Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Of Mice and Men is a novel written by John Steinbeck. It was first published in 1937 and Steinbeck uses his own experiences to give an accurate insight into what it was like to live during this period. The novel itself follows the trials and tribulations of two men as they try to find work during the time of The Great Depression. A significant idea portrayed throughout the novel is loneliness and how life is difficult without a companion to turn to in times of need. This idea with the use of the narrative conventions setting, characterisation and symbolism positions the reader to sympathise with the ranch workers, especially George and Lennie, who had to work through the hardships of The Great Depression.

The setting Steinbeck chose for this …show more content…
Steinbeck uses sexism and racism to dipict this message. Possibly the loneliest character in the novel is Curly's wife. She is the only female in the ranch, Steinbeck doesn’t assign her a name, which signifies that she is not important enough to have an identity of her own. Throughout the novel she is know just by her ‘owner's’ name. Curly’s wife is often caught wandering around the ranch looking for someone to talk to since her husband was never around. The ranch workers misinterpreted her actions and often thought that she was trying to gain their attention: “Married two weeks and got the eye… I think Curley’s married a tart.” (29) Another character who is seen to show the demoralising effects of loneliness is the black stable buck, Crooks. During the 1930s black people were thought as inferior to the white race. Crooks was subjected to racial discrimination as he was the only black man on the ranch and is not allowed in the bunkroom with the other men because of his colour. This suggests he was isolated from others and worked by himself: “… had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the wall”. (66) The use of characterisation helps convey the main theme of loneliness. The reader is positioned to respond with compassion towards the characters that faced sexism and racism that made them