Loneliness and Isolation

1. Loneliness and Isolation Of Mice and Men

2. The Ranch • Soledad- Spanish for “loneliness” • Ranch itself is isolated • George and Lennie must walk many miles from road to arrive

3. The Workers • All workers, except the disabled Crooks and Candy, seem to only be passing through • No permanence • George describes other workers as “the loneliest guys in the world” with “no family” • Slim comments on rarity of friends traveling together • “Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other” • Boss is suspicious- unaccustomed to idea of friendship • “I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy”

4. George and Lennie • Different from others, because they “got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us” • Lennie is sure of his friendship, and tells Crooks that George “wouldn’t do nothing like that” when Crooks supposes that George will abandon Lennie. • Protective of each other • George does not allow Slim to call Lennie “cuckoo” • proudly tells Boss that Lennie can “put up more grain alone than most pairs can” • Makes sure Lennie dies happy- last thought is of the dream ranch

5. Crooks • Segregated in barn • Bitterly guards own property • “This here’s my room… I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, you aint’ wanted in my room” • Doesn’t even step foot inside when he comes to talk to Slim about the mule’s foot • Regrets the way he taunts Lennie • “A guy needs somebody – to be near him” • “A guy gets lonely… sets out alone here at night”

6. Candy • Dog is his company- equivalent of a friend • Other men- all loners- cannot understand importance of dog, just want it shot • Ignore his pleas to let subject drop • “I’m so used to him” and “he was the best damn sheepdog I ever seen” • Joins in on the dream because “I ain’t got no relatives nor nothing” • Knows his future includes more loneliness then death • “They’ll can me purty soon… I won’t have no place to go”

7. Candy Con’t • Importance of friendship and the self-esteem it gives him seen when he defends George and Lennie to Curley’s wife • “We got fren’s, that’s what we got” • Seeing collapse of his dream, he takes out anger on Curley’s wife • “You wasn’t no good… I could of hoed the garden and washed dishes…”

8. Curley’s Wife • Seems more friendless and remote with lack of name • Her dream to be a film star isolates her further • her reality is lonely and miserable, while her dream is unattainable • Immediately isolated • Only female • Not the kind to easily fit in on a ranch • Men know that she is too dangerous to befriend • George teaches Lennie to “leave her be”

9. Curley’s Wife Con’t • Lashes out because they don’t talk to her • Calls them a “bundle of stiffs” and says she’s only there because “there ain’t nobody else” • Makes several visits to bunkhouse • Claims to look for Curley, but obviously is looking for company • Announces her loneliness • “Think I don’t like to talk to somebody every’ once in a while? Think I like to stick in the house alla the time?” • “I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely”

10. Overall Theme • Add it all up: • What is Steinbeck trying to teach his readers about loneliness and isolation?