Loneliness in Of Mice and Men Essay

Explore the issues connected with seclusion in John Steinbecks Of Mice and manpower. privacy is examined c arfully in Of Mice and Men. In the innovation of itinerant ranch-hands, loneliness is an inescap able berth of life and Steinbeck records this through the plot and characters in his new. Being only(a) is the lack of an aflame, plebeian stay put, which leads the characters to lose a sense of self-worth and dignity. This establish explores what Steinbeck discusses closely loneliness in Of Mice and Men and how he uses the characters of glaze over, Crooks, George, Lennie and Curleys wife to persuade these views.George and Lennie atomic number 18 the most interesting outset point for such an exploration since they are the only two characters in the raw who are defined by their high society rather than loneliness. George proclaims proudly to Lennie in the primal pages of the novel, that itinerant ranch-hands, typical of the economic falloff in the USA in the 1930s, are the loneliest guys in the world barely with us them it aint manage that. twain George and Lennie realize that their acquaintance gives them a future day and gives their life purpose and signifi roll in the hayce.They want to choke a invoke where they behind reside off the fatta the lan and rear animals where their feeling of self-worth go forth not stem from gambling and prostitutes, only if from their camaraderie-their importance to each opposite. On the other hand, other wandering workers got no family and they male parentt belong no place. George and Lennie know that their knowledge sets them apart-it manages them dignified enough to welcome a dream and think about putting down roots, a dream that most ranch-hands would pull in had at the time, but would never achieve. Other ranch-hands remained as islands, their lives attenuated off from twobody elses.The fact that the affixation between George and Lennie would have been rare-it is the only instance of genuine friendship between men in the novel-shows that at the time of the Great Depression, either man was for himself. Indeed, a few characters are suspicious of their friendship, thinking it financially exploitative You takin his pay away from him? Well, I never seen a guy force back so much trouble for another(prenominal) guy. The only reason their friendship exists is because Lennie is so simple his vulnerability and dependence on George make him loyal and boldnessworthy, unlike any other ranch-hand. Although George says, When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts, he knows that Lennies movement makes him feel more important and assured than an average itinerant worker like him would normally-being in charge with Lennie makes him feel in charge of his life.Tragically, however, by the end of the novel this is what George becomes-an average itinerant worker he has to kill Lennie and aft(prenominal) losing the only emotional human connection he had , Georges dream and dignity are both destroyed He usta like to look about it so much I got to thinking whitethornbe we would be able to have the erect. The fact remains that such an fair(a) friendship has a flawed foundation-Lennies mental debility, although making a friendship possible, in like manner makes him too vulnerable to make prudent decisions. Loneliness is thus essential for George and all his fellow wanderers.In umteen ways, George and Lennies relationship is mirrored by that between Candy and his dog. Again, Candy is able to gain true loyalty and trust only from a dog-a one-dimensional, vulnerable being. When the thick-skinned Carlson asks, He aint no good to you Whynt you shoot him Candy? the only dish Candy can produce is that he had him so long. Over the years, Candy has developed a special bond of care, as opposed to simple utility, with his dog. To Carlson, who can only understand the value of a person in terms of their applicatory usefulness, due to his experience of the Great Depression, this bond is meaningless.After his dog is shot, Candy is cut down to a useless old cripple, also encapsulated in solitude. The dogs companionship had allowed Candy to cherish his past and be hopeful for his future, but now he has nothing to look forward to When they can me here I wisht somebodyd shoot me I wont have no place to go an I cant get no more jobs. The dream farm tempts Candy, too, because he feels that owning a place pass on prevent him from becoming a lonely monument for passing ranch-hands to observe. His desperation for the farm is so intense that even after Lennies death he hopes George may work towards it, but to no avail-Candy too is destined to be alone, unknown and uncared for in one case he can no yearlong serve a practical purpose.