of Mice and Men

Over the world, nobody likes the feeling of loneliness and all of human beings try their best to avoid that happens on them. However, a part of people in the current society is still influenced by loneliness. The novel named《Of Mice And Men》is an allegory which reveals the process of two men named Lennie and George have a dream, then chase it and finally the dream fails. Additionally, the background of this story is the great depression in America in1930s. Not only these two protagonists are lonely, but also many different characters are solitary. And this essay mainly focuses on the following two questions: Why are various characters lonely? And how does loneliness affect them?

First of all, I think the social status and the personality are the most important two factors which causes various characters lonely. A larger part of characters in this novel are working class. Most of their energy is used for thinking how to make more money and working much harder. They don't have much time and patience to deal with the relationship between other individuals. “An’ I could do all that every damn month. Get a gallon of whisky, or set in a poolroom and play cards or shoot pool.”( Steinbeck P11) Here are some words George said about what he wants. Through his words, we can figure out the characters like Lennie and George are chasing the material satisfaction. In other words, many characters in this novel who are in the working class as same as George and Lennie doesn't pay attention to the spiritual communication. The social status leads to this loss. This spiritual loss makes them know their own identities clearly. The ambiguous consignation results in their loneliness. Additionally, these characters’ personalities plays a big important role in this process. For instance, Lennie is a sturdy person whose intelligence is not as same as normal people. He always does some behaviours which look childish. “It’s on’y a mouse. George.”( Steinbeck P5) Lennie hided a dead mouse in his pocket to play it. “Why do you got to killed? You ain’t so little as mice.” He picked up the pup and hurled it from him.” (Steinbeck P85) Lennie killed the puppy inadvertently and then he wanted to cover this event. However, he is honest and kind. “Jesus Christ, Lennie! You can’t remember nothing that happens, but you remember ever’ word I say.”( Steinbeck P103) George said this to Lennie. Through this sentence, we can figure out Lennie is sincere and trusts others very easily. In that historical situation, everybody intends to gain more profit, thus nobody pays attention to this kind people. Therefore, he can’t make more friends because of his special personality. Here is a simple summarisation: Labor is always lonely in the country which money talks.

The second point is the society directly influences the characters and loneliness uses the society as the platform to affect people. The great depression shook the society and the traditional values. The whole society became complex and unfamiliar. The alienation and the estrangement between the individual and the society took the root. The feelings of normal people depend on how the economics of the world goes. Thus, because of this, almost people felt oppressed and kept the distance away from others painstakingly. For example, Crooks, who was the stable buck always acted in his own room is one of the best improvements. “Crooks said sharply, “You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me.”( Steinbeck P68). Loneliness used the society as the platform to spread out and reinforces the estrangement. In addition, loneliness erased the existence of all good aspects of the humanity and decreased the touch between people.

Finally, I want to talk about how does loneliness affect the characters in this novel. This book like the Greek tragedy also reveals that the fate is inexorable. For example, “He shook her then, and he was angry with her. “Don’t you go yellin’,” he said, and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck.” (Steinbeck P91). Lennie had made the fault in the last farm and right now, he still made a mistake. Lennie ended this story by using this extreme way. But when he hoped the event with a peaceful end, Curley’s wife had died. And Lennie had to go back the miserable end. Under the inexorable fate, every has no alternative. Everyone is lonely when people faces the powerful destiny. And loneliness brings the sense of powerless forces the characters to bow their heads. Lennie did’t have any friends except George so he had to play with the rats and made the rats dead. Thus, they are not close. Lennie is still lonely. In this novel, George had the ability to survive alone, but he still took care of “stupid” Lennie because he did not want to live alone. Loneliness makes him notice the importance of company.

To sum up, loneliness like the starvation, it always accompanies with yourself. You can not get a rid of it. Additionally, loneliness is destined in the fate. Nobody can avoid it. Human being have to face it directly. As people meet the troubles in their fates, they will notice the importance of the relationship with others even some of them are not lovely.

Bibliography:
Steinbeck, John, Of Mice And Men, 1993, Sabon