Many of the characters in Of Mice and Men are lonely Essay Example for Free

M whatsoever of the characters in Of Mice and Men are lonely Es verbaliseDescribe the reasons for their loneliness and explore the different ways they anticipate comfort.M whatsoever of the characters in the unexampled of Mice and Men are lonely because they grew up in an unurturing and unfriendly environs. The reason for this type of negative and depressing attitude is collectable to the Great Wall Street Crash. This tormenting economic crash took place at the same time when the novel Of Mice and Men is set, in the year 1929.Families fell by as the men were forced to leave behind their roots, and seek employment on ranches in order to bring back stability in their lives again. Relationships were never formed on these ranches as no one had any time nor interest in trying to communicate and bond with the other ranch r individually or other residents. The only object the ranchers were attracted to was making money and moving on, thitherfore there was no stability. Tragically , vast amounts of raft committed suicide, as they could not bear to live their lives recounting all their losses. Coincidentally the meaning of the town Soledad is our lady of loneliness.Loneliness is a sp translation disease, which has the tycoon to make the most pollyannaish the great unwashed dull and gloomy as they begin to feel isolated. There is no direct cure for loneliness therefore no one k immediatelys how to make love with it. This is the stage where the effected people begin to split into two distinctive groups depending on each individuals character the two groups are known as introverts and extroverts.The people that are catogrised in the introvert group suffer the most as they keep all their emotions locked up inside, lede in them taking their anger come forth on themselves. Whereas the extrovert group has a obligate it offly different way of approaching loneliness, they begin to take their anger out on other people in such ways as being aggressive and flirta tious to overcome their depressions. There is a vast equation between the two groups if you opinion at it between characters, which are extroverts and introverts, at one extreme you piddle Crooks a Negro who is part crippled, and then you have Curley, a cruel, insensitive extrovert. e truly last(predicate) hu gentlemans need to be comforted at the time of need as this is the human desire, therefore, it is not surprising that the characters in this novel also film comfort. Some characters similar to Crooks need friendship-based relationships so that they displace communicate with other people. Other characters similar to George and Lennie have their future envisage to look forward to and usage towards that is their tar play. The definition of a dream isDream n. Tpelting of thoughts, images, or fancies passing through mind duringsleep Conscious indulgence of fancy, reverie, thing of dream-like beauty,charm, goodness, etc.(Taken from the Readers fend Great Encyclopedic Dictio nary, Third Edition)A dream is something you indulge in, to escape momentarily from life. This seems to be the context that John Steinbeck intended his characters in Of Mice and Men to dream in. They are all craving for something in the shimmy of George and Lennie, that something is land. All the dreams in this novel are similar to the Great American Dream, which is that you can achieve anything if you have the mind and desire to do it. However, most of the characters who have dreams know that their dreams may never become reality, scarce never the less it still provides comfort for them.Crooks is partially crippled, his body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine, yet self-dependant Negro, he too is very lonely. Crookss personality is instead interesting, as he is very defensive and contraceptive of himselfHe kept his distance and demanded that others kept theirs.Crooks is very cautious about those who approach him, this is as he does not want to be in any more pain th an he already is he is frightened that someone will not only hurt him physically but harm him mentally as well. He is fully aware of his rights, he knows the limitations of what he is allowed to do and what he has not got the right to do.Crooks is lonely as he has not got anyone to talk to due to the colour of his skin, he does not even know how to act around other guys. All he spends his time doing is reading the battered magazines and dirty books which were scattered all around his bunkBooks aint no good, a guy needs somebody to be near himA guy goes buggy if he aint got nobody. Dont make no difference who the guy is, longshes with youLater on in the chapter we realise that all Crooks is longing for is companionship, however, it is evident to see that Crooks is a ill communicatorYou got no right to come in my room. This heres my room. Nobody gotany right in here but me.Crooks reacts angrily, his anger is and pride is a defense against the virulent treatment he has been subjecte d to and experienced for most of his years in life. He has been held back without any real conference for an eminent amount of time, therefore leading to his language being unwelcoming as it is aggressive and defensive.Loneliness has had a negative effect on Crooks as it has made him verbally aggressive and very protective of what is his and his right. In chapter 4, John Steinbeck does a role reverse, instead of a white man tormenting a Negro, a Negro torments a white man, in this case Lennie. Crooks took a lot of pleasure in torturing Lennie the night George went into town, he had pleasure form teasing Lennie by suggesting that George would not bother to return as he better off without the presence of LennieI said spose George went into town tonight and you never heard of him nomoreJust spose that.Crooks enjoys having the power over Lennie, he uses convincing and manipulative language to prove his point, for once in all the time on the ranch he has an reward over a white man. Th is inspires him, Crooks is feeling good at this point he feels self-assured as though he can take on anythingNow you jus get on out, an get out quick. If you dont, Im gonna astthe boss not to ever let you come in the barn no more.Crooks builds up his confidence to such an extent that he forgets his condition on the social hierarchy. However, Curleys married woman coldly reminds Crooks of his unsuccessful position as a black man a niggerWell, you keep your place here nigger. I could get you strung up on a treeso easily it aint even funny.This racist statement reminds Crooks of his old self, leading to him computer storage that he has reduced himself to nothing, he pressed his body against the wall, in shame.Crooks achieves comfort from remembering his childhood Crooks came from a background full of love and care for each other, he knows what the true foster of companionship isI remember when I was a little kid on my old mans chicken ranch. Hadtwo brothers. They were ever so near me, always there.Crooks past childhood is full of affection and love in contrast to Crooks now, an isolated and lonely man who is referred to as a nigger. Crooks is in vast emotional pain as he knows what he is missing out on, however, some people may argue that he is actually quite advantaged as at least he has old memories to refer back to. Crooks also gets comfort from asking to be allowed to join the dream, which George, Lennie and Crooks holdIf you would want a hand to work for nothing- just his keep, why Id comeand lend a hand.Crooks wants things to go back to as he was a child, he wants to revisit the skilful days of his life that are now just a vague memory to him. Crooks knows that the only way he can do this is by joining the dream that George, Lennie and Crooks share. However, Crooks soon finds out when George rejects him from sharing the dream that he is destined to be an old isolated Negro.George Milton is one of the main characters in the novel, Of Mice and Men, he is quiet, minor(ip) and clearly a good worker. George is considered as one of the fortunate characters in this particular novel, this is as he atleast had a chance to experience the true value of companionship and unconditional value with his best friend Lennie Small. His companionship with Lennie staves of loneliness, as well as giving George a role in life a clear task to look by and by Lennie. It is evident to see that at the beginning of the novel George feels superior with this role as it gives him a sense of power over LennieGeorge has learnt vastly from his past experiences with Lennie this allows George to have a two-way relationship with Lennie, one that of a best friend, and another that of a parent. George feels a sense of trade and responsibility towards Lennie as a parentDont really seem to be running, though. You never oughta drink waterwhen it aint running, Lennie.However, as the novel progresses George begins to realise what companionship is, we kind of look afte r each other, now this role simply makes George feel different from the rest of the ranch hands as it entitles him to a status.Nevertheless, George still recognises that he is still lonely, despite having a companion, it may be more discrete than others may, but he is still lonely. George and Lennie do not interact on an keen level Slim describes George as a smart little guy, where as Lennie is described by George as dumb as hell therefore the comparison on their intellect is eminent. At times George thinks he is talking to himself, as Lennie never really responds to his questions. Therefore Lennie can never really understand George emotionally or physically.George seeks comfort by the companionship with Lennie, they both look out for each otherGuys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the domainLennie broke in. But not us Becausebecause I got you to look after me,And you got me to look after you, and thats why.George relies on his companionship with Lennie to get through the unurturing and unfriendly environment of Soledadits a lot nicer to go around with a guy you knowGeorge values and treasures his special relationship with Lennie, he loves him so much that he can even sacrifice him for Lennies own benefit.George also seeks comfort by his simple dream, he wants him and Lennie to have land of their own, and they want to be their own managers and look after each other until they grow oldSome day-were gonna get the jack together and were gonna have alittle house and a couple of acreswhen it rains in the winter, well justsay the hell with goin to work, and well build up a fire in the stove andset around it an listen to the rain comin down on the roofGeorges dream, although extremely similar to Lennies, is probably more detailed and complicated. Lennie due to his child-like mentality only thinks as far as tendin the rabbits, whereas George assesses the short letter by asking himself if they have got enough money, or when will they be able to achieve the dream, before accepting the dream to become reality. George had made it utterly clear that the dream that he and Lennie share will only become successful if they both achieve itI knowed wed never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I gotto thinking maybe we would.George realised that he just got carried away, he knew from the start that the dream was unachievable all dreams are unattainable in Soledad, as it is such a disturbing environment.Curleys wife is possibly the loneliest of all characters in the novel, Of Mice and Men, throughout the beginning of the novel John Steinbeck gives the readers the impression that Curleys wife is a tartShe put her hands behind her back and leaned against the doorframe sothat her body was thrown forwardShe is portray as tarty through her provocative appearance and flirtatious actions. John Steinbeck deliberately does not give her a name, she is only known as Curleys wife therefore a possession of Curley. Curleys wife has been forced to recognise that her sexuality is the only weapon, the only thing that will ever get her noticedShe had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavy made upThis is mainly the reason for why she is dressed in a sexually provocative manner throughout the novel.Curleys wifes complaints of loneliness are potential to be sincere, yet she presents them in a manipulative manner that reduces any sympathy for the character. Her craving for contact is immense, she is longing for someone to have a converse with herWhy cant I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awfullylonely.However, it seems that everyone is incapable of having a faithful conver sit downion with her without it including any sexual content. John Steinbeck describes Curleys wife, as so desperate that to experience the true value of a relationship that she would do anything to obtain itIf anyone- a man or a woman- ever gave her a break- treated herlike a person- she would be a slave to that person.Cu rleys wife is prepared to carry out any instructions, or meet any demands for anyone that would for once be able to trust her and become her friend, she would do it to such an extent that she would even follow them as if she was enslaved to them.Curleys wife has a different type of dream from George and Lennies instead of having something to call her own, she wants fame, fortune and respectCoulda been in the movies, an had clothes- all of them nice clotheslike they wear. An I coulda sat in them big hotels, an had pitchers tookof meBecause this guy says I was a natural.Curleys wifes dream allows her to escape from her tormenting controlled life and seek comfort from what in her point of view could have happened. Curleys wife is vulnerable, and innocent, she shows her humanity by consoling in Lennie. However, Curleys wife seems to have a deep regret that she did not take up either of the men on their offersIf Id went, I wouldnt be livin like this, you bet.Curleys wifes vulnerability s hows the most at this point, she is so desperate to get away from her usual lifestyle that she takes the words of a complete stranger to be equivalent of that of a gospelHe says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural.Curleys wifes dream was shattered when the letter that she was hold for never came, coldly she blamed her mother, accusing her of stealing the letter. It is understandable that there never was going to be a letter, the men were just taking advantage of the poor innocent girl.Curleys wife married Curley on impulse her hasty marriage to Curley proves to be a failed attempt to escape from her own spiral of loneliness, however, it is now that she has come to realise that what she did was immoral she feels more trapped now then she ever didI dont like Curley. He aint a nice fella.Curleys failure to satisfy his wife both emotionally and physically is another reason why Curleys wife is so lonely and has so much hatred built up towards him.When Lennie kills C urleys wife in Chapter 5, John Steinbeck offers the readers a disturbing image. He describes her with more life and vitality as a corpse than he did as a living character, her rouged cheeks and reddened lips now after her death give her the appearance of life. In death the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention have gone from her face. This represents John Steinbecks first concrete praise for Curleys wife he writes for the first time that she appears pretty and simple, a more commendable character as a corpse than as a living human being, as she is not her manipulative self. Therefore, concluding that in a way, some may say that Curleys wife has achieved her dream as she won her innocence back.Loneliness is a major theme in the novel Of Mice and Men. It is only the two characters George and Lennie who stave of it by their relationship. However, the disadvantaged characters are the ones who suffer the most, it embitters Candy and Crooks, moreover, it kills Curleys wife. John Steinbeck describes loneliness as part of a human condition in this particular novel, it is something we as human being are born with leading it to be either something we fight or succumb to all our livesGuys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the humanityLennie broke in. But not us Becausebecause I got you to look after me,And you got me to look after you, and thats why.However, throughout the novel John Steinbeck does not offer any answers to get rid of loneliness, it only shows how different characters deal with this problem differently.