Mice and Men

A detailed Summary of 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,

Some common words found in the essay are:
Curley Else, George Lennie's, Crooks Curley's, How'd Spose, Candy I'd, , John Steinbeck's, curley's wife, characters experienced loneliness, curley's wife isolated, experienced loneliness, novel mice, characters experienced, crooks feels, candy lonely, else ranch, talk curley, can't talk, experiences loneliness,

Approximate Word count = 754
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

join now Save Paper

Related Essays

  • Of Mice and Men 4 Of Mice and Men Question: The theme of loneliness is one that is all pervading in Of Mice and Men. Discuss this statement with references ... 905 words
  • Of Mice and Men 3 Of Mice and Men ampquotA guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody. Donamp39t matter no difference who the guy is, longamp39s heamp39s with you. I tell ... 552 words
  • Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck is an intriguing and realistic tale about the lives of two men, George and Lenny, who travel together. ... 778 words
  • Of Mice and men ... I tell ya a guy gets too lonely anamp39 he gets sick.ampquot A major theme in Steinbeckamp39s novel, Of Mice and Men is how people suffer from loneliness. ... 665 words
  • Of Mice and Men 2 Of Mice and Men The book that I have read that has really stayed with me is Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I really enjoyed ... 417 words
  • Mice and Men 4 Of MicOf Mice and Men The description of the heron eating the snake symbolizes when George has to shoot Lennie in the back of the head, it shows that the ... 611 words

Professional Essays

  • Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men A few years ago, people would have called Lennie ampquotretarded.ampquot Today, he would be considered ampquotmentally challenged.ampquot Nevertheless, there is ... 567 words
  • Of Mice and Men This paper compares and contrasts John Steinbeckamp39s short novel, Of Mice and Men, with its two movie versions, the first released in 1939 and directed by Lewis ... 1882 words
  • Lennie in Of Mice and Men ... understand, since he believes nobody is mad at him. Work Cited: Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Viking Press, 1938. 562 words
  • Analysis of Grapes of Wrath ampamp Of Mice ampamp Men Of Mice and Men is one of his more popular novels, a short work about two migrant workers who travel from farm to farm doing whatever work is required. ... 1425 words
  • Heroamp39s in To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men ... Atticus in Lee Harperamp39s To Kill A Mockingbird and George in John Steinbeckamp39s Of Mice and Men are two such men, Atticus being the man of character who cares and ... 646 words
  • John Steinbeck ... He stayed away for two years and worked for a time on a ranch south of Salinas, which would become a model for the ranch in Of Mice and Men. ... Of Mice and Men. ... 2007 words


Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

  • "Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
    Jack M.
  • "With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
    Brian P.
  • "I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
    Sara J.
  • "I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
    Rachel W.
  • "I love this site!!!"
    Marie N.
Home Join Now Support
Acceptable Use Policy About us FAQ
All papers are for research and reference purposes only!
© 2002-2009 DirectEssays.com. All Rights Reserved.