Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Of Mice and Men is a 1937 published novella by John Steinbeck. It reveals the story of two migrant workers, Lennie, a mentally unstable character, and George, who make their way to a ranch in California, where the novel is set, to find employment during the great economic depression. Steinbeck reveals the theme of loneliness throughout the novel in three characters in particular, Curley’s wife, Candy and Crooks, who all happen to take on the role as misfits in the novel. Using the theme of loneliness, Steinbeck manages to highlight other issues in US-society during the late 20s. As the novel starts and Lennie and George arrive in the ranch, the reader encounters Curley’s wife and realises that she is lonely. “She had full rouged lips and …show more content…

“Candy looked for help from face to face (…) Candy continued to stare at the ceiling“, portrays a sense of isolation. Considering that Candy is the only significantly old character in the book, a difference between him and the other characters is revealed, which leads to loneliness, as he is difficult to relate to for everyone else. In the scene, Candy looks for help, this indicates that he has no friend, since a friend would ideally stand up for him, this therefore shows that Candy is lonely, Steinbeck emphasises this as Candy looks at each man individually hoping that they will convince the men that his dog should not be shot. Unsuccessfully, the dog dies anyway as no one sided with Candy, the reader reacts sympathetically to his loneliness at this point. As the dog is shot, Slim refers to it as old and useless, Candy fits the dog’s description, he may take the comment as a person insult and therefore continue to stare at the ceiling avoiding anyone’s gaze. The reader infers that his reluctance to gaze at anyone shows that he is not making the effort of getting a friend and therefore remains lonely. Due to the age differences between him and the other characters, Candy portrays the theme of loneliness in Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and

of mice and men...theme of lonliness in the book
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Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

of mice and men...theme of lonliness in the book