Lennie Smalls Loneliness

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In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George Milton and his mentally retarded companion Lennie Smalls travel to a Californian ranch where they hope to start over and save enough money to buy their own ranch; they are both isolated due to the difference in their mental states, yet the people they meet in California are also lonely. While all of the ranchhands experience some degree of loneliness, Curley, Curley's Wife, and Crooks experience the greatest level of isolation. Curley, the Boss's son, has a short temper which leads to him creating his own alienation from the other ranchhands. Due to his insecurity of being short, he picks fights with others and tries to act tough to prove his masculinity. This is evident when he barges into the bunkhouse and he glances "coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists" (25). His glance is also described as "calculating and pugnacious" (25). Also, after Lennie crushes his hand, he promises not to tell anyone what happened to protect his pride. He pitifully states, "I won't tell" while avoiding eye contact with everyone (65). Curley's aggressive attitude alienates him from the rest of the men on the farm, and he spends the majority of his time angry. …show more content…

She acts flirty, which is displayed when she comes to the bunkhouse looking for Curley and she "put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward" (31). The other ranchhands call her names such as "jail bait" and a "looloo" (51). She later confides in Lennie that she did not become a successful actress so she married Curley, but she does not "like Curley" because he "ain't a nice fella" (89). Curley's Wife is isolated due to her flirty demeanor that she has due to her unhappy marriage and lack of

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