Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

One theme in “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck is loneliness. This is displayed through many different characters in the book. “Of Mice and Men” was written in 1937 during the great depression, a time of hardship and loneliness. Similar to George and Lennie, two migrant workers in the novel, there were many people forced by circumstances to migrate in search of work. Despite having each other, without home or family loneliness is hard to escape. Other characters exhibit loneliness through their situations such as Curley’s wife feeling trapped at the ranch and forgotten by Curley. Candy also goes through a state of loneliness when he loses his dog, a companion of many years when it gets too old and Carlson “puts it out of its misery”. Another

Crooks’s loneliness comes from the racial discrimination he faces and inequality he feels from being a cripple. Unlike the rest of the workers, he lives in the barn with the horses. The reason behind this is that he is black and at the time this book takes place and was written, there was not racial equality in america. While Crooks was talking to Lennie and Candy about Lennie and George’s dream to have their own ranch, Crooks offered to help out around their place if they ever did achieve their dream and was all for the idea until George came in. The tasks he offered to do were not much different from the ones he was already doing because he was crippled, another source of his feeling of inequality and loneliness. Talking with Lennie about their plan made it seem like a good idea because Lennie, who is simple minded, did not seem to mind that Crooks was black. When George came into the barn and was angry with Candy for telling Crooks of their plan, Crooks immediately backed down and said he was not serious about the idea. He says “I didn’t mean it, jus’ foolin’. I wouldn’ want to go no place like that” (Steinbeck 83). Crooks has this reaction because at first he has hope that based on Lennie’s attitude towards him, he might be treated better at the new ranch, then George comes with the same attitude he is used to and dashes Crooks’s dreams. His loneliness comes from the discrimination he faces. Growing up in America during this time made him into a hard and calloused person. Another character who does not see past Crooks’ skin color is Curley’s wife. She uses her status and the position Crooks is in to threaten him. Curley’s wife says to both Crooks and Candy, “Nobody’d listen to you an’ you know it. Nobody’s listen to you” (Steinbeck 81). Crooks feels lonely because of the attitude people like George and Curley’s wife have toward