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How Does Steinbeck Build Relationships In Of Mice And Men

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Those who read John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men will very easily point out the fact that the characters in the novella lack relationships with each other. In the very first chapter in Of Mice and Men, George makes the statement, “With us it [blowing their money and going from ranch to ranch] ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us” (Steinbeck, 14). The lack of these relationships allow the storyline to progress. Whereas, if the characters built relationships with each other, then the story could not progress and climax in the way that it did. The lack of substantive relationships in Of Mice and Men leads to the job hopping scenarios George describes, isolation among the characters, and the climatic point that makes Of Mice and Men a tragedy. First, the lack of relationships leads to the job hopping situations that George describes. In the the first chapter, George states:
Guys like us, that work ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch. (Stienbeck, 13)
George is showing that no one bothers to stay at a ranch for ranch. It is no coincidence that the man who has been at the ranch …show more content…

The rising action that leads to the climax come to a head when Curly wants to fight Lennie. Had Curly built a substantive relationship with Lennie, then the tragedy of Lennie may have not happened. Curly would not have been so quick in finding Lennie guilty in the murder of his wife, and certainly not felt capital punishment be the justice to be sought in the crime. Had Curly built a substantive relationship with Lennie then the climatic point that makes Of Mice and Men a tragedy would not have

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Steinbeck says that with companionship, people act more loving. One of Steinbeck's greatest books Of Mice and Men focuses on companionship. Steinbeck shows how companionship remains in our lives. The theme of the book portrays on how spending life alone affects you. But it also shows the benefits of it.

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The book of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck tells the story of an unusual couple travelling together as laborers working hand to mouth. Lennie being the “child” of the two, relies on George through the whole journey. They defy the odds of workers being in isolation. George and Lennie must work through obstacles of friendship, obligation and isolation in their journey to obtain their dream plan of owning their own land. Steinbeck suggests that though many workers believe relationships to be unnatural, the workers in fact have a desire to have a companion.

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"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place. They come to a ranch an' work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they're poundin' their tail on some other ranch.

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Loneliness and isolation is an ongoing theme throughout the novel Of Mice and Men, experienced by several characters to different degrees. Some characters are more isolated and lonely than others, yet every character in the story goes through this theme during one point in the story. There are various reasons why each character is lonely or isolated. In general, all the ranch workers feel some sort of loneliness because they move alone from ranch to ranch and do not have real connections with others, Curley’s wife experiences this theme because she is the only woman on the ranch and nobody wants to interact with her because Curley is very protective and hostile of her. Thirdly, Candy struggles through being lonely and isolated after Carlson shot his dog and because Candy does not work with the others since he is a swamper.

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