John Steinbeck's Idea Of Loneliness

Words: 559
Pages: 3
Open Document
John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a story of two men, Lennie Small and George Milton, who work at a ranch in the hopes of achieving their dream of buying land and building a life for themselves. At this ranch, they meet other men who share similar dreams and worries; all of which, exemplify some of the narrative’s ongoing ideas. Crooks, the crippled black stable buck, contributes to Steinbeck’s idea of loneliness as man’s worse foe and that dreams often go awry because of society’s nature. His impact on these ideas are expressed when he says to Lennie, “A guy needs somebody - to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody.” Prior to telling Lennie why a man needed a companion, Crooks had taunted Lennie with the prospect that George, …show more content…
While explaining to Lennie that his and George’s dream of buying a piece of land wasn’t possible because “nobody gets no land” and “ it’s just in their head” Candy comes and joins the conversation. It is only when Candy elaborates to Crooks how he, George, and Lennie almost have enough money and how they already picked out the land does Crooks suggest, “...If you… guys would want a hand to work for nothing - just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand.” When Crooks saw how close Lennie, George, and Candy were to making their dream a reality, he altered his attitude because it provided him with the opportunity to escape his isolation and the fear of being thrown out for being useless. Although, this dream disappears as fast as it appears when Curley's wife comes and reminds him that a negro has no place in the world dominated by white men. Crooks is important to the narrative because it is through him where society’s stance and the logic behind George keeping Lennie around is apparent. Like many of the other men on the ranch, Crooks had a dream, but because his situation and the situation of those around him, he couldn’t achieve
Show More

Related Documents: John Steinbeck's Idea Of Loneliness

Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Teresa declared, "The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved" (Mother Teresa Quotes). Albert Schweitzer stated, "We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness" (Albert Schweitzer Quotes). Loneliness has been addressed by many famous people. Steinbeck's novel agrees loneliness can exist in the presence of other people and is the worst form of poverty. Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, describes loneliness through the problems it causes, the elements…

Words 1005 - Pages 5

What Is The Theme Of Loneliness In Of Mice And Men

Loneliness Have you ever felt lonely before? Some people have experienced or suffered from loneliness. During the Great Depression, many suffer from loneliness. Loneliness is a feeling of isolation and sadness because one has no friends or company. It was almost impossible to escape this feeling during the Great Depression. In John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, many characters such as Crooks, and Curley's wife are lonely, therefore it has many consequences on the story. Although George and Lennie…

Words 507 - Pages 3

Travels With Charley Monologue

“Travels with Charley,” by John Steinbeck, is a travelogue about Steinbeck and his french poodle journeying through the country. To hear the speech of the real America, to smell the grass and the trees, to see the colors and the light-these were John Steinbeck's goals as he set out, to rediscover the country he had been writing about for so many years. With Charley, his French poodle, Steinbeck drives the interstates and the country roads, dines with truckers, and encounters old friends in San Francisco…

Words 512 - Pages 3

Loneliness And Alienation In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Loneliness and Alienation in “Of Mice and Men” John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men explores many recurring ideas and themes, one of the most prominent of which is alienation. Steinbeck’s characters live in a world plagued by loneliness and isolation. In the story of two migrant workers struggling to get by during the Great Depression, isolation has become the norm. Distrust is the quality of the modern world that causes people choose to live in isolation from each other. (“Of Mice and Men,” 246) racism…

Words 1017 - Pages 5

Of Mice and Men and Assessment ‘of Mice Essay

author John Steinbeck, in which he explores the themes of friendship and loneliness. Following the lives of the 1930s ranch workers, and the hope of achieving the ‘American Dream’ and how events can conspire against the realization of ones dreams. For, Steinbeck’s characters, the dream of land represents independence and honour, George and Lennie symbolize the ordinary persons struggle to grasp the dream, which consists of “a little land, not much. Jus’ something that was his” Steinbeck’s depicts…

Words 507 - Pages 3

John Steinbeck's Loneliness

Loneliness in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men When humans are denied companionship and are subject to loneliness, they are also deprived of their strength to deal with problems appropriately. Of Mice and Men is a novella by John Steinbeck about a ranch with migrant workers who are all overcome by loneliness. Loneliness can be due to visible differences, gender differences, and also emotional barriers. It can cause people’s natural instincts to become repressed, leading them to become very suspicious…

Words 1165 - Pages 5

The Portrayal Of Women In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

John Steinbeck’s portrayal of women in his tale Of Mice and Men is anything but favorable. Steinbeck tells the tale of lost men struggling to find work during the Depression Era, all joining up together as lonely farmhands. Throughout the story, Steinbeck repeatedly shines a light on the corrupting potential of feminine desirability by making all the women in his story prostitutes or deceased motherly figures. For example, Curley’s wife plagues the ranch with her flirtatious manner and cruel words…

Words 548 - Pages 3

Of Mice and Men Literary Criticism Essay

At the mention of the name, "John Steinbeck," many associations can be made to the classic works produced by the man. However, he did not begin his life as a successful writer. Growing up in Salinas, California, Steinbeck lived the life of a common man, working to survive in the Land of Promise. He began to develop a taste for writing; however, he studied marine biology while he attended Stanford University. Without graduating with a degree, Steinbeck began working as a laborer and reporter for the…

Words 1943 - Pages 8

Essay on Of mice and men

lives. Everybody need somebody: loneliness and isolation can cause people to become bitter or depressed. As migrant farm workers, George and Lennie struggle for survival during the Great Depression which helps foster the understanding of loneliness and isolation existent in the novel. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, this theme is portrayed through the setting of The Great Depression and the characterization of Crooks. Crooks is a clear example of loneliness and the impact it has on someone…

Words 1071 - Pages 5

Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Essay

Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, women are portrayed as inanimate objects . Men at the ranch are not exposed to females. Therefore they perceive women as bitches and whores. But not all ladies behave in this manner, such as Curley’s wife who has power over other men. She is intellectual and wants something from her life. Curley’s wife has control over Crooks the stable buck and flirts openly with all of the ranch hands. She interacts with others, which is partly due to loneliness but she can do so…

Words 587 - Pages 3