Theme Of Loneliness In Of Mice And Men

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Loneliness in Of Mice and Men
Loneliness is a feeling that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. In John Steinbeck’s book Of MIce and Men, loneliness serves as an underlying theme that is portrayed by most of the characters. In fact, there are a very limited number characters who are not continually lonely and who have someone to call their friend. Lennie and George (the main characters) may serve as the exception, but many other characters, such as Curley’s wife and Crooks, are incredibly lonely. In fact, loneliness is what causes their actions and is one of the main characteristics of both of these characters. Crooks is the only man of color on the ranch that he lives and works on, and because of this, he is not looked
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The first time the reader is introduced to this character, he is apart from the other men he works with, which gives the impression that he is an outcast. Unlike the other characters who are only providing and caring for themselves, Candy is actually one of the few who has someone relying on his care. At the time George and Lennie show up, Candy has an old dog who has been his friend and companion for what seems like a long time. Later on in the book, the dog is killed because of its old age, and for a while, Candy has no one to talk to or care for. Soon after, however, he befriends George and Lennie: perhaps in an attempt to not feel lonely longer than he has to. He almost seeks out their friendship; he has had someone else to lean on for so long, it’s almost as if he is trying to fill the hole his now deceased dog has left. Loneliness does not control Candy’s life; it forces him to make decisions to get rid of any loneliness he might be …show more content…
The few exceptions to the pattern have known what it is like to not be lonely and, because of this, depend on other people. The other characters have not let themselves be dependent on others; they feel they must rely on only themselves. Curley’s wife has no real friends and neither does Crooks and in hearing their stories, the reader discovers that they have not had someone they were close to for many years or perhaps forever. Candy, George, and Lennie, however, have had friends to care for for so long that they are more likely to seek out other people’s company. Loneliness is something that everyone experiences at some point in their lives, and Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men does a good job of displaying the negative effects of too much loneliness and

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