Being treated differently based on your physical and mental state is very common in our world. So common, that it is often talked about and written about. Stereotypes are a major focus in Of Mice and Men, particularly stereotypes against the handicapped. There are many instances throughout this book that demonstrates how discrimination against the impaired characters connects to the theme loneliness. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, stereotypes against the disabled greatly impacted the sense of loneliness of the characters. In Of Mice and Men, it is not made noticeable that Lennie would be lonely. He has George to keep him company and to take care of him. However, in a way Lennie is very lonely. He is treated differently because of his incapability …show more content…
When Carlson shot Candy’s dog, Candy began to see himself in his dog. He began to see how alone he is, and started to believe that he was useless. Candy had a very hard time dealing with being lonesome after the passing of his dog. This created an idea in his head that in the near future he would be all on his own, with no job, and nowhere to go. Candy had been working on the ranch for a very long time, and during that time he had lost his hand. Between his old age, and his impairment, it became clear to him that he would not be able to work for very much longer. Knowing this, he became desperate to become a part of George and Lennie’s plan. “I ain’t much good with on’y one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That’s why they give me a job swampin’. An’ they give me two hundred an’ fifty dollars ‘cause I los’ my hand. An’ I got fifty more saved up right in the bank, right now. Th’s three hundred, and I got fifty more comin’ the end of the month. Tell you what--” (pg 50). Candy went on to explain that he knew he would be left on his own soon and said, “I won’t have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no more jobs”(60). There are more instances too of loneliness in Of Mice and