Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Owner Of A Lonely Heart The relationship between abundance and isolation is conveyed in a variety of assorted techniques in John Steinbeck’s, Of Mice And Men. This poetically expressed non-fiction novella is mainly regarding the act of loneliness when it comes to the protagonists in the story, which are Lennie and George. Acknowledging the irony between Lennie and George’s personas, it is safe for it to be said that factors such as mental illness and habitual behaviors have an influential impact on the characters’ seclusion. It is no doubt that humans in general crave contact with others in order to live a meaningful life. After taking this into consideration, Lennie can be derived as the victim of loneliness. It is clear that loneliness …show more content…

Although loneliness is demonstrated in all the characters throughout the story to some degree, Crooks and Candy’s isolation is most evident. Candy often tried to fight his upcoming loneliness by refusing to be kept apart by his dog. Unfortunately, Curley insisted on killing the only companion Candy had, which brought him his tragic loneliness. The quote, “There came a little gnawing sound from under the floor and all the men looked down toward it gratefully. Only Candy continued to stare at the ceiling.” (49), supports the idea of how Candy begins to suffer from isolation as soon as he no longer has anyone to be with. Following this theory, Crooks is also a victim of loneliness along with Lennie and Candy. His physical disability and skin color is very much like Lennie’s mental illness. Crooks is looked down on and persistently made to seem different from the rest of the ranch workers. Although his physical characteristics are not the only thing that isolate him from everyone else. His lack of respect when it comes to other’s business is what also secludes him. Both Candy and Crooks’ desire to be liberated and live a tranquil life is revealed when they are interested in The American Dream, introduced to them by Lennie and