How Does Steinbeck Show Loneliness In Of Mice And Men

Loneliness

The great and famous author john Steinbeck once said, “All great and precious things are lonely.” In the Steinbeck book Of Mice and Men, many of the characters show their loneliness in many different ways. Candy, Curley's wife, and Crooks all show perfect examples of how they are lonely. The characters in of mice and men show that loneliness is a problem that must be overcome in order to live a happy, fulfilled life.. all three of these characters know what is feels like to be lonely.

In the story Of Mice and Men, Candy shows many ways he is lonely. For example, candy says, “I’d make a will an’ leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, cause I ain’t got no relatives nor nothing. .” (Steinbeck 113). Candy has

been working on the ranch for a long time and knows all about being lonely. He has never had any family that cared enough about him. He also shows loneliness by saying, “I ain't interested in nothing you was saying’. A guy on a ranch don’t never listen nor he don’t ask no questions.” (24). In this statement I believe he is relating to himself and everyone else on the ranch because no one really cares about each other. He then goes on to say, “They'll can me pretty soon.” (60). When he says this he is referring to him getting old and not being worth as much anymore so they might just let him go.
Curley's wife also shows loneliness in many ways. During this short story, Curley's wife is always alone and looking for company. She finds that no one ever wants to be around her and causes some trouble for a Lennie. Curly's wife says, “They left the weak ones here.” (77). This is in the point of the story where all of the other boys have gone out into town to the “Cat House” and had left Lennie, Curley's wife, and Crooks. She is saying that they are the ones that no one likes or wants to be around. The “Lonely” ones. Later she says, “well, I ain't giving you no trouble. Think I don't like to talk to somebody ever’ once in awhile?(77). Her husband never pays any attention to her and so she never has anyone to talk to about her problems or just regular in general things. She says, “What kind of harm am I doin’ to you? Seems like ain't none of them cares how I gotta live”. (88). She goes every day without anyone having a care in the world what she is doing or where she is.
Crooks is a very lonely person.

He is separated from everyone on the ranch because he is black. Everyone thinks he is gross and wants nothing to do with him. The narrator said “He kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs.”(67). No one was ever near him and he grew to enjoy that. Later when Lennie comes in his room they argue a little bit but the Crooks says, “Maybe you can see now. You got George. You know he's gonna come back, s'pose you didn't have nobody” (72). He is trying to explain to Lennie that he doesn't have anyone like George. No one has ever been there for him. After him and Lennie get into an argument about if George is going to come back for him, Crooks says, “I didn't mean to scare you. he’ll come back. I was talkin’ about myself” (73). Crooks didn't mean to scare Lennie, he just knows from experience that most people don't come back. they just leave and move on with their life as a ranch person.

In order to live a happy, fulfilled life, the characters in Of Mice and Men must overcome their problem of being lonely. the characters Candy, Curley's wife, and Crooks show many examples of loneliness. Over the chapters these characters make many decisions by themselves. They never have anyone to talk to about their rough patches in their life. they must all overcome obstacles, some harder than others. some choices they make will change their lives

forever.