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

In John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men. It introduces many characters that many fall under being lonely, some of the ways the characters feel lonely is because they are mentally slow or either mentally brighter than others, their race, attitude, as well as their gender. In Of Mice and Men, crooks seem to stand out as being the most isolated out of everyone in the book, racially and discrimination at work.

Of Mice and Men takes place during the Great Depression (1930s), more than 65 years since slavery was abolished, yet is the biggest reason Crooks is mistreated because of his race. Throughout the book Steinbeck has his characters refer to Crooks as stable buck, and derogatory racial slurs creating the idea of the type of time period

“‘Cause I’m black.” ( John Steinbeck, 68). In the quote since Lennie is quite as not as sharp as the other characters he doesn’t understand racial prejudice, so Crooks describes him that because he is black he is isolated from the other men, Crooks acknowledges that fact he will encounter racism, and that it is the reason he will be isolated and will not be able to change that. Crooks mentions that he isn’t wanted in the bunk house because he is black. The biggest reason we know Crooks is isolated is because of the fact that Crooks is black, he is isolated, he is separated from society, his employees, and has no power to stop or change whatsoever to keep him from being so isolated, he ends up just hallucinating things for himself to not go insane, he also will feel bitter and non-trusting of most because of racism he is dealt with everyday. Continuing Crooks and Lennie’s conversation, Crooks explains about him feeling like he is losing the grasp of reality,“ I seen things out here. I wasn't drunk. I don't know if I was asleep. If some guy was with me, he could tell me I was asleep, an' then it would be all right. But I jus' don't know." ( John Steinbeck, 74) Crooks being isolated, he realizes that this affects him, he feels as if he doesn’t feel the same connection to reality as strong as it used to be. Crooks losing his touch to reality is basically the effect of Crooks’s isolation. Crooks in this quote explains that he can feel his