Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Loneliness Outline
It is a melancholic feeling which everyone tries to triumph over and experiences at least once. Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a novella which expresses the theme of loneliness. George, Crooks, and Candy try to overcome their loneliness by having items or companions that distract them from being morose.
George overpowers his loneliness by having Lennie by his side. Although George does not receive any advantages in return for taking care of Lennie, George still keeps Lennie by his side as a friend. In the beginning of the novella, Lennie threatens George about running away into a cave and living alone when George is frustrated by how Lennie keeps messing up, but George then starts to get worried about being alone and decides to talk Lennie out from leaving. George says to Lennie, “No-look! I was jus’ foolin’, Lennie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me. Trouble with mice is you always kill’em." (pg.14) George disheartens Lennie from parting by saying he was just kidding.
Crooks attempts to forget his loneliness by indulging himself with books.
He is constantly solitude because he is alienated from the others(white men) on the ranch due to his black skin. This forces him into obsessing over books in order to soften the pain . Crooks is the smartest person on the ranch but is always aloof from the others. This shows that Crooks is solitude but also clever, because he spends all his time with complicated books due to his isolation. Crooks complains to Lennie, “’Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well I’ll tell you, you all of you stink to me.”(pg.75) Crooks quotes that he can’t do certain things and is demeaned because he is black, which implies that he wants those privileges in order to not be
deserted.
Candy suppresses his loneliness by having a pet dog as a companion. Candy is in constant fear of being fired and secluded from the ranch if he isn’t able to complete his job with the handicap of his aging body and missing hand. The theme is shown through Candy when the dog who aids his loneliness gets shot by Carlson because it “stinks” up the cabin. Fortunately, Candy terminates loneliness again by joining George and Lennie’s dream of acquiring their own home. Candy felt remote after having his pet dog shot by Carlson, but was given hope when he joined George and Lennie’s dream of their own home since he didn’t have to worry about being fired nor secluded any longer. Candy bargains with Lennie and George, “S’pose I went with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some. How’d that be?”(pg.80) In this scene, Candy snaps out of his sorrow from losing his dog and gains hope by wanting to live with Lennie and George.
George, Crooks, and Candy all have their own special ways for conquering loneliness. Whether it is finding a new dream, having a companion, or indulging into items, these three characters all attempt to struggle their way out of being solitude. In most cases, a person may finally understand loneliness only after that individual experiences the loss of happiness. George realized loneliness when Lennie threatened to leave if he was a nuisance, Candy noticed it when he lost his dog, and Crooks discovered it after he felt racism. People cannot overcome loneliness alone.