Of Mice And Men Analysis

Of Mice and Men author John Steinbeck sets the scene in the mid-1930s during the Great Depression in Soledad, California. Lennie’s mental disability and George’s need for a companion is made visible. They encounter characters that also face a deprivation of human contact due to their own disabilities in society; Candy and his age, Crooks and his race, and Curley’s wife and her gender. These characters secure themselves on their ideals on how to combat their loneliness. But ultimately these ideals result in acts of desperation that emerge from the need for human companionship.
The thought that Candy is no longer desirable by society is concrete when his dog dies. Subsequently, he turns to George and says “You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn’t no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me. But they won’t do nothing like that. I won’t have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no more jobs. I’ll have thirty dollars more comin’ time you guys is ready to quit.” (Steinbeck 60) Candy’s age has caused him to become useless to the point he would rather die than be alone. He finds hope by attaching himself to George and Lennie’s dreams. By helping to purchase the ranch, Candy believes that he will no longer …show more content…
These traits are notably shown in the characters faced with disabilities in society. Candy attaches himself onto George and Lennie’s dream of owning a ranch. Crooks finds himself reading a great deal of books because he needs a substitute for human companionship. Furthermore, Curley’s wife flirts with the ranch men despite receiving the criticism that followed. Of Mice and Men exhibits that he need for human companionship is the origin of acts of desperation. Nevertheless, this is apparent in society today, as a person may often change themselves if they believe it can help them become