Love Your Brother In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Love Your Brother
In John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, he portrays love as an important part of human nature. Without love or companionship, Steinbeck shows how someone will become monstrous. An instinct in every person causes a horrified reaction to the calloused actions of the uncaring in Steinbeck’s story. Lennie is Steinbeck’s best example of love untainted by the world, as his mental condition doesn’t allow him to learn much, not absorbing the apprehensive, bitter habits that mask other people’s hearts. He shows love most bluntly, making an effort to befriend every creature and character, oblivious to his habit to physically hurt. When Candy’s dog is killed, Steinbeck shows a little caring in the other men, limited as it is, showing that
“A shot sounded in the distance. The men looked quickly at the old man. Every head turned toward him.” Although they say nothing, no words of encouragement or support, the other men do care. They know that dog was Candy’s best friend, his only companion in the world. Nobody else will make friends with him because of his disability and age. No one in the room offers support to Candy because of hardened hearts, but everyone has concern for him; love shining through the barrier. Later, when they talk about the farm, Candy says “When they can me here I wisht somebody'd shoot me. But they won't do nothing like that. I won't have no place to go, an' I can't get no more jobs. I'll have thirty dollars more comin', time you guys is ready to quit." Candy’s dream is to go to the farm with Lennie and George, somewhere where he will be appreciated despite his missing hand. The farm is an escape from the people on the farm that see Candy as a disposable machine; once he stops working, you get rid of him. Candy is happy to agree to give up his money to them in his will if he can go somewhere where he can have companions (Lennie and George). The only thing he wants in life is to live with friends. Imagining life on the ranch without his dog, he says “I wisht somebody’d shoot me”. The other men on the ranch, again, don’t see him as much of a person, much less a friend. His only escape from loneliness was his dog, and once it’s gone, he has nothing left to live for. The longing in him for companionship quickly causes him to reach for an environment where the people there cared about who he was, and would continue to do so even after he was too old to be of use, like his dog. The men who refrain from comforting him have sympathy, although under hardened layers. Even though someone may appear uncaring, it doesn’t mean they have no love - in fact, some of the most reserved may have the