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Loneliness in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

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Loneliness in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men
The novel of mice and men by John Steinbeck was set During the great Depression. In this time it seemed that everybody is afraid of everybody. The novel, Of Mice And Men, deals with the issue of loneliness. Loneliness affects many of the characters, and Steinbeck seems to show that it is a natural and inevitable result of the kind of life they are forced to lead.

Every character in the story exhibits loneliness. Curley's wife seeks the attention of the farm hands as a substitute for the lack of attention from Curley. Crooks keeps to himself because he believes that the white people want nothing to do with a Negro. Candy's only friend is his dog, and when his dog dies, he despairs. Each of the characters in the story is attracted to the plans of Lennie and George. As they fantasize about a future together, their loneliness subsides momentarily.

George's loneliness is fairly understandable. he has been given the responsibility to look after a man who for all his good intentions may as well be a child. Although George deep down appreciates having a friend to travel with, he gets angry when Lennie's ignorance gets them in trouble and ruins any chances George may have of making friends of his own intellectual level. However, despite all this he cares about Lennie.

When geroge and lennie arrive on the ranch the meet candy, curly, cyrly's wife, slim, crooks and carlson. Through meeting these men it is brought to your attention that not only George and Lennie are lonely, vulnerable and isolated. Loneliness pervades the lives of all those living on the ranch, too.

Candy, once an old ranch worker, is now confined to the mundane job of cleaning. He lost his hand at some point and has only a stump to show, which may have hindered his career as a ranch worker- we do not know Candy's background and how long he was like that for. However, it is apparent that he is isolated by his disability, just as Lennie is isolated by his

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