Of Mice And Men Pain Of Loneliness

The Pain of Loneliness In his novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck writes of George Milton and Lennie Small, who are two migrant workers looking for jobs in early 20th century California. They are extremely loyal to each other through their tribulations, and long to “live off the fatta the lan’” (Steinbeck 14) on their own farm. Among the many themes expressed in this novel, Steinbeck highlights the pain of loneliness. This theme can be seen most clearly through the actions and words of Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Crooks. Crooks, a stable buck on the ranch, epitomizes loneliness. As an African-American, Crooks is treated differently. He complains to Lennie of his unfair treatment when he says, “’Cause I’m black… I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink” (68). Since he is treated in such a way, Crooks feels the same way about the others on the farm: “He kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs” (67). This shows that his loneliness is partially self-inflicted, and he comes off as grumpy because he is mistreated in such a manner. In addition to Crooks, Curley’s wife was also another lonely character on the ranch. She is constantly searching for someone to talk to, and her …show more content…
Despite his jolly and easy-going attitude, Lennie is left out of opportunities because of his mental disability. For instance, Curley’s wife mentions that “they left all the weak ones here,” (77) when the laborers go into town. This implies that the men left Lennie behind because they didn’t know that troubles would arise if he ventured with them. Lennie also uses animals, such as mice, as objects of solace when he is outcast or troubled. Despite his gentle demeanor, Lennie accidentally kills the small rodents, with his strength being the cause. He explains his use of them to George as they travelled to the ranch: “I could pet it with my thumb as we walked along”