Essay On John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men: Loneliness

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The Melancholy of a Nomad

Humans experience feelings of inadequacy and loneliness at some point in their lives. The characters of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men experience isolation due to discrimination. The characters come from all paths of life, yet they still feel isolated and alone. People form bonds and friendships to combat the loneliness.

Throughout the novel, Steinbeck creates an atmosphere to show how each character lives in solitude. It is evident that all the men on the ranch are lonely; they are nomads who live temporary lives, with no purpose or aim. The men walk down “a path beaten by hard boys coming down from the ranches to swim in the deep pool, and beaten hard by tramps who come wearily down from the highway …show more content…
Curley’s wife frequently visited the ranch to socialize with the other men, using her ‘missing husband’ as an excuse to roam the ranch. Although she was eager to talk to people, they never seem to listen to her; prompting her to start to feel lonely.”’I get lonely,’ she said. ‘You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley.’” (87) Curley's possessiveness over her leads to isolation from people. Her isolation is akin to solitary confinement, yet it doesn’t seem like it because she is allowed to move freely, but movement means nothing if the person is bound to a being that causes sorrow and isn’t allowed to speak freely. She lives a mundane life on a ranch, with no companionship in isolation. However, she has dreams of becoming a movie star, with thousands of people listening to her. "I ain't used to livin like this. I coulda made something of myself... maybe I will yet "(124) Her loneliness is combated with dreams and visions of what her life would be like if she had become something else. Even though one may have a significant other in life, if they are being controlled and not allowed to speak to others, loneliness will ensue which will be slightly lessened by dreams of another
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