Economic Turmoil In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

“In utter loneliness, a writer tries to explain the inexplicable... The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to his illusion even when he knows it is not true.” -John Steinbeck. During the 1930s, amidst the Great Depression, a vast majority of individuals were cast into a great veil of despair, hence the title. John Steinbeck, the author Of Mice and Men, indirectly illustrates the economic turmoil and extensive lonesome impressions of the time. In the novella, two migrant workers Lennie Small and George Milton, travel in search of work. George thoroughly expresses his dream of having a ranch of his own, and how by working hard, they will achieve this dream. Upon arriving at a ranch

They meet a fellow worker named Candy, who in fact, does not have any family, goals, or meaning. He wishes for a purpose, and offers money in order to be able to accompany them on their journey and be able to stay, when they are able to have a ranch of their own. However, this resolution is seen as implausible, due to trouble with the wife of the boss’ son. Awk end is set, and Lennie has parted, George is alone and the dream is no more. This novella conveys a message of loneliness. Each character who tries to reach out to another, either loses the connection that they have already had or fails to do so altogether. The two main characters Lennie and George are distinct from all the other characters in the story because they have each other. They are the only two characters who are not lonesome and have dreams and goals of their own. Steinbeck characterizes the theme of loneliness and isolation through metaphors and motifs in order to show that loneliness and isolation can corrupt individuals and hinder them from achieving their

Towards the beginning of the story, George reminds Lennie how people like them are very lonely, how they have each other and won’t become lonesome and hopeless like the others. He expresses how they are together and that this simple fact will keep them alive and guarantee themselves a future. “‘With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar blowin’ in our jack jus’ because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us,’”(14). This quote’s meaning of loneliness and companionship is frequently expressed throughout the novella in the sense that loneliness is surrounding everyone, and that isolation is the cause of their downfall. Numerous characters within the novella have shown some sort of decline with life, “‘I don’t like Curly. He ain’t a nice fella… I Coulda been in the movies, an’ had nice clothes-all them nice clothes they wear,’”(89). The lack of connection expressed from one of the characters, (Curly’s wife) has led her to be unable to achieve her dreams and become stagnant, having no progression in her life. This quote shows her distaste for her husband and how she greatly yearns for a better life, though, she knows that her wish will never