Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Examining Loneliness in Of Mice and Men In the United States, there are over 44 million people who are lonely and longing to connect with another living soul. Loneliness is a psychological disease that gradually consumes you, until you are left feeling empty and rejected from society. Psychologists believe that physical isolation, the death of a loved one, or low self-esteem are all contributing factors. Those who struggle with this disease may experience depression or drastic personality alterations. In the novella Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck conveys how adversity shapes character by illustrating that loneliness influences individuals to appear cold-hearted or detached.
An idea Steinbeck develops is that without proper human interaction,
it is difficult to fulfill your emotional needs. We see this when Curley’s wife confides in Lennie, “I don’ like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella.” (89). Curley’s wife does not receive the affection she desires from Curley, and in turn acts like a tart to get attention. Another example is when Crooks acts rudely towards Lennie. As a result of being ignored and taunted by the other ranchers, he does not handle social interaction well (68). In both of these examples, it is evident that loneliness has altered both Curley’s wife’s and Crook’s personalities. Their rejection from society has caused them to bottle up their emotions, which stimulates a craving for someone to confide in. Steinbeck’s usage of dialogue allows him to establish loneliness through the examination of inner feelings. The presented idea conveys that although people may seem jagged or rough, in actuality they are simply lonely. We are able to reflect on loneliness by putting ourselves in the character’s situation. Upon reading, readers can connect with the fictional characters on a deeper level, allowing them to resonate on their past experiences with loneliness, and how it may have affected them. This text connects to our modern day lives by illustrating the importance of others around us in contrast to the ignorance of our basic needs for love and social interaction.
In addition to examining how solitude transforms us, Steinbeck communicates that acceptance, a sense of worth, and compassion are all necessary in order to overcome feelings of loneliness.
We see this when analyzing the death of Candy’s dog (60). Carlson views the dog as old and useless, and does not think twice about shooting it. Candy’s lifelong friend symbolizes his deepest fear, that the ranch owner will soon expel him, as well. Candy’s physical ailments leave him feeling worthless and inadequate, and his lack of a right hand is a symbol for his lack of a close companion, or ‘right-hand man’. Without a sense of worth and acceptance, Candy fears loneliness and offers to join in on George and Lennie’s dreams of owning the ranch. Candy’s desperation supports loneliness by revealing his willingness to give away everything he owns, in order to avoid a life of solitude. Another example is when Lennie becomes enraged at Crooks, nearly hurting him (71). Crooks taunts Lennie, by saying George may not come back after a night out on the town. Knowing that George is the only person that understands him, Lennie dreads being abandoned and left to fend for himself. Just the thought of not having George causes Lennie to act uncharacteristically unfriendly and frightening; he will hurt anyone who will take away the compassion George gives him. This reveals that people will go to extremes to prevent themselves from becoming lonely. Through the use of symbolism Steinbeck portrays
loneliness by unveiling the true intentions of the character’s actions. Steinbeck develops this idea to help the reader distinguish the motivation of one’s actions and to illuminate the human instinct of fearing solitude. This is important to consider because people may seem unfriendly, yet these same people all need at least one person who can provide them with compassion and help them through tribulations.
Another concept Steinbeck emphasizes is that people require a true contemporary to confide in. The idea is expressed when George discloses information about Lennie to Slim. George mentions how although he has grown accustomed to Lennie, he is still irritated by him and loathes how often Lennie gets in trouble (41). Lennie is not a true companion and cannot provide George with the support he needs. Lennie is a burden and only cares about the ranch and tending to the rabbits. The ranch represents George’s dream to be free and not worry about any problems that may occur; it provides George with hope that things will improve in the future, but simultaneously reminds him of the life he could have without Lennie hindering him from being a successful individual of society. George craves someone who he can confide in, and although he has just met Slim, he is willing to share his deepest thoughts. An additional example is when Curley’s wife desperately tries to get Lennie to converse with her. “I get lonely. You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley, else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody” (87)? Curley’s wife is desperate for someone to believe in her, and rushes into her marriage without realizing that Curley cannot supply her with the encouragement she needs. Steinbeck’s use of irony allows him to reinforce loneliness by exemplifying that one can be lonely, even in a crowded situation. This conveys that both George and Curley’s wife may have companions in their lives, but they are still miserable because of their empty relationships. Steinbeck develops this idea to help the reader discover that it is important to connect with someone on a deeper level, rather than a superficial relationship. This supports loneliness by illustrating the need for a sympathetic and genuine connection with others. One must consider this in order to have healthy relationships with those around us, which in turn prevents loneliness. Steinbeck’s text is important because it has withstood the test of time; the themes of loneliness and what people look for in relationships are still as fresh and meaningful many years later.
Consequently, readers should strive to apply the principles of building strong relationships to their lives in order to feel connected and not left out of society. The findings have important value for the broader domain of life because it provides us with examples of loneliness, and the consequences of it. By learning from the character’s mistakes, we can prevent them ourselves.We should consider the points raised in this text because it helps us develop an understanding about human needs, and the importance of social connections. This text contradicts the modern day belief that loneliness is only apparent in elders; loneliness can occur at any stage of your life and can only be solved through proper communication and affection. Without having a significant support group or personal relationships with others, one will be missing a key element to happiness in their life, resulting in unfulfillment. The novella Of Mice and Men influences the way we relate to others, reminding us that we are all vulnerable to loneliness if we do not seek out supportive friendships to help us in times of
trouble.