Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Booker Temple Miss Sibbach AP English III 12 December, 2014 One is the Loneliest Number Loneliness can affect characters and their attitudes in stories in a variety of ways, thus affecting everyone else around them. This theme of loneliness in Of Mice and Men takes place throughout the entire novella, making the personalities of some characters one of the main factors in their development. Loneliness can affect characters both directly and indirectly. George Milton, one of the loneliest characters in the whole book, does not have any family, besides Lennie, his mentally challenged best friend. “’Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place… They ain’t got nothing…show more content…
Besides his Aunt Clara, Lennie has never had any blood family to love and care for him. “’I was only foolin’, George. I don’t want no ketchup. I wouldn’t eat ketchup if it was right here beside me… If it was here, you could have some… But I wouldn’t eat none, George. I’d leave it all for you. You could cover your beans with it and I wouldn’t touch none of it’” (Steinbeck 12). George, the only family that Lennie has left, made Lennie think that he wanted to leave him, so he tried to fix the problem by making it seem as though he does not want any ketchup. Lennie’s mental disability causes him to forget people who seem the closest to him, even his own family. “’I don’t know where there is no other mouse. I remember a lady used to give ‘em to me- ever’ one she got. But that lady ain’t here’” (Steinbeck 9). Lennie does not even remember his own family; he also does not remember anybody that has ever stayed close to him and by his side, besides George, because of his mental handicap. Lennie’s handicap makes people think that he can be taken advantage of, so people shun him for it. Lennie lived a short but happy life, with nobody to care for besides George, the closest he had to a…show more content…
Slim has a calm attitude and a mindset that makes him better at solving problems than the other ranch hands. “Because of his calm attitude and natural authority, the less lonely characters rely on him... He does not seem to have a friend, does that mean he has resigned” (gsceguide). Slim has had the occupation as a ranch hand for so long that he has learned to not make friends or to let anyone get too close to him. On top of knowing not to let anyone have a place in his heart while working as a ranch hand, Slim does not seem to have any family or true home. Without having a true home or family, Slim must move from ranch to ranch looking for jobs and any chance at money he can get. Even though Slim seems indifferent throughout the novella, he actually only has himself and his money to live
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