Loneliness Is a Recurring Theme of 'of Mice and Men'

Coursework- Of Mice and Men

Loneliness is a recurring theme of 'Of Mice and Men' written by John Steinbeck.
The theme of loneliness reflects the historical, social and cultural aspects of the text through many different ways, the two main ones being character and setting.

This novel is a reflection of what was happening in America at the time, known as the Great Depression, which was a result of the Wall Street Crash, which came about in 1929. The 1929 Wall Street Crash occurred when financial uncertainty spread after an artificial boom in share prices, frightened investors ordered their broker to sell at any price. 30 million shares were traded in the space of five days, causing the stock market to collapse. Inflations also increased rapidly and the US financial market crashed.
Due to this unemployment came about resulting in migrant workers. Men mostly travelling alone, migrating from ranch to ranch, working for any pay. Showing us the economic situation, which is represented in George and Lennie's situation. Being migrant workers travelling from ranch to ranch. For example coming from weed their previous work place to the new ranch, which is miles away, ready to work at any pay.

Even though George and Lennie travel together, they still portray loneliness. George has the responsibility of Lennie and can't really have a conversation with him, as Lennie has a mentally slow mind, known as 'child like', along with a weak memory. This intellectual and social isolation. Lennie is isolated because of his mental disability. They leave Lennie behind, when the rest of the ranch workers go into town. Furthermore, the insecurity of Lennie is shown when Crooks talks about George leaving Lennie, "George wouldn't do nothing like that!" This shows antagonism of Lennie by Crooks. Crooks at this point is representing society, as Lennie is mentally disabled. Crooks being a social victim himself because of race, shows that the loneliness created Crooks to victimise another outcast of society, in this case Lennie.

George and Lennie are friends who go around together everywhere, "We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us," as says Lennie, but George is still lonely because Lennie is more of a responsibility than a companion, he is described in an animal like way, suggesting he has to be looked out for and looked after. This clearly shows that isolation had become wide spread through America. Everyman stood for himself and even though George had Lennie, he was still part of the loneliness that everyman suffered from in America at the time.

Every character in some way portrays loneliness. While Slim talks to George of the rarity of guys travelling together and being friends he expresses that he thinks, "…everybody in the whole damn world is scared of each other." Either way it shows us that society was scared of being ruled by one, either one race, gender etc. The only way for survival was to isolate oneself and not trust anyone.

Crooks is isolated in the barn, being the only black person on the ranch. Curley's wife is isolated being the only female on the ranch. Candy is old and disabled, his only friend, his dog and the death of his dog leaves him in desolation. These three were the main types of people facing social discrimination.

Crooks is isolated in the barn, despite having a name he is referred to as the 'Nigger', showing the lack of respect for his individual identity. Fir example when Candy was referring to a previous event, he talks about him as "...they let the nigger come in that night". This demonstrating racial discrimination of the 1930's in two ways. One calling him 'Nigger' and two by the very speech itself, 'come in that night' stating he isn't wanted and usually pushed out, so letting him 'come in' was a huge issue.
Crooks isolated him self so he doesn’t have to endure the negativity. He doesn’t try to be liked or mix with the others because he knows how he shall be treated by them. The reason for this was, that black slavery was recently in that time jus abolished. However society still discriminated against there kind as they thought of them as inferior.

Steinbeck emphasises Curley's wife's femininity and promiscuity, "Full, rouged lips", "heavy made up eyes, red fingernails" and " red mules on the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers", this immediately exposes her isolation, mainly being the only female on the ranch. In America at the time women endured a lot sexual discrimination.

Candy is lonely because he is old and disabled. His only friends his old dog that keeps him company. " I had 'im since he was a pup." Candy is relying on his dog to be beside him because he is not wanted by the other workers. His disability also puts him out, making him an outcast from the others. This is mainly shown through the actions of others towards him. Carlson is a fairly fit and mid-aged worker on the ranch who is unsympathetic towards Candy's affection towards his dog. Candy tries to explain to Carlson why he should be allowed to keep it, "...im so used to him...” "He was the best damn sheepdog i ever seen." But the other men being migrant workers and loners didn't really understand or care for the friendship Candy had with his dog. This tells us that people did not care about others and did not understand any sort of affection that one had towards another. It also tells us that priorities were different for different types of people as shown through their actions.
The dog symbolises two things. Firstly showing us that because the dog was old they got rid of it, as it was now useless, suggesting Candy's position and importance in society. Carlson shot the dog despite the fact that Candy pleaded him not to, so this shows us that elderly were not respected or even cared about. The dogs’ death also is a fore shadow of the loneliness and tragedy to come and stating that here its only survival of the fittest.

In contrast to that, George cares about Lennie. When Curley attacks Lennie, George shouts twice, "Get him Lennie." Even though messing with the Boss’s son was risky, he encouraged Lennie to fight back because he was being hurt.

But now this act shows us that Curley is lonely too. His behaviour reflects his situation. Not being able to socialise with any of the others on the ranch because he thinks he's too superior, leaves him isolated. His aggressive behaviour and negativity results to where it leaves his wife isolated along with him. There is a hierarchy in society, a strict class system, however this does not benefit them socially. Curley despite being at a higher status than the ranch workers in the hierarchy he is equally as isolated as the ranch workers, probably even more. His status hasn't benefited him socially.

John Steinbeck does not give Curley's wife a name seeing throughout the novel she is referred to as either Curley's wife or any offensive names such as 'bitch' or 'slut'. This makes her remote and tells us how women were mistreated in America at the time. Although the ranch workers are lonely within themselves they avoid conversation with Curley's wife, as talking to her is seen dangerous because Curley does not approve. When George tells Lennie, "Leave her be." Furthermore Slim tells Curley to keep her in the house "...where she belongs!" This not only makes her isolated but neglected too. This shows attitudes that men held. Men (the ranch workers) often went into town to go to the cat houses, where they spent time with the prostitutes. This shows men being promiscuous. In the way it is perfectly fine for men to go out to the cat houses to meet whores, however when women (Curley’s wife) even talks to men it is classed wrong and unacceptable.

Both Curley's wife and Crooks have no choice but to endure the prejudice and isolation. But unlike Crooks, Curley's wife tries. All the negativity towards Crooks has left him bitter. When Lennie walked into his room he says, "You got no right to come in my room...nobody got any right in here but me."
But as he realizes Lennie is harmless, he regrets taunting him and reveals his loneliness.
"A guy needs somebody to be near him" here he shows that he is lonely and needs someone to talk to, "A guy gets too lonely."

His bunk is also described "long box filled with straw" his room was, "a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn" showing how he is pushed to one corner.

When Crooks came across George and Lennie’s dream he laughs and indirectly tells them to 'get real.' Crooks does this because he is facing the reality, he realises that this might not happen. He also fears failure if it was a goal.
Candy tries to overcome his loneliness when he offers his money to George and Lennie, to buy the property that they have I mind. Candy knows he hasn't got much of money and independence left in life and no one else will take him in. "They'll can me purty soon... I won’t have no place to go." When Crooks continues to neglect the idea, Candy's answers show him gaining comfort to the idea of not being lonely. "We gonna do it. Me and Lennie and George." Once Crooks was convinced that they just might do it, he requests to play a part in this dream, "...if you...guys would want a hand to work for nothing...why I’d come an' lend a hand."

But when Curley's wife entered the room, pretending to look for Curley she had a go at Crooks, when he told her she couldn't come into a "colored man's room." 'She turned to him in scorn', "listen Nigger."
This is showing once socially isolated character turning on another. Furthermore not only was he racially discriminated again, but it crashed crooks dreams and made him realize that loneliness was always going to be a part of him and that racial discrimination was more than sexual discrimination.

Curley’s wife announces her isolation at the ranch. She says, “Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever, once in a while?”
In the born she talks to Lennie once she realises he will listen, she tells him “I never get to talk to nobody.”
She explains to him ability to cope with her situation, that she married Curley to get away from home life before, which was equally as bad. She tells him her dream, which came down. This symbolising, that dreams don’t last and in actual fact her reality was isolation, misery and loneliness, and her dream was unattainable.

While getting to friendly with Lennie things start to turn down, when she struggles, by accident Lennie broke her neck. “Curley’s wife lay with a half covering of yellow hay.”
She was the fourth tragedy in this novel so far. The mouse, Candy’s dog, the puppy and Curley’s wife, all symbolised the sequence of loneliness from time to time, isolation /death would be the only end. Even through historical views of the time. Inevitability of the demise of those not fit, stronger or able to survive in 1930’s in USA. On the dead body of Curley’s wife he shouts in fury “you wasn’t no good.” In her corpse he sees the collapse of his dream. Erica was always seen as a land of hope and dreams, until the Wall Street Crash when everything was coming to collapse. For example the US financial Market. He says “I could of hoed the garden and washed dishes for them guys. But now all that was visible to him was his lonely old age existence on the ranch.

“When the other workers went to search for Lennie. He tells him they are going to get the place now, while holding Carlson’s gun at the back of his head. Everybody he spoke about the place he could see it come to an end, along with Lennie last breath. He shot Lennie. Leaving George once again friendless, lonely and isolated. Even though he made Lennie smile before he was lonely forever. It resulted in them both being lonely. This shows us that isolation loneliness was in escapable.

“The language and dialogue, each character uses throughout expresses loneliness.
Each character at one point uses speech, which shows us the negativity. Even George, when he said to Lennie “I could stay in a cat house all night…!” he talks about having a family, a life, his own home. Due to the description all this was not possible, so this shows us the loneliness, which George felt inside. Showing us again that isolation of everyman.

Lennie is lonely, as he feels unwanted at times, when George exploded at him, Lennie states “…I could go off in the hills there. Some places, I’d find a cave ,” this shows us his loneliness. The idea of only being able to go to a cave expresses isolation. Caves are usually located in deserted places. Also the fact when he said “cave” and not another home or someone else to be with, shows he has nobody else. Due to the depression, family, homes all fell apart.

The loneliness has been apart of everyone for a long time so on every opportunity anyone can get, attacks someone else to make themselves feel powerful or more superior than someone else. For example when he says, ”you ain’t wanted here” and “maybe you just better go along on an roll your hoop.”
Their harsh personalities, which itself is a reflection of harsh society that they live in because there is no comfort zone of family or friends. It shows that you
Have to be harsh to face a hard world.

The dialogue itself, clearly express the loneliness, which is felt. “I get awful lonely” she has no one to talk to and no one to understands her. Being the only female makes her outcasts in the first place. On top of it her new marriage is in ruins, her husband is aggressive and over protective. All her dreams have been trashed because she doesn’t know who to trust. All her life she’s been lied to, even her mother. This mainly reflects sexism of the time of the time. Women were pushed to the corner and only used and abused.

“A guy needs somebody to be near him” and “a guy gets too lonely.” Dialogue tells us about his neglect by the others. The others always refer to him as “Nigger” resulting to his bitterness towards others. “…got no right to come in a colored mans room.” Him being pushed out. Racial discrimination. Always doing things in his own, living on his own, eating on his own, going without talking to any one has made him too lonely.

Steinbeck uses figurative language to create the atmosphere of reality. His use of metaphors and similes. The description of the Salinas River to reflect the loneliness in words. The river is described in such a way, which makes it seem beautiful yet alone. He also uses irony in relation to the failure of George and Lennie’s dream, which is to own their own ranch.
Steinbeck’s use of non-standard English in dialogue is more functional, as it adds to the realism of the story, which makes the reader interact better. Dialogue also adds eloquence, for example when Crooks says, “You got no right…” it makes the meaning of it live.

The setting is the other main aspect, which isolation is used to reflect the social aspects of the 1930s. The detailed description of the scenery. The way the opening paragraph starts off. Our introduction to the Salinas River. “The Salinas river drops in close to the Hillside bank and runs deep and green,” then it goes on to say, “…The limb is worn smooth by men who have sat on it.” The beauty of the River shows that it’s untouched, alone now as it says “men who have,” shows mankind has been there but now as no one is there, the place is deserted now, left isolated. This shows that after a certain point isolation prevails. Whether if it’s people or a place, isolation had become a big issue in America and everyone and everything was left lonely.

The ranch itself is isolated. It’s described as, it’s in the middle of nowhere. George and Lennie travelled miles to get there, even through a jungle. This also showing us the economic depression. Men willing to travel miles, just to get some work. This also shows us their un-permanent life-style so they have no family, no house, nothing to stay at one place for. This loneliness of travelling alone. The bunk house, they moved out of one and into another. The workers had personal possessions, which show that this was the only thing which was permanent for them. There was no comfort for men in those times. Moving around not knowing who to trust or what to expect.

The description of Crooks bunk reflects both social and historical aspects.
“…Bunk was a long box filled with straw…” his room “…a little shed that leaned off the wall of the born, this shows he is not only isolated by person but in every way. He is left on his own in his own bunk. Being black makes him an outcast, showing us the historical aspects of the time and the way different races were treated. In America at the time black people had not yet received the right to stand on an equal scale as White people. They were seen different because of their colour and therefore discriminated because of it.

Also the setting in the born where Curley’s wife death took place, the setting is very intense. “The air in the born was dusky.” Showing us the loneliness of the room, at the time.

“A pigeon flew in through the open hay door and circled and flew out again.” This is symbolic of something bad to happen. Many symbols are throughout the novel to hint what is to happen. The death of the mouse, the death of the puppies, the death of Candy’s dog and the death of Curley’s wife. These were all symbolic to the theme of isolation. Loneliness prevailed throughout, resulting to tragic deaths.

The description of the Salinas River is used again at the end of the novel. Yet again showing us the isolation. When Lennie’s death took place there was silence. The place was once again lonely. Another death. Now at this point George was left isolated. Alone, friendless and in pain. Using the river at the beginning and at the end shows the contrasting ways of life. It is mentioned at the beginning as beginning symbolises life and hope, however on the opposite side using it at the end symbolises death and bleakness.

In my opinion the theme loneliness is best shown through characters to reflect the social, historical and cultural aspects of the text. Crooks is the one character who faces a lot of the loneliness at the time. Growing old, being disabled and being black. He is discriminated mainly because of his colour, reflecting the historical vies, of how coloured people were treated.