“Trouble with mice is you always kill ‘em” (Steinbeck 13). Of Mice and Men takes place during the 1930s, and this time was extremely hard. It was the Great Depression and work was hard while the pay was small. There were many migrant workers during this time just hoping for a bit of work. George and Lennie were two of these migrant workers. They went to a farm to work and met Candy, a disabled man. They also met Crooks, a disabled black stable buck and Curley and his wife. The theme of loneliness is shown in the novella Of Mice and Men through the isolation felt by Candy, Lennie and Crooks. In chapter three, an older migrant worker called Candy explains how he lost his hand on the ranch and was compensated with a “swampin” job and
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However, Lennie has a mental disability and doesn’t have anyone outside of George. Because of Lennie’s mental disabilities, readers can infer that he is lonely because people don’t take the time to get past his disabilities and connect with him. Steinbeck wrote “Uh-uh. Jus’ a dead mouse George. I didn’ kill it. Honest! I found it. I found it dead” (5). Lennie not understanding why he can’t have a dead mouse shows why some people may not understand him. Lennie again shows he doesn’t understand certain things when he says “I tried not to forget. Honest to God I did, George”(r). In this scene, it is shown how Lennie doesn’t comprehend things he should. It also shows how he tries to do better. In fact, Lennie says “I don’t want no ketchup” (12). He says this after complaining about plain beans and George was upset about this so Lennie tried to do better. Steinbeck wrote “I can remember this. Di’n’t I remember about not gonna say a word?” (15). This scene shows how Lennie tried to do better so he could keep his one friend. If Lennie didn’t have George, he probably wouldn’t have survived being so alone. Lennie does not comprehend how death affects people and that alienates people. Lennie says “‘I di’n’t know you’d get killed so easy’”(86) to the puppy’s body after accidentally killing it. This scene shows just how Lennie doesn’t understand his own strength and how he doesn’t understand death.
However, Lennie has a mental disability and doesn’t have anyone outside of George. Because of Lennie’s mental disabilities, readers can infer that he is lonely because people don’t take the time to get past his disabilities and connect with him. Steinbeck wrote “Uh-uh. Jus’ a dead mouse George. I didn’ kill it. Honest! I found it. I found it dead” (5). Lennie not understanding why he can’t have a dead mouse shows why some people may not understand him. Lennie again shows he doesn’t understand certain things when he says “I tried not to forget. Honest to God I did, George”(r). In this scene, it is shown how Lennie doesn’t comprehend things he should. It also shows how he tries to do better. In fact, Lennie says “I don’t want no ketchup” (12). He says this after complaining about plain beans and George was upset about this so Lennie tried to do better. Steinbeck wrote “I can remember this. Di’n’t I remember about not gonna say a word?” (15). This scene shows how Lennie tried to do better so he could keep his one friend. If Lennie didn’t have George, he probably wouldn’t have survived being so alone. Lennie does not comprehend how death affects people and that alienates people. Lennie says “‘I di’n’t know you’d get killed so easy’”(86) to the puppy’s body after accidentally killing it. This scene shows just how Lennie doesn’t understand his own strength and how he doesn’t understand death.