The Feelings of Isolation and Loneliness in “Of Mice and Men By: Jordynn Cummings Have you ever felt alone or isolated? In the story, ¨Of Mice and Men¨ by John Steinbeck each one of these characters are lonely. On ranch full of workers, you can still get lonely. ¨Of Mice and Men” this story demonstrates the feelings of isolation and loneliness. Candy was one of the older men on the ranch. Candy received disability because of his broken hand that got injured in an accident. These are the things that isolated Candy from the rest of the workers.“ I got hurt four years ago they’ll can me purty soon. just as soon as I can swamp out no bunkhouses they’ll put me on the country maybe if i give you guys my money, you’ll let me hoe in the gardens even after I aint no good at it” (Pg.60) This shows that unlike the other workers pretty soon Candy isn't going to be able to get another job so he uses the money and he has to persuade Lennie and …show more content…
George to bring him along when they buy their land. ¨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. You guys got any money? Maybe we could do her right now?¨”(Pg.59) This expresses how desperate Candy is for companionship. He was willing to leave his money to two total strangers. He knew after this job was over, he would have nowhere to go or no one to go to. Crooks was a African American that took care of the horses and had his own room that kept him around from the other white workers. Crooks isn’t like majority of the black men in this time period, he grew up in California instead of the south.“Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play cause I’m black.”(Pg.68) This lets you see that Crooks was fully aware why he couldn’t do what the other white men could did. He got treated differently because of his race. You could tell it bothered him that he was alone all the time. “Maybe you can see now.You got George. You know he’s goin’ to come back.S’pose you didn’t have nobody.” (Pg.72) This quote shows how Crooks wish he did have somebody to talk to or spend time with like Lennie and George. He names all the things he does instead of spending time or communicating with someone else. Curley’s wife showed isolation and loneliness because she didn’t have anybody she could actually talk to.
She couldn’t talk to none of the worker because she was the Boss’s son wife or Curley would assume she was flirting. She also was lonely because she was the only female on the ranch.“What kinda harm am I doin’ to you? Seems like they ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live. I tell you I ain’t uses to livin’ like this, I coulda made somethin’ of myself.” (Pg.88) Curley’s wife notices how she doesn’t like the life she is currently living. She is reflecting back on how she could’ve did something different with her life.She is tired of being punished for trying to socialize with people.“Well, I ain't told this to nobody before. Maybe I ought to. I don't like Curley. He ain't a nice fella.” “I coulda been in the movies and had nice clothes.”(Pg.89) This expresses how even Curley’s own wife doesn’t even like him. She looks back on how she could’ve been living differently with nicer things and people she could actually talk
to. “Of Mice and Men” shows even when you have people around you, you can still feel alone and have no one to talk to. The story shows how life is hard and difficult when you have to stay to yourself all day or can’t even talk to anyone.In society today, these are the feelings that make people depressed.
All through the book Curley’s Wife is very “open” to everyone she meets. The reason for this can be interpreted by her and Curley’s “so-called” marriage. The relationship between Curley’s Wife and Curley seems to be somewhat unstable as he is always asking “Any you guys seen my wife?” (pg. ). This also shows how protective Curley seems to be as he is always checking up on where his wife is. Curley’s insecurity seems to cage in his wife from having any kind of a friendship with any other men. In turn, the wife gets so sick of being isolated like this and relieves her loneliness by conducting secret conversations with many other men on the ranch. As a result many of the ranch hands see her as a tramp but it can be viewed that all she really wants is a person to talk to.
In his novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck depicts the essential loneliness of California ranch life in the 1930s. He illustrates how people are driven to find companionship. There were so many moments of loneliness and sadness throughout the novel, including many deaths. Following the deaths, they were very unexpected making the novel more intense and latch onto it more.
All in all, through the use of the characters in Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck is able to highlight how isolation that is forced on individuals by society ultimately leads to one’s suffering. The overall message of the novel is that no single individual should be mistreated because of a mental issue, his or her race, his or her gender, or the fact that one may have a physical injury. It is everyone’s human right to be treated equally and respectfully. No one should ever feel alienated from his or her surroundings. Loneliness is something that no one can avoid. As the story comes to an end, the story brings to light different causes of isolation, particularly discrimination and preconceptions.
In the touching and gripping tale of John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, he explains many themes throughout the books. One of the major themes is loneliness, which is shown throughout many different characters, for example, Curley’s wife, the stable buck (Crooks), and Lennie.
Factors that can fuel loneliness are abundant: depression, trauma, social rejection, loss, low self-esteem, etc. The aspect of human connection and interaction is a psychological requirement for all people, even to those who push others away. These elements of isolation are presented through three methods in a 1938 novel of friendship. John Steinbeck uses indirect characterization, discrimination, and conflict to demonstrate the effects of loneliness and need for companionship in his novel Of Mice and Men.
The dream of owning a farm and "living off the fatta the land" originally started as a story just to keep Lennie quiet but because of Lennie constantly asking George to tell him the story kept the dream alive. One time in the bunkhouse, George was re -telling this story when candy overheard it. Candy fears that because he is getting old and has one crippled hand that any day soon he is going to be asked to leave...
Candy dealt with his loneliness by being friendly with George and Lennie and becoming a partner in obtaining the small ranch that was George and Lennie’s dream. Candy kind of an outcast because of his age difference from other ranch hands. “I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some”(Candy 319). Candy attempts to be useful in someone else life. He heard that George and Lennie have this dream to “live off the fat of the land” as soon as they get enough money. Candy wanted to join, he offered as much as he can. He wanted to join the dream but not only did he want to join, he wanted to join the friendship of George and Lennie. “Maybe I can give you guys money”(Candy 325). Candy offered his money that he gets from the government for his disability. An exchange for money Candy gets a friendship out of it. So he is paying George and Lennie to be friends with him really. I think money will never buy a real friendship. Not only was Candy lonely and miserable trying to deal with loneliness, but so was Crooks...
Loneliness is the central theme in the novel Of Mice and Men. Many of the characters show signs of being lonely, some more than others. Loneliness haunts Crooks deep inside. Crooks accepts things the way they are though. Crooks does not talk to the other men and they do not talk to him. This causes the greatest amount of loneliness in Crooks out of all the characters. Rejection can cause most people to become crazy, as it
A novel which explores the the theme of loneliness is 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck. The characters George, Crooks, Candy and Curley's wife are used to show loneliness. In the novel the two main characters, George and Lennie, are starting a new job in California after being ordered out of their last job as a result of Lennie's childish behavior. They work as farm laborers and have always had a dream of they could own their own land. This dream they have is typically an aspiration that many people have but unfortunately never attain. Although, luckily enough they get offered money which by a character called Candy, and this sum of money boosts their chances of capturing their dream. However, the kindled hope they have soon evaporates, with tragic consequences.
In today's society, group or even a family anyone who believe they do not belong can feel “lonely.” Loneliness can be one of the most depressing feelings experienced. Of Mice and Men takes place on a ranch in California during the early 1930s. There many negative viewpoints about certain sexes and races had not yet been resolved. Women and African Americans were perceived as lesser individuals when compared to any white male American, despite the fact that the country was on the turn of the century and thereby beginning to accept all people as equals. Another group of people that did not get much respect and was treated poorly was the mentally challenged. Not until the 1930s was anyone who was mentally retarded and considered crazy, treated respectfully as individuals. Even though it was tough for all Americans during this period of time their American Dream like anybody else was difficult.
This is the piece of speech, when Candy is trying to persuade George to let him in on the ranch their going to get. The language Steinbeck uses here, makes Candy seem overly eager to get in with George and Lennie. Mainly because, he’s dog dies so now he doesn’t have anybody, and he feels he might get canned. So as soon as he hears the opportunity to break away from being lonely, he jumps at it. I feel extremely sorry for Candy because he has nobody to turn to. He really does try to find friendship in people, but sometimes tries to hard.
In Of Mice and Men, the author, Steinbeck, explores the theme of isolation. The whole book has a pessimistic and gloomy tone to it. Steinbeck has hinted at us the theme of isolation from full built evidence to subtle details (such as placing the city of the book in Soledad, California, a Spanish word for solitude). He argues that isolation forms when people become selfish and egocentric and worry about themselves all the time.
First, Candy has the dream of getting him a piece of George and Lennie’s land on their farm. This small piece of land means much to Candy, as shown in chapter 3, Candy is talking to George and says, “…you’ll let me hoe in the garden even after I ain’t no good at it. An’ I’ll wash dishes an’ little chicken stuff like that…I’ll be let to work on our own place” (p. 60). From this, it is suggested that all Candy wants is a small piece of land where he can go when he is considered old and worthless by others. It is his ticket for feeling useful, and not living off streets once he cannot perform his job as a swamper. Although the plan seemed superb, it was ultimately flawed. Candy could have probably made the rest of the money as he promised, but because Lennie killed Curley’s wife in chapter 5, they could never go through with the impractical plan. The decision of ...
Loneliness is the feeling of isolation and no hope or dreams in your life-which is what Steinbeck achieves by portraying this theme effectively through key fictional characters in Of Mice and Men.
The following short story “Of Mice of Men” is a written story by John Steinbeck who wrote it in 1937, a tragic story about a strange and complex bond between two migrant laborers. The pervasive emotion experienced by all of the characters in Of Mice and Men is loneliness, misery, and thrive. The loneliness is, on the one hand, a reality check, none of the men in this story want to be alone and they do not want to be left behind by society either. The loneliness is profoundly existential and symbolic.