Why Is Curley's Wife So Lonely

The Great Depression was the period after the stock market crashed (1929). Everyone lost all the money that they had and belongings that were once worth lots, became worthless. Accompanying the Great Depression, was the Dust Bowl. Due to farmers planting the same crops on the same patch of land year after months with no rain, dirt and dust was easily picked up from the ground by wind. This dirt was like a hurricane, but more destructive. People were poor and food was scarce. People resorted to eating dirt and even the once rich were forced to live in shacks in what were called “Hoover towns.” John Steinbeck wrote many books taking place during this time. One of his pieces, Of Mice and Men, is about two migrant farmers, George, a smart, kind

man, and Lennie, his cognitively impaired companion. They are searching for work and trying to achieve their dream of owning land. They head to a farm in Salinas Valley where they are welcomed by a swamper, Candy. The boss, Curley (the boss’s son), and most of the other men are suspicious of George and Lennie’s relationship, during this time it was every man for himself. George hopes Lennie doesn’t get into any trouble, like he did at their last job, so he instructs him to stay away from Curley and his wife. Curley is a boxer who is always looking for fight and his wife spends her time trying to talk to the workers, which Curley does not like. In his novella Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses Curley’s wife, Crooks, and Candy to represent the theme of loneliness being an unescapable disease.
First, Steinbeck uses Candy to represent that loneliness cannot be escaped. Candy is the swamper (janitor) in the novella, Of Mice and Men. He is old and only has one hand, which makes him feel useless. Candy explains, “They says he [his dog] wasn’t no good to himself or anybody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me” (Steinbeck 60). Candy is saying that he feels useless and alone without his dog, he wishes that someone would kill him to put him out of his misery. None of the guys have the capability to understand what Candy’s dog meant to him or how useless he feels, all they know is that if you can’t work, you have no real purpose. The men have no sense of brotherhood or empathy. Briefly before stating this, Candy says, “I’d make a will an’ leave my share to you guys in case I kick off” (Steinbeck 59). Candy is referring to the $350 he has. Even though Candy barely knows these two men, he’s willing to offer his entire savings to them on the off chance that they will be able to buy this farm to live on. Candy wants someone to be with and wants to be somewhere where he doesn’t feel useless. Candy feels useless and unwanted and in an attempt to fix this, he offers all his money to two strangers.
Next, Steinbeck uses Curley’s wife to show that loneliness cannot be escaped.

Curley’s wife is disliked amongst the men, they are all terrified that if caught talking to her, Curley will beat them up. The men also believe that she is a flirt, but she just wants someone to talk to that isn’t Curley. While talking to Lennie, Curley’s wife states, “I don’ like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella” (Steinbeck 89). Curley’s wife declares that she doesn’t like Curley and doesn’t enjoy spending time with him, he makes her feel alone and unwanted. Earlier, when stopping by Crook’s room to figure out if any of them know where Curley is, she asks, “Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time” (Steinbeck 77). Curley’s wife tries to talk with the men on the farm in an attempt to make a friend or two. All she wants is someone to talk to, so she doesn’t feel

lonely.
Finally, Steinbeck uses Candy to show that loneliness cannot be escaped.

Crooks is the stable buck. Crooks is and African American man whose back is crooked and the men, especially Curley, use him as a punching bag when they are upset because he is different. Crooks exclaims to Lennie, “I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room” (Steinbeck 68). Crooks is not wanted anywhere which is why he has his own room. He is alone and separated from the other men because he is different. Crooks even states, “A guy needs somebody- to be near him… A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody… I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick” (Steinbeck 72). Crooks is saying that humans need other humans, humans are not meant to be alone. After realizing that George and Lennie’s dream might come true, Crooks offers, “… If you… guys would want a hand to work for nothing – just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand” (Steinbeck 76). Crooks is offering to work on their farm for free just so he has a place that he is accepted and not isolated from the

rest.
Throughout Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses characters to contribute to the idea that loneliness is an inescapable disease. Steinbeck uses Candy, Curley’s wife, and Crooks to portray this theme. Candy, a one-handed janitor, offers his entire savings to two strangers with the hope that he might get to live on a farm with them. Curley’s wife, who does not enjoy the company of her husband, talks to the other men on the farm trying to make a friend. Crooks, the African American stable buck with a crooked back, offers free labor to work on the farm that George, Lennie, and Candy plan to purchase. Loneliness is considered a disease, one that has been declared more dangerous than smoking. Loneliness drives people crazy and the only escape is more human interaction, but that isn’t possible for everyone, especially if people fear your husband.