Loneliness

1. Loneliness ‘Of Mice and Men’

2. Why is loneliness a strong theme in the novel? • At the time (1830s America) everyone was lonely because of the Great Depression – they had little money and no food. • Although some characters long for friendship, Steinbeck shows this longing by having the characters behave cruelly to other characters – it shows how jealous they are.

3. Why is loneliness inevitable? • Loneliness is inevitable in the book because back in the 1930’s there was a lot of prejudice, sexism and racism and no one really talked to anyone that they didn’t know. • The 1930’s was the year of the Great Depression in America which meant that to get money people had to keep moving around the country to live and work so there wasn’t much time to make friendships before moving on somewhere else to earn a living.

4. Crooks • Crooks is lonely because at the time America was really racist and treated black people like slaves. No one in the ranch would talk to him because of his skin colour. “ I ain’t wanted in the bunk house, and you ain’t wanted in my room” … “ Cause I’m black. They play cards in there but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink." • This shows that he is lonely because he has no friends and instead spends all his time in the barn, alone apart from the horses. • This could also show that he’s jealous because they can play cards with their friends but he’s just got his own room - which is quite lonely. By saying that Crooks “stinks” it shows that the others on the barn are very racist to him – because the only reason they say he stinks is because of his skin colour, he doesn’t actually smell.

5. Crooks • Ironically, because the rest of the men are migrants who probably don’t wash much because of their lifestyles (poverty) they will probably “stink”. • Even the only woman on the farm treats Crooks badly: “I could get you strung up so fast it ain;t even funny.” which shows just how low in the pecking order at the farm he is. • Crooks is so lonely the only companionship he has is the horses which is the reason why he has all their harnesses and medicines in his room. They are his only friends.

6. Candy • Candy is lonely because of his disability (lost his right arm) and the loss of his dog. “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog”. He was sad when Carlson shoots his dog because his dog was his only companion and his only friend because Candy is really old and does not fit in with the rest of the young workers. • He’s probably also lonely because he’s so old so he will be kicked off the farm soon. This is why he joined Lennie and George’s dream because otherwise he will be all alone with no home and no one to take care of him.

7. Curley’s Wife • Curley’s Wife is lonely because Curley always neglects her and doesn’t give her the freedom to talk with others. “Anyone seen Curley?” There is no love in their marriage. • Curley’s Wife goes around the farm using the fact that she is looking for Curley as an excuse to talk to the guys which shows that Curley neglects her and doesn’t pay much attention to her. • But when she goes around talking to the guys they think that she’s a tart for doing it and is only looking to cheat on Curley so they don’t talk to her because they’re scared of Curley and what he might do to them. • Plus, she is the only woman on the ranch and has no other women to talk to.

8. George • George is lonely because Lennie is like a child so he can’t have a civilised conversation with him. “I get to tend the rabbits”. This shows that Lennie is very immature and very excited about childish things such as the rabbits. Another way he is immature and doesn’t understand much is when he always talks about “living off the fatta the lan”. He doesn’t really understand the term and all he cares about is tending the rabbits. • The lifestyle of a single migrant worker gives way to a lonely life. If George continues to work as a ranch hand he will eventually become like Candy, even if he still has Lennie to look after – Lennie will be like Candy’s dog.

9. Who is the loneliest character? • Crooks is the loneliest character because he doesn’t have someone with him. “S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ‘cause you was black.” This shows that he has nobody at all. • Curley’s wife has Curley, George has Lennie, and Candy also has George and Lennie because of the dream, but Crooks has no one. He said that “ He can’t turn to some other guy and ast him if he sees it too.” which tells that he really like to have someone with him, even if they’re not talking, just someone next to him.