The Theme of Loneliness in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

686 Words2 Pages

The idea of solitude is a strong theme held throughout the entire novel "Of Mice and Men". Without it, many of the key events that occur in the book would not have happened, for example, the death of Curley’s wife, which eventually lead to the unfortunate death of Lennie. To begin with, the overall atmosphere created by the author implies a sense of loneliness. ‘Soledad’, the setting of the book, means loneliness in Spanish, and many hints, such as the numerous games of ‘solitaire’ played, also refer back to the theme, as it a word that sounds familiar to solitary, meaning isolated. The contrasting effects of the first section, with the description of a beautiful scenery, broken by the sound of the highway, also creates a sense of solitude, but in a peaceful manner, rather than one which is undesired, which is the one that affects the characters of the book. Many characters undergo the feeling of solitude. For example, Curley’s wife commits herself to a loveless marriage, a life of misery and isolation, as her husband, Curley, does not care for her the way a husband should, an...

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