Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Examining Loneliness in Of Mice and Men In the United States, there are over 44 million people who are lonely and longing to connect with another living soul. Loneliness is a psychological disease that gradually consumes you, until you are left feeling empty and rejected from society. Psychologists believe that physical isolation, the death of a loved one, or low self-esteem are all contributing factors. Those who struggle with this disease may experience depression or drastic personality alterations. In the novella Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck conveys how adversity shapes character by illustrating that loneliness influences individuals to appear cold-hearted or detached.
An idea Steinbeck develops is that without proper human interaction,
We see this when analyzing the death of Candy’s dog (60). Carlson views the dog as old and useless, and does not think twice about shooting it. Candy’s lifelong friend symbolizes his deepest fear, that the ranch owner will soon expel him, as well. Candy’s physical ailments leave him feeling worthless and inadequate, and his lack of a right hand is a symbol for his lack of a close companion, or ‘right-hand man’. Without a sense of worth and acceptance, Candy fears loneliness and offers to join in on George and Lennie’s dreams of owning the ranch. Candy’s desperation supports loneliness by revealing his willingness to give away everything he owns, in order to avoid a life of solitude. Another example is when Lennie becomes enraged at Crooks, nearly hurting him (71). Crooks taunts Lennie, by saying George may not come back after a night out on the town. Knowing that George is the only person that understands him, Lennie dreads being abandoned and left to fend for himself. Just the thought of not having George causes Lennie to act uncharacteristically unfriendly and frightening; he will hurt anyone who will take away the compassion George gives him. This reveals that people will go to extremes to prevent themselves from becoming lonely. Through the use of symbolism Steinbeck portrays
Consequently, readers should strive to apply the principles of building strong relationships to their lives in order to feel connected and not left out of society. The findings have important value for the broader domain of life because it provides us with examples of loneliness, and the consequences of it. By learning from the character’s mistakes, we can prevent them ourselves.We should consider the points raised in this text because it helps us develop an understanding about human needs, and the importance of social connections. This text contradicts the modern day belief that loneliness is only apparent in elders; loneliness can occur at any stage of your life and can only be solved through proper communication and affection. Without having a significant support group or personal relationships with others, one will be missing a key element to happiness in their life, resulting in unfulfillment. The novella Of Mice and Men influences the way we relate to others, reminding us that we are all vulnerable to loneliness if we do not seek out supportive friendships to help us in times of