Loneliness in Of Mice And Men Essay

Of Mice and Men

The importance of loneliness in Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is shown through different characters and their separate struggles and differences. Whether they are mentally, physically, or emotionally alone, it is obvious that this is a rapidly recurring theme in the renowned and prominent story.

Curleys wife has an underlying loneliness that she shields from the rest of the world. She despises Curley and is restricted in her other relationships and friendships by him. Lennie and Georges first encounter with the girl called Curleys wife is in the bunk house, where she spends an astounding amount of her time. Her excuses are feeble, like this, her most commonly used: Im tryin to find Curley, Slim. Well, you aint tryin very hard. I seen him goin in your house. (32) When Curleys wife says this, her character is showing that she is desperate for attention of any kind. She uses Curleys constant absence as an excuse to flirt with the men in the bunk house, always tryin to find him. She is not happy with the way her husband expects her to stay cooped up in their house all the time while he gets into all kinds of trouble on the ranch. When she interrupts Candy, Lennie, and Crooks fanaticizing about their dream, Curleys wife complains to them. - Saiday night. Everbody out doin sompin. Everbody! An what am I doin? Standin here talkin to a bunch of binle stiffs - a nigger an a dum-dum an a lousy ol sheep - an likin; it because they aint nobody else. (78) Curleys wifes ashamedness is portrayed in this quote. She is so lonely because she is stuck at the ranch on a night when she could be out having fun, no less, with the social outcasts. This is her realizing just how lonely she is, finding refuge in the people she despises most. This causes her to despise herself even more for letting this become her life. She is basically stuck in her own mental battle, angry with herself for her lifes current situation. Also, she claims that she knows where Curley and the other men really went: a whore house. She knows that her own husband would rather spend his time there than with her on a Saturday night. During the girls fateful conversation with Lennie in the barn after he has killed his puppy, she confides in him in a way that she has never done before. As he attempts to explain his future farm to her, she spills some of her darkest secrets a man who has no interest in what she is saying. She says, You can talk to people, but I cant talk to no one but Curley. Else he gets mad. (87) She doesnt like being Curleys wife because she is afraid of what he can do to her. She doesnt like to make him mad, and beside the fact that she does not like him at all, one can assume that she fears the consequences of straying too far from their cozy little home.

Crooks, the stable buck, has a loneliness that originates form two main roots: he is black and he is crippled. When Steinbeck introduces him in the story, this is how the mans relationships with other people is described: [Crooks] kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs. (67) Crooks loneliness is somewhat self-imposed because, as stated by Steinbeck, he pushes people away. He has decided that he would prefer being on his own to subjecting himself to being ridiculed due to his race and/or physical condition. Crooks has chosen his loneliness, but only because he fears it might be worse any other way. He is terrified of humiliation. Towards the middle of the book, there is a scene where Lennie invites himself into the black mans room. When Candy shows up as well, slightly more confused and hesitant, this is Crooks reaction. Come on in. If ever bodys comin in, you might just as well. It was difficult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure with anger. (75) Even though Crooks isolates himself as much as possible, he longs for this not to have to be the case. He pretends to be angry when Candy and Lennie decide to visit him in his room, but underlying that front is pride and happiness. His disconnection from the rest of the ranch is just a show he puts on to protect himself. The wall is broken when he opened up to his new friends. After Curleys wife enters the picture, Crooks composure changes. She had caused a disagreement with Crooks, Lennie and George, and when Crooks spoke up in argument. When she had lashed out at him, Crooks had retired into the terrible protective dignity of the negro. (78-9) He realizes that even though he felt like an equal with the other two men, he is still different and knows it is not his place to speak up. He finds himself shrinking into his bunk, trying to become as small as possible. Crooks wishes he could be involved in conversation, but he is aware of what the others, especially Curleys wife, can do to him. His confidence and sense of trust he felt with Lennie and Candy was lost when he was threatened. Crooks loneliness is his own choice in some scenarios, but on many occasions he wishes that he was an equal and could live a life with friends and acquaintances.

Candy is lonely, just like Curleys wife and Crooks, because he is of a different generation than the other men on the ranch. Also, his closest companion for the longest time, his dog, was killed by the other men for euthanasia, which caused him a great devastation. When Carlson, the man with the most complaints of the old mutts health and stink, practically begs Candy to let him shoot it, Candy is obviously opposed. He argues, Wellhell! I had [the dog] so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him. He said proudly, You wouldnt think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen. (44) Candy was always very attached to his dog. Their relationship was a literal example of a dog being mans best friend. He found confidence, pride, comfort and a sense of home in his dog. Because dogs are so loyal, he knew that the dog would be a faithful friend until the end. When Carlson and the other guys brought up euthanasia for it to put it out of its suffering, Candy becomes very touchy. He comes to his beloved dogs defense as soon as possible, claiming that he was always a good dog, reliable, and useful, not to mention that they had been together since the dog was born. After this incident, Candy is eager for another friendship. When George and Lennie first show up at the ranch, Candy jumps at the chance for another life. After overhearing the two discussing their plans for a ranch, he makes a promise to them. Id make a will an leave my share [of money] to you guys in case I kick off, cause I aint got no relatives nor nothing. (59) Candy makes it clear that he has been lonely for a long time. He stated that he has no family, no one to leave his lifes savings to after he dies. He claimed that he would even go the distance and leave it to George and Lennie, a couple of guys with a similar dream who he met only hours before. That clearly portrays just how lonely and desperate for friendship. Candy is so eager to help out the two new guys that George is even skeptical at first. He doesnt let Candy in on the dream fully until later on in the story. But when Candy learned that Lennie had killed Curleys wife, he suddenly realized that maybe things were not going to be as perfect as he had expected. He is thwarted and disappointed. Thenits all off? Candy asked sulkily. (95) Candy displays emotions similar to that of a small child when the fall out happens. In return for his promise of money, Lennie and George had promised him a better future: a goal to look forward to at the end of the month when their money added up. He is drowned in disappointment when the fact that such a future will never exist in his lifetime. Just like Candy, a child will grow excited when promised a candy bar, but when told that there really was no candy bar and that the whole situation was made up, he would be let down. Candy comes to the conclusion that with no farm looming in the future, he has nothing more to look forward for. He will be forced to go back to his normal life, only this time even more alone. He will not have his dog like he did last time. Candy knows that he has nothing left in his life aside from loneliness, and that is what brings him down the most.

The characters all have their own form and degree of loneliness. Candy is old and recently lost his only companion: his dog. Curleys wife is upset with her lifestyle and despises her husband. Crooks is excluded for racial purposes and is afraid of being mocked and ridiculed. Loneliness is a prominent theme that reappears in Of Mice and Men because it is just an aspect of life.