Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Of mice and men, by John Steinbeck, is a very depressing and imaginative book. He has two different themes that help tie the whole story together, like a recurring situation. The first theme is loneliness; all the characters in one way or another show a sense of loneliness. One character who portrays this the most is Lennie. Lennie has abandonment problems, which when he is alone causes him to be upset and he doesn't know what to do. This in a way portrays Lennie to symbolize a toddler, they whine and throw fits when their parents aren't around. The second theme is isolation; as the story goes on some characters show isolation. Two of them would be Crooks and Candy. Crooks doesn't always choose to be isolated but in some cases he prefers it

This idea could allow the reader to connect these symbolisms to themselves in their own life. Steinbeck's main form of symbolism is how the whole novel symbolizes the Great Depression. This novel was to be set near the time where this historical event took place, and this is portrayed through slim. He is an older man stuck within this time where he is incapable of moving forward in his life, get a job and he is stuck in his house with people who do not care for his well being. Another character who portrays symbolism is Lennie. Lennie is a big man who has a very soft and gentle heart, he never means to do any harm, but somehow always ends up messing something up or hurting. He whines whenever he is alone, especially when George isn't around. Lennie in a way, is a symbolization of a toddler or a young, child; he shows how children could mean to do no harm at all, but with such a lack of knowledge end up ruining or breaking things. Lennie also, cries like a child and is easily offended; when george leaves lennie isn't sure what to do, and when people talk about how he isn't going to get his dream, he throws a fit and gets angry. The symbolism that is portrayed throughout Of Mice and Men is placed to create a sense of imagination and connections from the readers to Steinbeck's