Loneliness in Of Mice And Men Essay

All humans desire to love and to be loved. If we do not achieve this we often experience solitude and loneliness. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, loneliness is illustrated through the lives of characters living on a ranch during the great depression. Characters such as Crooks, Curleys wife and Candy all experience loneliness throughout the novel due to being discriminated against, insecurity and because of lack of companionship. Right from the beginning, an atmosphere of solitude within characters is portrayed which helps readers learn the impact loneliness has on individuals.

All humans also desire to be accepted for who they are to be loved by other humans for who they really are, while some of us change our personalities to fit into a certain group, we cannot change our race, ethnicity, gender or physical characteristics. The character of Crooks is perhaps the most apparent example of loneliness in Of Mice and Men. Being an African American stable buck, Crook is faced with racial prejudice and is secluded throughout the novel. His character is portrayed to be bitter, sharp-witted and pessimistic at first which causes readers to be not too fond of him. The scene in which Lennie visits Crooks completely changes the outlook of the character as the reasons behind the bitterness are exposed. When Lennie visits him, Crooks first reaction provides evidence of the extent of loneliness Crooks feels. Although at first, he refuses to let Lennie stay to prove a point that if Crooks isnt allowed in a white persons house, then a white person should not be allowed in a black persons house, his desire for companionship wins in the end. Lennie is invited by Crooks to sit with him, at first Crooks plays a cruel game with Lennie which further exhibits how bitter a lonely person can become due to self-vulnerability. Crooks suggests that George is gone and that he wont come back, in retaliation Lennie threatens Crooks physically which stops Crooks. Following this, readers discover the genuine reasons behind the bitterness. Crook explains to Lennie why he remains in solitude and does not interact with others.

Cause Im black. They play cards in there but I cant play because Im black. They say I stink. Well I tell you, you all stink to me (p. 75).

The prejudice along with little to none social contact caused Crooks to become a lonely, bitter, pessimistic character. Loneliness due to racial prejudice can make individuals feel worthless and the character of Crooks clearly demonstrates that. After all, we all need to feel accepted and seclusion causes us to feel unimportant, depressed and empty. The bitter individual readers learn to know in the book cannot be blamed for being so pessimistic, Crooks was unable to interact with others due to his racial identity.

Other characters in the book also intensify Crooks loneliness by judging him and saying negative remarks on a regular basis. For example, in one instance, Crooks actually attempted to stand up for himself in which Curelys wife retaliated.

"Listen, Nigger," she said. "You know what I can do if you open your trap?

Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself.

She closed on him. "You know what I could do?"

Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall. "Yas, ma'am."

"well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny." (p.88)

This scene illustrates how lonely an individual can feel through the harsh words of others. Most readers are able to relate to this scene through empathy most of us at some point of our life have been discriminated against and have not had the courage to talk back, to tell them that they are making us feel worthless, to tell them how secluded they make us feel. Another example of Crooks loneliness is the fact that all the men on the ranch live together while Crooks is forced to be secluded to a small shed solely on the basis he is African American (p. 73) While the men sleep on beds, Crooks sleeps on a box filled with straw (p.73) which demonstrates the fact of how he is seen as insignificant and inferior to the others just because of skin colour. All these instances of prejudice have had a corrosive effect on Crooks. They have transformed him into a bitter, pessimistic and extremely lonely man who perhaps only wanted a sense of belonging he wanted to be just like all the other men and not be seen as inferior. Through the character of Crooks, a discriminated African American, we can grasp the extent of effects loneliness has on those living through it even if the effect is changing the person completely.

Sometimes those who discriminate us are the victims of discrimination themselves; these individuals exhibit large amounts of insecurity which is often the result of loneliness. A female character in the novel demonstrates one of these people accurately Curleys wife. Steinbeck used symbolism by not giving her an actual name and referring to her as Curelys wife to suggest that people do not care for others and this makes them feel lonely. Due to the fact that the novel was published in 1937, a time where women were often seen as objects or possessions which is also a reason for the nameless character. This way of thinking is also apparent in the way Curley treated his wife, she was forbidden to communicate with any men on the ranch even though he never showed any affection towards her. Again, the characters in Of Mice and Men contribute to the loneliness by using derogatory terms for her. For example, the majority of men despise her and suggest that she is a rat trap (p.36), a tart (p.32, 105) and a tramp (p.104) since many believe these labels; they refuse to have any contact with her which contributes to her loneliness. Some may argue that these stereotypes are true on the basis that Curleys wife has a flirtatious nature, what they do not see is the fact that this flirtatious nature is the result of insecurity, insecurity caused by chauvinistic men and lack of appreciation or love, the love all humans need.

Another character who displays the effects of loneliness is Candy. Physical ability and age are the factors that cause him to be isolated in the ranch. Readers learn that Candy used to be a ranch worker but now works as a cleaner at the ranch. Unlike Crooks and Curleys wife, Candy has companionship in the form of an old sheepdog. Unfortunately his only companion had to be shot at the hands of Carlson due to the fact that he was of no use as a sheepdog. The loss of his best friend makes Candy realizes his own faith - the dog was an old sheepdog similar to how Candy is an old ranch worker, the dog was not able to walk properly resembling how Candy is unable to perform due to his own physical disability.

When they can't use me here I wisht somebodyd shoot me. But they wont do nothing like that. I wont have no place to go, an I cant get no more jobs (pg. 60)

Candy believes that he is destined to have the same faith as his dog hell be thrown on the roadside as soon as he stops being useful.

Another example that illustrates Candys loneliness is the emotional breakdown he feels after the dogs death. Carlson shot the dog and Candy regrets this as he couldnt bring himself to shoot the dog himself this demonstrates how weak Candys character is he cant even stand up for his best friend let alone himself.

I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog." (pg. 61)

Candy confides in George and Lennies dream to change his negative attitude and feelings of loneliness. The American Dream the protagonists George and Lennie have is changed to Lennie, George and Candys dream

Tell you what -" He leanded forward eagerly. "S'pose I went in with you guys. Tha's three hundred an' fifty bucks I'd put in. I ain't much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some. How'd that be?" (p.65)

Candy is so lonesome that readers can sense his desperation for companionship when Candy is willing to leave all his money to George and Lennie if he dies. Unfortunately, Candys bad attitude again arises as he repeatedly tells them the dreams going to fail. When it does indeed fail, no one feels the loss as much as Candy. Candy then tries to accept and despair on his lonely life without a best friend (the dog) and without any future career possibilities. Candys character is a sad example of how loneliness can affect an elderly disabled person. Feelings of uselessness and emptiness arise in these members of society.