The Roles Of Suffering In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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In the novella, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck narrates some concepts and circumstances that lead to or cause human suffering. Throughout the text, different characters have many different experiences that lead them to suffer. For instance, Steinbeck shows how friendship between a dog and his owner, intolerance in a dreamer and loneliness in a person can cause one to suffer.

To begin with, Steinbeck displays many events where the character is hurt because of friendship. For example, in the writing it states, “ Had him since he was a pup…, … ‘You wouldn't think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen’ ” (44). In this chapter, Candy , a swamper working at the ranch, is pressured to give up his lifelong companion. …show more content…
They dream of buying “a little house and a couple acres an’ a cow…”(14). However, in the end intolerance towards reality leads to George to suffer. On page 74, Crooks says “I seen hundreds of men come by the road…, …an’ the same damn thing in their heads…, …An’ never a God damn one of ’em ever gets it” (74). This quote clearly shows that George and Lennie’s dream will probably not happen. Lennie however doesn't believe Crooks and continues to dream about the rabbits they were gonna get. However George knew that they wouldn't really ever achieve the dream. However , along with Lennie, George began believing that a better life was possible. When Lennie kills Curley’s wife, Candy asks George if they were still going to get the house. In the text, George states “ I think I knowed we’d never do her[the house]”(94). In this quote, George confesses that he knew they would never get the land, but he told the story so many times it gave him false hope that they would do …show more content…
For example, Crooks is a stable hand working on the ranch. However, due to his race, Crooks is usually left out in everything the other workhands do. In the text, when Crooks is talking to Lennie he says “You know he’s[George] goin’ come back. S’pose you[Lennie] didn't have nobody”(72). Clearly, in this quote we learn that Crooks is lonely and he longs for a companionship similar to the one Lennie and George have. The author describes Crooks as someone who “kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs” (67). However, in this chapter, Crooks allows Lennie to stay with him. By doing this, we learn that even though Crooks is introduced as person who likes his privacy, he just wants someone to understand him for who he really is, not his skin colour. Another example of how human suffering because of being lonely is seen in Curley’s wife. In the text it states, “Wha’s the matter with me…, ...Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody?(87). When Lennie tells Curley’s wife that he is not allowed to talk to him, Curley’s wife becomes conscious and asks why she shouldn't be allowed to do anything and talk to whoever she wants. She admits that she doesn't like Curley and that he get mad when she talks to anyone other than him. Throughout the story we learn that Curley’s wife comes to the bunkhouse, using the excuse that she is looking for Curley, when in reality, she is just
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