Loneliness and Friendship in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men Essay Sample

In Of Mice and Men, the author, John Steinbeck, uses the motif of friendship to develop the deeper theme of loneliness. Curley’s wife, Crooks, and Carlson all struggle with being lonely while Geoge and Lennie have each other. George is the caretaker of Lennie, while Lennie looks up to George for all his decisions.  Although George and Lennie have a strong bond on the ranch, the rest of the characters conflict with being lonely.  Curley's wife, Crooks, and Carlson all contrast from George & Lennie’s friendship.  

John Steinbeck uses Curley’s wife to help portray the theme of loneliness. Curley’s wife struggles with being the only female on the ranch. She often finds herself striving for attention from the other ranch workers and having nobody to talk to. John Steinbeck explains, “ I get lonely’ she said. ‘You can talk to people, but I can't talk to anybody but Curley. Else he gets mad.‘ “( 87).  In this quote, Curley's wife is admitting to Lennie about her struggles of being lonely. She is explaining to him about how she is not allowed to talk to anybody and that she is lonely. John Steinbeck also writes, “ ‘Oh!’ She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.”*** Curley’s wife was always seeking attention from other people on the ranch. As mentioned in the quote above, she is making a pose in which people will look at her. She does this due to the fact that she wants attention since she has no one else to relate to, being the only female on the ranch.   When compared to George & Lennie’s friendship, the reader can see that Curley's wife stands out. Steinbeck writes, “ Lennie says, ‘I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you.’”** The reader can clearly see that Curley’s wife feels left out and lonely while George & Lennie have each other for company. Steinbeck’s characterization of Curley’s wife helps portray the key motif of loneliness throughout the novel.

As well as Curley’s wife, Steinbeck also uses Crooks to develop the underlying theme of loneliness. Crooks conflicts by being the only colored person on the ranch. He often is separated and distant from the other characters in the book.  Steinbeck explains, “ ‘ You go on and get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse and you ain’t wanted in my room’…’Why not?’ Lennie asked. ‘Cause im black’’” (68). Due to the color of his skin, Crooks is always left out and alone. Like Curley’s wife, Crooks also admits to Lennie the difficulties of being lonely due to the color of his skin. Steinbeck further explains, “They play cards in there, but I can’t play because Im black. They say I stink” (68). Crooks is furthermore explaining to Lennie the impact his skin color has on his place on the ranch and how it makes him lonely. When compared to George and Lennie, the reader can clearly tell the differences that make Crooks' situation different. Steinbeck writes, “Crooks said gently, ‘You got George. You know he’s going to come back. S’pose you didn't have nobody… How’d you like that?’”(72). From this quote, the reader can vividly tell that Crooks despises being lonely and wishes he had a companion like Lennie has to George. Therefore, it is clear through the comparison to George and Lennie, and circumstances of Crooks, the further development of the motif of loneliness throughout the novel.  

Similarly to Curley’s wife and Crooks, Steinbeck characterizes Carlson to furthermore develop the overlying theme of loneliness.  In the novel, Carlson struggles to think of anyone but himself. He has never had someone that he was close with, which did not  allow him  to understand the needs of others.  Due to this, he has no comprehension of George and Lennie’s friendship. In chapter 6, right after George kills Lennie, Steinbeck explains, “Carlson said, ‘Now what the hell ya suppose is eating them to guys?’”(107).  The fact that Carlson can’t comprehend what is wrong after George kills Lennie, shows that Carlson has never been close enough to someone to understand why it is a sad moment, which furthermore proves his loneliness. Similarly to this, Carlson also has no empathy for killing Candy’s dog. Steinbeck writes, “Carlson looking at the old dog, ‘God almighty, that dog stinks. Get him outta here, Candy!...I’d shoot him.’” (44). Candy’s dog has been Candy’s  only companion for so long.  When Carlson offers to kill it with no thought, it furthermore proves that Carlson  does not understand friendship, due to him not ever having it. Similarly to Curley's wife and Crooks, when Carlson is compared to George and Lennie’s friendship, the motif of loneliness can be seen. When George is despising Lennie's death, Carlson has no idea why he is sad. This furthermore shows that Carlson had never had a strong friendship to someone like George and Lennie, which shows his loneliness and further develops the motif in the novel.

George and Lennie’s friendship play a key role in the author's development of the motif of loneliness. Carlson, Curley’s wife, and Crooks are all characterized in a way in which, when compared to George and Lennie’s friendship, the key motif of loneliness is developed. Curley’s wife is the only female who is always striving for attention, Crooks is the only colored person who is distant and separated from everyone, and Carlson has never had someone he was close with, which causes him to not understand other people.  By this, Steinbeck uses friendship to develop the motif of loneliness throughout the novel.