In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck hints that loneliness is a key issue throughout the Midwest and for California ranchers in the 1930’s Depression. He illustrates how people are driven to find companionship in these cruel times. The Great Depression drove a great many insane or it turned them suicidal because they knew that they couldn’t help their family or themselves.
The novel Of Mice and Men, has two characters that are never mentioned by name: Curley’s wife and the ranch boss. It shows that neither really have any true friends to socialize with or be around. The boss rarely leaves the house until the workers to out to buck barley and merely supervises and sometimes criticizes the work that is being put out. Curley’s wife is very seemingly similar to the ranch boss where she only comes out very rarely and hopes to speak with anyone who is willing to talk. “I get lonely,” she said. “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” (43)? Curley’s wife is practically begging to talk to anybody but Curley at this point. Curley doesn’t treat her right so she wants someone to talk with who can put her at ease. George and Lennie are both trying to take this journey together partially for companionship. George took Lennie along because he knew Lennie’s caretaker at that time; Lennie was very dependent on somebody else to take care of him. George came along and acted like a big brother to Lennie constantly teaching him what to do and what not to do. Since Lennie is mentally slow, he needs special attention just like a puppy to function without breaking down. “Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want. God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble.” (6) George envies the men who can travel alone because he hasn’t known what it feels like without the worry of Lennie doing something that might get him hurt or killed. Candy is an old soul who lives on the ranch in the small bunkhouse with George, Lennie, Slim and Carlson. Candy doesn’t have many friends on the ranch besides his dog that he allows keeps close by. He feels it is his closest relationship that he has at this point because his dog is always loyal to him and knows that he will not be abandoned by his dog. “Look, Candy. This ol’ dog jus’ suffers hisself all the time.If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head...” “right there, why he’d never know what hit him.” (23) This joy Candy’s dog gave him was instantaneously ripped from him when Carlson urged him to get rid of his pooch. Candy never wanted to do it but he didn’t want his dog any more pain; he also wished that someone would put him down like they did his dog but nobody would allow it. After this incident Candy falls into a depression and talks to nobody until he hears George and Lennie talking about the plot of land that they are planning to buy when they have five hundred dollars saved up. Candy knows this would set him up with his two closest new friends and give him a new life on the farm Crooks is a man who is demoralized …show more content…
George could’ve been all by himself and possibly better off than he was but he grabbed Lennie when he could. George wanted someone who he could talk to in a normal conversation and get a fairly normal answer back. Lennie just wanted someone who cared about him and would protect him as best they could. Candy wanted a companion that would stay loyal to him and never go away; Candy’s dog fulfilled that role perfectly but he was getting fairly old and starting to be pained. That never stopped Candy from loving his one true loving best friend. Crooks wished that race wouldn’t have to be a factor in likability in the 30’s. He wants to be allowed outside and enjoy life for once during his stay at the
The novel Of Mice and Men, has two characters that are never mentioned by name: Curley’s wife and the ranch boss. It shows that neither really have any true friends to socialize with or be around. The boss rarely leaves the house until the workers to out to buck barley and merely supervises and sometimes criticizes the work that is being put out. Curley’s wife is very seemingly similar to the ranch boss where she only comes out very rarely and hopes to speak with anyone who is willing to talk. “I get lonely,” she said. “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” (43)? Curley’s wife is practically begging to talk to anybody but Curley at this point. Curley doesn’t treat her right so she wants someone to talk with who can put her at ease. George and Lennie are both trying to take this journey together partially for companionship. George took Lennie along because he knew Lennie’s caretaker at that time; Lennie was very dependent on somebody else to take care of him. George came along and acted like a big brother to Lennie constantly teaching him what to do and what not to do. Since Lennie is mentally slow, he needs special attention just like a puppy to function without breaking down. “Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want. God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble.” (6) George envies the men who can travel alone because he hasn’t known what it feels like without the worry of Lennie doing something that might get him hurt or killed. Candy is an old soul who lives on the ranch in the small bunkhouse with George, Lennie, Slim and Carlson. Candy doesn’t have many friends on the ranch besides his dog that he allows keeps close by. He feels it is his closest relationship that he has at this point because his dog is always loyal to him and knows that he will not be abandoned by his dog. “Look, Candy. This ol’ dog jus’ suffers hisself all the time.If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head...” “right there, why he’d never know what hit him.” (23) This joy Candy’s dog gave him was instantaneously ripped from him when Carlson urged him to get rid of his pooch. Candy never wanted to do it but he didn’t want his dog any more pain; he also wished that someone would put him down like they did his dog but nobody would allow it. After this incident Candy falls into a depression and talks to nobody until he hears George and Lennie talking about the plot of land that they are planning to buy when they have five hundred dollars saved up. Candy knows this would set him up with his two closest new friends and give him a new life on the farm Crooks is a man who is demoralized …show more content…
George could’ve been all by himself and possibly better off than he was but he grabbed Lennie when he could. George wanted someone who he could talk to in a normal conversation and get a fairly normal answer back. Lennie just wanted someone who cared about him and would protect him as best they could. Candy wanted a companion that would stay loyal to him and never go away; Candy’s dog fulfilled that role perfectly but he was getting fairly old and starting to be pained. That never stopped Candy from loving his one true loving best friend. Crooks wished that race wouldn’t have to be a factor in likability in the 30’s. He wants to be allowed outside and enjoy life for once during his stay at the