The emotional story of George and Lennie in “Of Mice and Men” is one of loneliness and the infamous search for the American dream. Author John Steinbeck makes a very serious statement about loneliness and how it cripples and drains the citizens of the world during the great depression of the 1930s. To help illustrate Steinbeck’s statement about loneliness, the theme can be explored in a multitude of ideas resent in the text. How loneliness is the driving force for the plot in “Of Mice and Men” will be explored further as well as how loneliness impacts every character on a level regardless of age, gender or race, although some individuals are crippled more by loneliness due to social handicaps.
Loneliness isn’t seen as just an emotion in this …show more content…
Three characters are established as being disadvantaged or disabled in some way, which results in an immense amount of social pressure pushed upon them. Lennie is an extremely capable individual that can excel in work around the ranch, but the major factor that holds him back from living like everyone else is that he has a mental handicap that hinders his ability to follow rules, listen and to fit in. Without the company of George, Lennie as a human being would cease to function as having a role model and guidance is essential for him. Crooks and Candy are other examples of handicapped characters that struggle to function in 1930s society. Candy due to his age and missing hand, makes him a burden to those on the ranch. His abilities are limited and relies heavily on a dog to give him company whom he later loses to a gunshot. Crooks is an African American character with years of experience working on the ranch. Unfortunately, his social handicap is quite significant due to his crooked back and skin colour. He is established as being secluded from the other members on the ranch and is confined to a small bunk amongst the animals. When he is offered with company he expresses shock and immediate displeasure, but later realises the importance of company, an idea foreign to
Loneliness isn’t seen as just an emotion in this …show more content…
Three characters are established as being disadvantaged or disabled in some way, which results in an immense amount of social pressure pushed upon them. Lennie is an extremely capable individual that can excel in work around the ranch, but the major factor that holds him back from living like everyone else is that he has a mental handicap that hinders his ability to follow rules, listen and to fit in. Without the company of George, Lennie as a human being would cease to function as having a role model and guidance is essential for him. Crooks and Candy are other examples of handicapped characters that struggle to function in 1930s society. Candy due to his age and missing hand, makes him a burden to those on the ranch. His abilities are limited and relies heavily on a dog to give him company whom he later loses to a gunshot. Crooks is an African American character with years of experience working on the ranch. Unfortunately, his social handicap is quite significant due to his crooked back and skin colour. He is established as being secluded from the other members on the ranch and is confined to a small bunk amongst the animals. When he is offered with company he expresses shock and immediate displeasure, but later realises the importance of company, an idea foreign to