Of Mice and Men

The decade of the 1930s was indeed a time of depression; desperation consumed people and they turned against each other, no longer looking out for anybody but oneself. Eventually this led people into loneliness. This is portrayed in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. The idea of having someone gives you a purpose, a feeble grasp on reality. This concept weaves through the novel, making the reader recognize that companionship, no matter in what form, is essential to one’s being. Curley’s wife, Crooks, Lennie and George are the main outcasts of the novel and represent how solitude ruins you. For one reason or another, life has left Crooks and Curley’s wife bitter and resentful, in desperate need of friendship. On the other hand, George and Lennie, however dysfunctional their relationship may be, have a strong tie to one another. In a secluded ranch, during the Great Depression, one is in great need of amity.

Crooks is the ranch’s black stable buck, an outcast not by choice but by social dynamism. On a ranch full of white workers who want nothing to do with a black, crippled man, Crooks signifies discrimination. Crooks puts up a brave front, coolly protecting himself against everybody. Nonetheless, the reader can see a broken heart and a deep yearn for companionship. “A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you” (Steinbeck, 73). Crooks finds solace in George and Lennie, but towards the end of the book the reader knows Crooks will always be a black stable buck, at the bottom of the social ladder of the ranch. Crooks has always been secluded from the other workers, so loneliness has overpowered his life, pushing him to the brink of desperation. By the end, he settles into bitter acceptance, knowing he will never be anybody’s equal and thus, will never have anybody he can truly count on.

Curley’s wife is the only female figure in the novel. She is oppressed and judged by everyone around her when all she wants is a little attention and affection. Curley’s wife is very flirtatious because she feels it is the only way to get attention. “I get lonely. You can talk to people but I can’t talk to anybody but Curley. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?” (Steinbeck, 87). The reader can see she exemplifies many women during the Great Depression; a sad woman stuck in an unhappy marriage on the brim of depression. Due to the fact Curley’s wife is an outcast on the ranch, she intimidates and bullies those beneath her, giving her an upper hand over those weaker than her. “Standin’ here talkin’ to a bunch of bindle stiffs- a nigger an’ a dum-dum and a lousy ol’ sheep-an likin’ it because they ain’t nobody else.” (Steinbeck, 78). This just shows her need of human contact and the desperation to have a certain control in her life, however weak it may be. In conclusion, the reader is often conflicted concerning this character. She is manipulative and evil, a temptress and a tart. But after her catastrophic end, one sees that she was desperate and lonely after leading a harsh life; Curley’s Wife was a survivor.

George and Lennie represent an ideal and pure friendship. No matter how hard taking care of Lennie is, George stands by him. Throughout the novel, these characters are the only ones that have a real attachment and loyalty for one another. They complement each other, which sets them apart from other migrant workers. “Migrant workers ain’t got nobody in the world that give’s a hoot about ‘em, but not us.” (Steinbeck,104). Such ties are alien to people on the ranch. “Funny how you an´him string along together, hardly none of the guys ever travel together” (Steinbeck, 39). Everyone is incredulous to their friendship, even suspicious; they cannot seem to grasp the concept of being there for someone else. One might even argue that Lennie’s death is truly George’s last act of kindness towards Lennie; thanks to George he died a happy man. What sets George and Lennie apart from the rest of the characters is that they are the exception; on a ranch where there is no room for goodness they somehow manage to never lose their faith on each other. George and Lennie have a rare and enviable bond, something the rest of the characters so desperately seek.

In conclusion, Of Mice and Men exemplifies how loneliness can consume a person, eventually destroying them. Throughout the novel, Crooks and Curley’s wife are indeed victims of solitude; because of this they develop a sense of embitterment towards life. On the other hand, George and Lennie represent the very essence of friendship. In a way, George and Lennie’s friendship is what epitomizes the book; it shows the hardened lives of migrant workers and how much they lacked love and care. Ultimately this can compare to real life, how much a person needs companionship as part of one’s being.