Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Individuals that are different are often marginalised or isolated from the community in which they live. How is this true for characters you have studies in the novel of Mice and Men?
The Great Depression of the 1930s was a turbulent time. Hundreds and thousands of people lost their homes and their jobs. John Steinbecks novel Of Mice and Men details the lives of several people going through these harsh times. Although the characters in the novel arent necessarily looking for money or a job, they are seeking companionship and reassurance that they are not alone. A deep sense of solitude dwells within the hearts of Crooks; an old black man treated unfairly because of his colour, Curleys Wife; a stunning woman who shows off her body just to gain the attention of others, and Candy a lonely old ranch worker. They are all desperate to find an escape from being marginalised from the rest of their community.
Crooks is an African-American robbed of his hopes and dreams because of his colour. Crooks demonstrates the racial discrimination in the 1930s. He is excluded from the companionship that exists within the bunkhouse and is pushed aside to dwell amongst the horses in the barn house. Crooks was a proud aloof man, this is because he has no choice but to endure this prejudice and isolation. Crooks has no privacy given to him, the other members of the ranch can walk in and out of Crooks room as they wish but Crooks is not aloud anywhere near the bunkhouse. When Lennie enters Crooks room he frustratingly says This heres my room. I aint wanted in the bunkhouse and you aint wanted in my room! Crooks is irritated with Lennie as he casually walks in but he doesnt want him to leave, his bitter and sad outcome is revealed as he tells Lennie; A guy needs somebody to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody. Dont make no difference who the guy is, long as hes with you.
Lennie is confused as to why Crooks is mistreated by the other ranchers, when Lennie asks him why he is lives in the barn instead of the bunkhouse he replies; Cause Im black!. They say I stink!.., Crooks knows that it is indeed because of his colour that he is excluded from the ranch community and is cold towards every member of the ranch as he reflects the way they treat him.
Curleys wife is the most anonymous figure on the ranch, she doesnt even have a name, she is only ever referred to as Curleys Wife. She is a stunning woman with a perfect figure, she uses her beauty to her power to lure men in so that she can inherit just the slightest amount of attention to soothe her loneliness.
When Lennie and George first arrive on the ranch she instantly starts to flirt with them; she leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward, this gives the impression that she is a tart which in fact is how the other ranchers refer to her, they also call her jail bait a bitch and a rat trap.
She longs for the respect of men although she makes it entirely impossible by the way she represents herself. The fact that she is the only woman on the ranch also adds to her isolation, she has no friends and no company and no one to converse with.
She believes that aint none of them cares how I gotta live which is in fact true. No one on the ranch cares about her or how she feels which must be very depressing and demoralising.
The only person to take some interest in her was Lennie but this was limited to watching her with his mouth wide open. Lennie is the only person Curleys wife feels she can talk to, explain her problems to and not just flirt outrageously with.
She pours out to Lennie; I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely, Whats the matter with me? Ain't I got a right to talk to nobody?". Curleys wife represents absolute loneliness and seclusion and she also provides an interesting insight on how women were viewed in the 1930s.
Candy is an old man physically disabled swamper after loosing his hand in an accident. He has been working on the ranch virtually his entire life. Candy is excluded from the social life of the ranch-hands, by his age, by his disability and demeaning job. Candy looks down on himself as an old worthless man wasting away his last few years, I aint got poop any more. Candy is so down that he puts himself in a state of solitude. He is often invited out with the other ranchers but always refuses due to his negative aspect towards himself.
Candy thinks that nobody want to be friends with him because of his disability. Eventually, he tries to find a friendship by attempting to join the dream of Lennie and George. This is one of Candys desperate attempts to find a place in society and meaning in life. Ill wash dishes an little chick stuff like that. Candy also offers to do it for free, in fact he offers to pay Lennie and George; Maybe if I give you money, youll let me how in the garden even after Im no good at it. After Candy lost his dog, his only true companion that he had had most of his life, he suffered tremendously. Candy and his dog almost shared the same relationship of George and Lennie. Like Lennie, Candys dog depends on George to take care of him and show him what to do. Candy had his dog as a constant companion, now he felt worthless as he didnt own a single important thing.
Loneliness is an inevitable fact of life that not even the strongest can avoid. Throughout the story, Of Mice and Men, the reader feels remorse for the characters as they endure from the loneliness of the ranch. Crooks, Candy and Curleys wife all suffer the inequality resulting in marginalisation and isolation. They learn to cope with their loneliness through their interest in Lennie and Georges friendship.
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