had on the farm. This

shows John Steinbeck's concept since once Candy became alone he grew more depressed. Also near the end of the chapter Candy overhears George and Lennie's dream and he starts describing himself. “Candy said I am much good with on’y one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That's why they give me a job swapping” (Steinbeck 59). This proves John Steinbeck's concept because Candy is trying to look for new friends and get out of his sadness. As shown John Steinbeck uses Candy’s emotions to show how loneliness leads to being depressed.
John Steinbeck is able to show his concept of loneliness through Crooks being different from everybody else on the farm. Crooks like Candy has been on the farm for a long time. He got his name due to him getting hit in back by a horse and got a crooked back. On the farm Crooks has been disrespected many times just because his race. Crooks gives a good example when he was talking to Lennie “Why ain’t you wanted?’ Lennie asked. ‘Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink”(Steinbeck 68). Crooks was forced to be lonely and grew depressed just because he was another race. Also due to these times Crooks has grown accustomed to being alone and is cautious of anyone that is being nice to him. This causes himself to push people away and he makes himself lonely and further make him depressed; Which proves that loneliness causes sadness.
Just like Crooks, John Steinbeck utilizes Curly's wife to show how loneliness makes you mean and sad.

Curley's Wife is the only women on the farm and due to that Curly makes her stay in a house all day. So she has no one to talk too but when she tries to talk to other people on the farm, many of them try to avoid her because Curly. Which makes her very lonely and starts to say mean or disrespectful things. Also after everybody but Lennie, Crooks, and Candy left Curly's Wife find them and said "what am I doin'? Standin' here talkin' to a bunch of bindle stiffs—a nigger an' a dum-dum and a lousy ol' sheep—an' likin' it because they ain't nobody else" (Steinbeck 103). This just further proves John Steinbeck’s concept because do to her being lonely she says such vulgar things to these men. As shown since she is the only girl on the farm drives her to be mean and

grumpy.
Therefore shows through Crooks being different from everybody else, Candy’s age, and Curly’s Wife being the only girl shows how loneliness can affect a person. Candy after losing his pup and/or best friend he become very lonely thus becoming sad. Also Crooks being targeted with mean comments drove him to being lonely and sad. But lastly Curly’s Wife grew lonely after being shadowed by Curly. Clearly proves how John Steinbeck thinks companionship is very important.