English Essay on loneliness

Steinbeck uses many literary techniques to show that the characters in he novel are lonely. He does this through the context of the novel as in setting of the play there was the Great Depression. The break of the American Dream enhances the lack of trust that people had for each other in those times and Steinbeck presents the theory that "every man for himself." However, how does the situation during the Great Depression that the characters in the novel were living in , show that they were lonely?

Firstly, the cyclical structure that Steinbeck uses enhances the theme of loneliness as Of Mice And Men begins and ends with nature. This displays loneliness as men are inherently lonely in civilisation and the cyclical structure shows the reader that the best place in the world is in nature where there is n o other man but himself and this is shown by "i stink to you..you stink to me." The reader empathises for not just the men in the ranch but everyone in the world as they understand that the characters are living on hell on earth. "Loneliness…gets sick" presents the depth of isolation in the ranch and how "they aint no good….they get mean." Steinbeck shows the reader that loneliness is so bad that it is like a disease. Furthermore, to deepen the sense of loneliness that is created by the characters, Steinbeck uses light as a symbol of isolation. The character of Slim is surrounded by light and he is not lonely and seen to be God-like. "I seen your light" shows the reader that the characters who are alone are attracted to the light as it results to them having a friend. However, Steinbeck gets across to the reader that it is only Slim who brings light, resulting to the loneliness of the other characters.

Secondly, Crooks is seen to be one of the loneliest characters in the novel due to the constant separation from the others in the ranch. For instance, Crooks is structurally isolated in chapter 4 as it is the only chapter that is spoken about him. The reader