How Does Steinbeck Present The Theme Of Belonging In Of Mice And Men

To have someone to be by their side is an essential aspect of one’s life, and provides a sense of belonging. But because of certain circumstances, some desire a company that makes them feel valued. In the novel Of Mice and Men, the author John Steinbeck brings forth the idea that a sense of belonging is established through companionship, and how hard it is to maintain during the great depression. The author uses elements of fiction such as setting, plot, and character that complement each other to emphasize this concept.

One of the most important elements of fiction that tribute this idea is set. This novel is set in Soledad, California during the great depression in the 1980s when there was brutal discrimination against blacks. In this case,

Throughout this novel, nearly all characters in Of Mice and Men are lonely, seeking a connection or bond with other characters. Personally, I found Curley’s wife’s situation particularly interesting because of how her character is affected by wanting more affection and love from others. She is an example of a person who can’t find good company and is seeking someone that makes her feel belonged. Because she is the only female on the ranch and her husband forbids anyone to talk to her, she lacks a sense of belonging and is often lonely. This loneliness causes her to seek out other men for companionship. Thus, she approaches Lennie and tries to start a conversation with him to make herself feel better,”’You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else [Curley] gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?”()She directly addresses her complaints to Lennie because she has no one else to talk to. This quote also shows the struggle that women had during that generation, in which they were empowered by mens. Seeing that she is described as Curley’s wife instead of her name explains how she is Curley’s possession. Thus, her identity of being a woman during this time period limits her freedom to interact with people, resulting in a situation of desperately needing company. Another characters that Steinbeck uses to develop the theme of belonging is Lennie and George. The successful companionship is exemplified by George's protection of Lennie and Lennie's reliance on George.George appreciates Lennie’s company and says, "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place…With us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us." (Chapter 1) Thus meaning that staying together gives George and Lennie a sense of belonging that they would not otherwise have. The two of