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Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

935 Words4 Pages

Throughout the novella ‘Of mice and men,’ the characters are able to be sympathized by the reader through various techniques that John Steinbeck uses. While some of the characters are not as likable, events and speeches from various characters help influence the readers understanding towards their motives and the pain and grief they experience. Steinbeck presents Crooks as one with a physical handicap and shows how he is discriminated against and forced to live on the periphery of the ranch life. In section 4 Crooks admits to the exact loneliness that George describes to Lennie at the beginning of the novella in the passage he displays vulnerability and desperation towards having no companion ‘He can’t turn to some other guy and ast him if …show more content…

This deception was first displayed in section 1 when George implies that he and Lennie were lucky because others ‘Ain’t got nothing to look ahead to…with us, it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us… If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us.’ The repetition of the phrase ‘But not us’ is not only effective to highlight the abnormality of their relationship, however, relates that loneliness is responsible for much of the suffering, supported through speeches throughout the narrative. It is mentioned again by Slim who comments on him ‘hardly never seen two guys travel together.’ suggesting that companionship was a rare …show more content…

We sympathize with Curley’s wife insist on telling her story, she speaks the words with sadness and we see her longing for her life to have been different. The reader is made to feel pity towards Curley’s wife knowing her opportunities were taken from her ‘If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet’. Our pity for her is heightened when she admits that she was unhappy with Curley. ‘“I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella.” And because she had confided in him she moved closer’ we are able to humanize Curley’s wife with her vulnerable state and genuine trust when she confides in Lennie. The reader feels sorry for Curley’s wife as the motives behind her actions are explained, and she expresses the anger and disappointment towards the consequences of her

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