Mice and Men
The Great Depression took place in the 1930's and had a large effect on many people's lives. Lost jobs, economic decline, and uprooting of families were all results of this depression. John Steinbeck's novel, Mice and Men, reflect this time period in which it was written. Through out the novel many characters experience loneliness, the most evident being Candy, Crooks and Curley's wife. Crooks, a black stable buck that works on the ranch, experiences loneliness through out the novel. The reader is led to believe this through the author's quotes such when Lennie asks, "Why ain't you wanted?", and Crooks responds, "Because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me." (P. 68). The reader understands that Crooks is not accepted by the other workers on the ranch because of his race. Crooks feels discriminated against and is defensive and angry with the other men for not including him. Another quote which displays Crooks's loneliness is, "Spose you didn't have nobody. Spose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and play rummy cause you was black. How'd you like that? Spose You had to sit
In conclusion, these three characters all experienced loneliness for different reasons. Candy was lonely because of his difference in age, Crooks because of his difference in race, and Curley's wife because of her difference in sex. Steinbeck is trying to show the reader that the human race tends to isolate people who are different than the norm. It is obvious loneliness is the main theme of the novel Mice and Men as shown by these three characters who all experienced loneliness. Curley's wife is also a character in the novel who experiences loneliness. This is evident in the quote, "'I get lonely.' She said. 'You can talk to people, but I can't talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How'd you like not to talk to anybody?'" (P. 87). This quote tells the reader that Curley's wife is isolated on the ranch and doesn't think its fair that she cannot talk to anyone but Curley. She doesn't understand why no one will talk to her. Curley's wife's loneliness is also seen in the quote, "'Wha's the matta with me?' she cried. 'Ain't I got a right to talk to nobody? Whatta they think I am, anyways? You're a nice guy,
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Approximate Word count = 754
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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