Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Loneliness is a state of being that is experienced by the majority of mankind. The main factors that cause loneliness are the social barriers that society has created and one’s own decisions. In John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie, who are traveling companions, begin to work on a ranch in Soledad. George cares for Lennie, who has a mental disability that causes his mind to remain as that of a child’s. While working on the ranch, they encounter the friendliness of the other workers, the hatred of the boss’s son, and the unchanging loneliness that is experienced by every person alive or dead. John Steinbeck conveys his belief that an individual’s loneliness and isolation can be caused by both social barriers and personal choice through the actions and dialogue of Curley’s wife, Candy, and Crooks. Many people are forced into a state of isolation because of social barriers. Curley’s wife was forced into this area, as her role as a woman in the 1930’s was one that was supposed to be isolated from men. She retaliated to these circumstances by lashing out when there are fewer men present, such as when she asked Candy, Crooks, and Lennie “‘Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?’” (Steinbeck 77). Due to the…show more content…
Curley’s wife was isolated by the social barriers of the time, while Candy chose to isolate himself. Crooks was segregated by social barriers, and chose to separate himself even further from society. Today, isolation and loneliness are still primarily caused by social barriers, personal choice, or a combination of the two. Through the characters of Curley’s wife, Candy, and Crooks, it becomes easier to understand why people in reality are isolated, or why they choose to isolate
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