Importance Of Being Alone In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

People react to situations in many different ways. When it comes to being alone, some people learn to accept it, some fight for attention, while others push everyone away. In the book Of Mice and Men, many characters experience being alone in different ways. An African American man named Crooks is forced to sleep in a separate room away from the rest of the workers because of his race. A woman marries a successful man thinking it is best for her. In reality, she ends up the only female around with no one to keep her company, except her husband who does not care for her as much as she thought he did. Also, a man who is very big and has a mental illness named Lennie, has only one person who really cares for him named George that he does not want …show more content…
Since he does not want his best friend, George, to leave him, Lennie tries not to get into trouble at the ranch. One important part in the book is when Lennie is alone with Curly’s wife and he accidentally kills her, not realizing his own strength. “I don’t want ta hurt you, but George’ll be mad… I done a bad thing…I done a real bad thing. I shouldn’t of did that. George’ll be mad” (Steinbeck 91-92). Here, Lennie is trying not to do bad things, but he ends up killing Curly’s wife. Lennie 's first thought is that George will be angry and upset with him. Lennie was trying not to get into any trouble so that George will not leave him. Next, after Lennie kills Curly’s wife, he runs away to a secret clearing where George can find him. Lennie is very upset with what had just taken place and is having hallucinations. Lennie believes that he is having conversations with a giant rabbit, and it is clear that he is not in a normal mental state. “ ‘But you don’t never take no care. You do bad things… well he’s (George) sick of you...He gonna leave you. He gonna leave ya all alone.’ ‘He ain’t, I tell ya he ain’t, Oh! George!’...” (Steinbeck 101-102). In this quote, Lennie is arguing with himself. He is saying that because he messes up and makes mistakes, George will leave him all alone. Lennie gets very upset even by the thought of George leaving him. Lennie tries to be good, but thinks too much and ends up scaring himself into …show more content…
Crooks has been alone for so long that it has become an instinct for him to push people away. Curly’s wife is not used to being alone. She looks for attention by flirting with other guys. Also, Lennie is fearful of being lonely, so he tries his best to be good. Although when he makes a mistake, he tends to overreact. Loneliness has many affects on people, some people seek to be heard, while some choose to hide, and others fear loneliness so they go to desperate measures to have a close friend who will not leave their