The story ‘Of Mice and Men’ is set in a period of time known as the Great Depression. The Great Depression was a time where the stock market crashed leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless or striving exceptionally hard to keep their roof from falling in. The characters in ‘Of Mice and Men’ face many dilemmas, for instance Curley’s wife doesn’t get much attention from her husband and seeks it out from the other ranch members and Crooks can’t live a day without being singled out because of his race/colour. Both these problems relate to what I believe is the biggest problem in this book, loneliness.
Loneliness has made Crook's a very bitter and isolated individual. Other than when they are working, the other men shut Crooks out off all of their activities except the horseshoe games. Crooks is very isolated and not welcome in leisure activities. Crooks’ emotions are displayed to the reader when he talks to Lennie in his room about having no one to relate to and communicate with. He says: "Maybe you can see now. You got George. You know he's goin' to come back. S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't go into the bunk house and play rummy ‘cause you was black...A guy needs somebody--to be near him". In a way, everyone needs someone to talk to, whether it is a friend, family member, or even a pet. This is a source of comfort and wealth for the person. Crooks does not have any of these sources. Crooks has never been treated well by any of his co-workers because he is black. This has affected Crooks greatly. He has become bitter and has obtained a passionate animosity toward everyone. He has a certain attitude toward everyone due to the way he is treated because of his race. In addition, Crooks also does not know ho...
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... love and affection that she desires. This makes her seek it from other people. By not talking to anyone and constantly worrying about what Curley will do, she has attained a sneakiness that does not please anyone on the ranch. Acting in flirtatious ways is the only way Curley's Wife thinks she can deal with her loneliness.
Even though the Great Depression had a massive affect on the characters in the book loneliness had a bigger impact. Loneliness has tremendously affected the behaviour and thoughts of Crooks and Curley's Wife. There are distinct changes in both of them. Crooks has developed a bitter personality and Curley's Wife has become excessively modest. Simple relationships and unconditional care could have prevented both of these character's situations. Loneliness has affected each person differently, but the source of why they changed is the same.
Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, is a book that can be analyzed and broken down into a vast majority of themes. One of the predominant themes found in this book is loneliness. Many characters in this book are affected by loneliness and they all demonstrate it in one way or another throughout the book. Examples of these characters are Curley’s Wife, Crooks, and Candy.
In his novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck depicts the essential loneliness of California ranch life in the 1930s. He illustrates how people are driven to find companionship. There were so many moments of loneliness and sadness throughout the novel, including many deaths. Following the deaths, they were very unexpected making the novel more intense and latch onto it more.
Crooks who is another lonely man was very sad as well. Because he was black he wasn’t allowed into the other guys bunkhouse with them because they thought he stunk. “Why ain’t you wanted?” Lennie asked. “’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They think I stink. Well I tell you, you all stink to me.” (p.68) Crooks is always by himself and working hard even with a broken back. Crooks sits in his room all the time by himself.
Thomas Carlyle, philosopher, once stated, “Isolation is the sum total of wretchedness to a man.” There is nothing in this world more heartbreaking than the lack of healthy relationships. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is an insightful story about man-to-man bonds. It is set during the 1930s, when the United States was going through the Great Depression. At this time, everyone, including migrant workers similar to the ones in our story, had difficulties finding secure jobs. This resulted in an attitude of every man for himself. Some of the characters in the story can connect well with others; however, the rest have a hard time fitting in. Slim, the jerkline skinner, is one of the people who can blend in with the other ranch workers. This
In the novel, Of Mice and Men, the effects of loneliness and need for companionship
Curley’s wife suffers from loneliness also. Her only companion is very controlling. Curley makes sure his wife doesn’t talks to anyone. She is a victim of herself because she married a man that she hardly even knew. She married him though to have a companion. She killed herself and Lennie because of her need for companionship. She craves companionship because she is an attractive woman with need for interaction. Curley’s wife says,” Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while? (Pg. 77)”.
Personally I believe that this statement is true in every aspect. Loneliness is a big part of the book "Of mice and men." The book shows loneliness in every ones life in the book.
Curley’s wife is an extremely sad example of loneliness been characterised in the novel. T...
Loneliness is the central theme in the novel Of Mice and Men. Many of the characters show signs of being lonely, some more than others. Loneliness haunts Crooks deep inside. Crooks accepts things the way they are though. Crooks does not talk to the other men and they do not talk to him. This causes the greatest amount of loneliness in Crooks out of all the characters. Rejection can cause most people to become crazy, as it
“Tell me- like you done before.” “Tell you what?” “About the rabbits.” Of Mice and Men, PG. 13 Steinbeck’s book, Of Mice and Men, conveys loneliness in his story through the characters and setting. This is how he used Lennie, Candy, and Curley’s wife present prime examples of loneliness throughout the story by the events that happen to them in the story.
A novel which explores the the theme of loneliness is 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck. The characters George, Crooks, Candy and Curley's wife are used to show loneliness. In the novel the two main characters, George and Lennie, are starting a new job in California after being ordered out of their last job as a result of Lennie's childish behavior. They work as farm laborers and have always had a dream of they could own their own land. This dream they have is typically an aspiration that many people have but unfortunately never attain. Although, luckily enough they get offered money which by a character called Candy, and this sum of money boosts their chances of capturing their dream. However, the kindled hope they have soon evaporates, with tragic consequences.
In today's society, group or even a family anyone who believe they do not belong can feel “lonely.” Loneliness can be one of the most depressing feelings experienced. Of Mice and Men takes place on a ranch in California during the early 1930s. There many negative viewpoints about certain sexes and races had not yet been resolved. Women and African Americans were perceived as lesser individuals when compared to any white male American, despite the fact that the country was on the turn of the century and thereby beginning to accept all people as equals. Another group of people that did not get much respect and was treated poorly was the mentally challenged. Not until the 1930s was anyone who was mentally retarded and considered crazy, treated respectfully as individuals. Even though it was tough for all Americans during this period of time their American Dream like anybody else was difficult.
Loneliness is the sadness resulting from being forsaken or abandoned. John Steinbeck brought up the theme of loneliness in many characters in Of Mice and Men. Crooks, Curley?s wife, and Candy expressed the theme of loneliness in many different forms throughout the story. Early in the novella George said, life working as ranch hands is on the loneliness lives to live, for these people finding friendship seems to be impossible.
“A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you. ‘I tell ya’ he cried. ‘I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.” (Page 72-73) As you can see, Crooks also spends most of his time alone because he is black. He is not allowed to enter the bunk house nor go to town with the guys. He is not allowed to enter the bunk house, he is not allowed to go to town with the guys and nobody likes him because he is black. This shows that he has no friendship and his whole life is filled with loneliness. His case is different from Lennie’s.
In conclusion, being lonely is something none of the men wants to happen and the men being lonely is symbolic because that shows how the times were during the Great Depression. The men don’t want to be by themselves nor do they want to be left behind by the people. Steinbeck wanted to show how existence was during the time period. Steinbeck showed how people remained affected by the depression and what people had to do to make it through the tough times. He demonstrated how people had to make choices not just for themselves but for the well-being of others. This novel might have been different if it was made from a historical point of view because then it would have more facts about the struggles during the Great Depression. Imagine what would have happened if Steinbeck left Lennie alive in this story or what happened with George after he killed Lennie.