The ways loneliness is presented and developed in “of mice and men Essay Example

reaction to Lennie's actions is evident when he angrily throws the mouse across to the other side. According to Steinbeck's narration, Lennie consistently provokes anger in George. This particular quote is just one example of George displaying signs of anger towards Lennie. When George forcefully says "Give it here," it provides insight into their complicated relationship as George struggles with mixed feelings and fails to acknowledge Lennie's intellectual limitations. Ultimately, by not putting effort into nurturing their relationship, George realizes that loneliness is his true companion.

The novella depicts a moment when George is inspired by Lennie's attitude towards their dream, causing him to unknowingly adopt an optimistic outlook. Regrettably, this positivity eventually leads to their downfall. Steinbeck foreshadows the novel's outcome through repetitive elements that convey determination or intimidation associated with this cherished aspiration. Ultimately, this dream has the potential for both success and failure.

The theme of loneliness is portrayed through the character of George, without revealing that George will eventually become lonely. George possesses various abilities and strengths. His most notable asset is his intellectual strength, allowing him to adapt to his surroundings unlike other characters. By leveraging this attribute, he can easily navigate through challenging circumstances. Steinbeck depicts an accurate portrayal of George as "small and quick, dark of the face, with restless eyes."

Despite being described in terms of his physical attributes, such as being 'quick' and 'dark of face,' George's intellectual talents can also be inferred. Since Lennie is unable to perceive or comprehend George's intellectual abilities, their relationship lacks any challenge in terms of intelligence, thereby remaining unaltered and dull. While George's intellectual abilities have

proven beneficial in various situations, such as their escape from Weed, they ultimately lead to Lennie's demise. Consequently, George experiences overwhelming feelings of loneliness and remorse.

George and Lennie have an unbreakable and intertwined bond. In the quote, 'Me an you, you… an me' and 'Everybody gonna be nice to you. Aint gonna be no more trouble.', Steinbeck portrays the deep connection and friendship between these two individuals. By using inclusive nouns like 'You' and 'Everybody', Steinbeck emphasizes the strong bond that George feels. This quote foreshadows the story's outcome as George realizes that if he kills Lennie, Curley will not be satisfied with just tormenting him.

Crooks, in comparison with George, is a highly variable character. Throughout the duration of the book, Crooks, a minutiae character, establishes his high status in the world of loneliness. The neglect inflicted by the ranch workers isolates Crooks, due to his opposite skin colour. Steinbeck reveals Crooks' true pain, demonstrating that emotional pain imposes greater damage than physical pain. Despite Crooks' spine injury, his mental stress, exacerbated by loneliness, prevails.

Lennie's dream of owning a farm eases Crooks's continuous train of thought, but Curley's wife disrupts the plan with her unkind comments. This diminishes Crooks's reputation and self-esteem, making him inferior to Curley's Wife. When confronted by Curley's wife about the reality of racial discrimination, Crooks chooses not to argue with her and instead acknowledges that he will always encounter racism. He assures the other men by confessing that he had briefly forgotten his position in society because of the kindness he had encountered.

After Curley's Wife leaves, Crooks says "Jus foolin” to

express his abandonment of the dream. Later, he privately tells Candy about his own desire for freedom and happiness in their shared dream. Although Crooks doesn't appear often in the book, his words during this scene significantly impact the characters' perspectives and thoughts. He displays confidence and bitterness when he asserts "I got a right to have a light" and declares that neither him nor Candy are welcome in each other's spaces.

Steinbeck portrays Crooks as a worthless 'Nigger' who lacks any rights, illustrating that his difficult past has shaped his personality. As Crooks has lived in isolation, he likely has realized that he will never have companionship or teamwork with others nearby, which explains his indifference towards other workers on the ranch. The authoritarian ranch workers prevent Crooks from seeking social interaction, leading him on an eternal path of loneliness.

According to Steinbeck, Crooks is regarded as the most intelligent worker on the farm. He mentions that Crooks eagerly examined a worn-out version of the California civil code from 1905 in order to comprehend the rights that everyone should possess. Despite being aware that these rights did not extend to him, Crooks diligently sought after knowledge and desired them. This is merely one aspect contributing to Crooks being labeled as a solitary person.

The novella demonstrates a profound and overwhelming development in Crooks. Initially, he is described through miner descriptions and the perspectives of other characters. However, he eventually gains the right to speak. When Crooks states "Remember, what I said, just foolin'," it reveals his main role and purpose in the book. Steinbeck's portrayal of Crooks enables the audience to

understand his primary goal in life - to connect with someone and find relief from his emotions - thus addressing his psychological struggle with solitude.

Both George and Crooks experience loneliness in the context of the Great Depression. However, George is particularly affected because he not only needs a close relationship with Lennie but also lacks emotional stability. On the other hand, Crooks faces even greater disadvantages as his immobile profession prevents him from forming both physical and emotional connections.

Despite not being able to find someone to talk to, Crooks is not responsible for the traumatic event of killing his beloved friend. The theme of loneliness is evident in different individuals and it leads both George and Crooks to experience a similar level of solitude. In 'Of Mice and Men,' loneliness plays a significant role as Steinbeck viewed the 1930s as an exceptionally desolate period.