In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck demonstrates that companionship is vital for people to succeed and loneliness can be detrimental, through the characters of George, Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Crooks.
George and Lennie illustrate the positive impact a companion can have. George says, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. . . . With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.”(13). To George, Lennie represents everything he wants and needs in life. Lennie is his family, his future, and most importantly, someone who cares and loves him unconditionally. George and Lennie are never in the same town long. With each new town comes new jobs and new …show more content…
Most of her actions can be traced back to a need for attention. Curley’s wife is in constant search for a companion. However, since her aggressive, jealousy prone husband is also the boss’ son, none of the men think it is worth it to engage with her. From her name alone it shows that she is not a person on her own, Curley’s wife is Curley’s wife and nobody messes with Curley’s things. Nobody talks to Curley’s wife or acknowledges her so she acts out and flirts for attention. “I get lonely. You can talk to people but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?” says Curley’s wife (87). The only companion Curley’s wife is allowed to have is Curley, but he is aggressive, unkind, over protective, and, as she said on page 34, she does not like Curley very much. Curley’s wife is afraid of Curley and does not want him upset, but the only way to keep Curley content is if Curley’s wife remains lonely and miserable. Through Curley’s wife, John Steinbeck shows that people will do just about anything for attention, even if it is negative. Negative attention is better than no attention at
George and Lennie illustrate the positive impact a companion can have. George says, “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. . . . With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.”(13). To George, Lennie represents everything he wants and needs in life. Lennie is his family, his future, and most importantly, someone who cares and loves him unconditionally. George and Lennie are never in the same town long. With each new town comes new jobs and new …show more content…
Most of her actions can be traced back to a need for attention. Curley’s wife is in constant search for a companion. However, since her aggressive, jealousy prone husband is also the boss’ son, none of the men think it is worth it to engage with her. From her name alone it shows that she is not a person on her own, Curley’s wife is Curley’s wife and nobody messes with Curley’s things. Nobody talks to Curley’s wife or acknowledges her so she acts out and flirts for attention. “I get lonely. You can talk to people but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?” says Curley’s wife (87). The only companion Curley’s wife is allowed to have is Curley, but he is aggressive, unkind, over protective, and, as she said on page 34, she does not like Curley very much. Curley’s wife is afraid of Curley and does not want him upset, but the only way to keep Curley content is if Curley’s wife remains lonely and miserable. Through Curley’s wife, John Steinbeck shows that people will do just about anything for attention, even if it is negative. Negative attention is better than no attention at