Loneliness - of Mice and Men Novel

Loneliness

In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck teaches a grim lesson of human existence. Nearly all of the characters working on this California ranch in the 1930‘s admit through their actions, at one time or another, to having a sense of loneliness and isolation. Each desires the comfort of a friend, but settles for the company of a stranger. Steinbeck provokes the feeling of loneliness through four characters, the ranch hand Crooks, Lennie, George and Curley’s promiscuous wife. Curley’s wife admits that she is unhappily married, Crooks tells Lennie that life is no good without a companion to turn to in times of confusion and need, and George and Lennie depend on each other for company and friendship. How these Characters portray their loneliness through their actions is the main focus in the novel.

The only woman on the ranch is Curley’s wife. This in itself, isolates her from the other ranch members. Steinbeck even goes as far as not giving her a name because the rights of women were little to none in the time period, but to only call her Curley’s wife. Being a woman, her dreams are completely overlooked. She is expected to do what is stereotypical of women, especially in this time period. To the men on the ranch she is simply a troublesome, flirtatious woman who is married to Curley ,the boss's son. She however strives to be more than a simple housewife. She dreams of taking part in a traveling show, but her husband fails to realize her broken dreams of a better life so she seeks attention from the other men on the ranch. The other men see her antics as being flirtatious and label her as a tramp. All along she is just searching for someone who is willing to lend an ear and listen for a few minutes. Not even her own husband will allow her this. Loneliness can begin to eat away at a person. She is friendless on the ranch and begins to feel desperate for the simple attention of another human. Curley’s wife is so sad and alone that she feels she needs to act as someone she isn’t in order to gain the attention she needs to be happy. Most of the time the men do not enjoy being around her and are rude and hurtful to her. Her only defense is to be crude in return. But can she really be blamed? Imagine being married to someone who doesn't know how truly lonely you are. She is just searching for happiness; sadly neither happiness nor companionship can be found on the ranch for Curley’s wife. It isn’t until death that she really finds her peace.

Crooks, however is the one character that is truly alone. Being the only black man on the ranch, his race creates a barrier between him and the other men on the ranch. The lack of human interaction turns him bitter. He is as