Harrison Kairalla

Curmano Language Arts

1-22-15

Loneliness in Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck uses characterization to help develop the theme of loneliness in
the novella Of Mice and Men. In the book, the author uses a person with S.L.I.C.,
Lennie, and his best friend George.We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn
about us, said George to Lennie(Steinbeck 115). No one really has any friends
throughout the book other than these two. You can tell that people are always jealous of
George because he has a friend, but George is lonely himself a lot of the time.
Steinbeck then throws in characters like Crooks and Candy. Before her death, Curleys
wife says, Im Standin' here talkin' to a bunch of bindle stiffsa nigger an' a dum-dum
and a lousy ol' sheepan' likin' it because they ain't nobody else(102). Even though
they are the characters that are the misfits in the story, they have the most hope. They
almost had a farm until Lennie killed Curley's wife throwing away their plans and making
them lonely again. Then there are the characters who you dont really know anything
about. They are all lone wolves that are always trying to act like they are top dog. In
reality, they all just want a friend to talk to. Slim even admits, "Maybe ever'body in the
whole damn world is scared of each other"(35). Everyone in the great depression just
needed to admit they ere lonely and find some friends. Without using characterization,
John Steinbeck wouldn't have been able to develop the theme of loneliness during the
great depression.