Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Despite loneliness being a dreadful circumstance, there are several ways to overcome it. In the book “Of mice and men” by John Steinbeck, he portrays several different ways that loneliness affects each character, and shows that everybody needs a mate. Candy is compelled to find a new mate after he lost his only friend, his pup. Crook’s was grateful when he was finally able to interact with another man. Crook’s expresses his feelings of being isolated from the other men in a distressing style. Candy is devastated when the Slim and Carlson say that Candy’s dog needs to be shot. Candy tried to put it off, he said, “Maybe tomorra. Le’s wait till tomorra” (47). Once the decision was made that the dog would be shot, Candy was a wreck. He just laid in his bed and stared at the ceiling, and mourned his best friend's death. Candy took it to the heart when he lost his dog, and didn't know what he would do without his friend. Candy began to get lonely without his pup after it was suddenly shot

Crook’s dreads the fact that he isn’t able to socialize with the other men in the main bunkhouse. He expresses how lonely he gets, he says, “A guy needs somebody-to be near him” (72). Crook’s explains to Lennie that being alone for a long period of time is not enjoyable. Crook’s says that it does not matter who the guy is, just as long as there is someone to converse with. He does not enjoy being isolated from the other men, and he gets very lonely spending every day, and every night all by himself. Crook’s was more than pleased when Lennie came to his shack to visit him. At first Crook’s was a little unsure, but then he said “Come on in and set a while” (69). Crook’s was so used to being alone that when Lennie came out to visit him, he didn’t exactly know how to react. He ended up appreciating the company, and enjoyed the presence of another man in his bunk