Curley's Wife Loneliness

The theme of loneliness is important to the meaning of Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck, and the side characters of the novella feel loneliness just as much as the main characters. Crooks has been lonely for a long time, and his secluded nature starts to show. Curley’s Wife is lonely as well because of her feminine nature and marriage with Curley. Loneliness is also evident in Candy, and just as he thinks he has found a home, all his hope of companionship is ripped away. Crooks, Curley’s Wife, and Candy are not like the other characters of this book. All three of them have some feature that sets them apart from the others. Crooks is African American, Curley’s Wife is a woman, and Candy lost his hand. These traits have separated these characters

People do not talk to her because she is a woman, she is avoided because of her gender, but they do not even think about how lonely that makes her. When the others tell her to go away because they do not want trouble, she says, “Think I don’t like to talk to somebody” (Steinbeck 77). She is avoided and rejected, and that would make anyone lonely. Curley’s Wife is also lonely because of her unhappy marriage with Curley. Curley is not a kind man, and she may be married to him, but she does not love him. Curley does not let her talk to others, and when she can only talk to Curley, she feels alone. When Lennie does not want to talk to her because he does not want to angry Curley, she says, “I can’t talk to nobody but Curley” (Steinbeck 87). She feels trapped by her terrible marriage. Curley’s Wife feels hopeless because of her marriage, and Candy is hopeless as

Candy has no friends or family, and he is afraid that he will lose his job because he only has one arm. Candy tells George, “I won’t have no place to go” (Steinbeck 60). Candy is scared because no one would hire him because of his arm, and he has no one to help him. He is all alone in the hard world of the Great Depression. He is alone, and also hopeless. Candy once hoped that he could live on a farm with George and Lennie. He hoped to be a part of their family, but that dream died with Lennie. When he sees that Lennie killed Curley’s Wife, he asks George about their farm, “’Then—it’s all off?’” (Steinbeck 95). His new found hope is crushed and he is forever alone again. Candy’s future is not bright, and he will be facing it alone.

Steinbeck displayed the theme of loneliness in Of Mice and Men, and this would be Impossible without Crooks, Curley’s Wife, and Candy. Crooks helps display loneliness through his jealousy of companionship, and being permanently alone. Curley’s Wife also displays loneliness through sexism and by not being allowed to talk to others. Loneliness is also shown by Candy when his hopes of companionship are dashed, and by the fact that he has no friends or family. The Theme of Loneliness is an integral part of Of Mice and Men, and its prominence is greatly impacted by the characters of Crooks, Curley’s Wife, and