Curley's Wife Loneliness Analysis

My introduction : Throughout the novel, many are lonely. Of the characters, Curley's wife, Crooks and Candy all show signs of desperate loneliness, though they respond quite differently. Each is isolated because of special mistreatment. Because Crooks is black, he is shunned and separated from the other men. He spends most of his time in his room, alone and bitter. Curley's wife also spends her days hounded by her mean, spirited husband; her attempts to reach out to the other men backfire and win the the undeserved reputation of a flirt. Candy has a disadvantage being handicap, and he has an unconditional love for an old and feeble and after his dog is shot he looks for new companionship. Throughout the characters of Curley's wife, Crooks and Candy, Steinbeck proves that one can be lonely, even if he's constantly surrounded by people.

Curley’s Wife experiences extreme exclusion from society. However, in her case, it is her gender and her husband that are the

obstacles in her search for companionship. This is because, as was the characteristic prejudice towards women at that time, the other characters are suspicious of her and they fear that because of her they might “get canned”. Curley's wife may have a husband and may be known as a rich and successful women, however deep inside she knows she is lonely. The fact that Curley doesn't even love her and she doesn't love him either leads to an unhappy marriage. "I don't like Curley, he ain't a nice fella" (87). Sadly enough, she is so desperate for attention until she reaches out of Lennie. She is flirtatious because she desires to have a name and be someone with a worthwhile purpose. In the end, Lennie accidentally breaks her neck. She dies without a name. She is nameless because no one cares to know who she really is. The ranch hands have their own lives and she does not fit in.

Crooks, being in a similar situation as Curley's wife has a huge disadvantage (being black) which leads to separation and loneliness.

Crooks is isolated because of his race, his disability and his deep mistrust of others. He is physically separated from the other men and has his own room in the barn. "It's cause I'm black" (68). Crooks has been alone for a so long, making him not care about having and making new friends any more. Crooks may constantly be surrounded by the other workers, but that doesn't make him feel less alone. "You got no right to come in my room. This here's my room. Nobody got any right in here but me" (67). Crooks is quiet and weak, meaning no one in the ranch listens to him, nothing he says matters. "This is just a nigger talkin', an' a busted-back nigger. So it don't mean nothing, see?" (70). Crooks is someone a reader can easily feel sorry for, even though Crooks doesn't put much effort is making new friends. He is in a difficult situation, which he certainly doesn't what to

be.

Candy is lonely because of his disability, only having one arm he can't do the same things other workers in ranch can do. Once his dog is shot, Candy has little to live for, and he's desperately lonely. Candy is powerless and afraid of the future. He does not go into town with the other men when he has the choice to, and sees the inclusion in George and Lennie’s dream as the only way out of his loneliness. He has very little hope and knows his life isn't easy.