In John Steinbeck’s classic novel Of Mice and Men, Candy lives his life as a lonely man because of him being an old, crippled rancher. After suffering through a great amount of ridicule, Candy, finds himself sad and alone from the other men. Candy deals with a heartbreaking death and cannot work with the other men because he has lost his hand. There are many factors that contribute to Candy’s constant feeling of loneliness. Candy has had his dog for as long as he can remember.
To save himself Crooks tries to explain to Lennie how it feels to be lonely, ‘Maybe you can see now, you got George. You know he’s goin’ to come back.’ This monologue is important Crooks is lonely in many ways: he is crippled so he is isolated from society, he is black and he is intelligent all of which set him apart from anyone else on the ranch. At this point animal language is used again for Lennie. Crooks discusses how life would be for Lennie if he was on his own, ‘They’ll tie you up with a collar, like a dog.’ Words like ‘growled’ also show how Lennie’s temperament changes. Please note that animal language is used the most during tense scenes.
When George isn’t there to help him, things can go terribly wrong. One night when all of the men went out, Lennie was left at the ranch. When the boss’s daughter-in-law came to visit Lennie accidentally killed the woman. After he realizes she is dead, he instantly knows he did something wrong and that George will be angry with him. Lennie becomes confused and doesn’t know where to go or what to do.
In the third chapter of the novel, Candy the old swamper is the centre of attention. He doesn’t have any friends, so has a dog for company, which unfortunately, later in the novel, Carlson bullies him into letting him shoot it. ‘God almighty that dog stinks, get him out of here… He aint doing you any good, or itself’. Out of desperation, Candy turns to George and Lennie. He becomes intrigued by their dreams of owning a ranch and tries to get himself included.
As the story progresses Curley's wife and Crooks admit their prolonged loneliness. George's loneliness is understandable because he has been given the responsibility to look after a grown man who lacks intelligence and common sense. He is also alienated by the other workers on the farm. George reminds Lennie that men like them, who migrate from farm to farm are the loneliest of all men. He explains to Lennie that they only have each other, "...because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you..."(14 Steinbeck).
George, a family friend had promised their Aunty Clara to take care of Lennie which had proved to be an enormous job due to the fact that they had been exiled from Weed and would have been exiled again for Lennie’s improper behaviour. From the moment the pair had arrived at the ranch, Lennie had been discriminated against because of his large status. As they were getting to know the people around, Curly had come and sized up Lennie preparing to fight. Lennie was afraid and unaware of the peril he was in but George had come to the rescue, preventing the fight for the time being. Curly preyed on Lennie’s fear and attempted to harm him even though he had done nothing wrong.
He worries that the boss will soon realize he is useless and easily replaceable, and demand that he leave the ranch. Candy’s dog only supports his fear. “And at his heels there walked a dragfooted sheepdog, gray of muzzle, and with pale, blind old eyes. The dog struggled lamely to the side of the room and lay down, grunting softly to himself and licking his grizzled, moth-eaten coat.” (p 24) His dog reflects himself and when the dog is put down by Carlson for being useless and smelly, Candy’s fear grows
“The old man came slowly into the room.” (Steinbeck pg 22). From the start Candy was only interested in making friends and finding a better life. Curly; Cocky and Narcissistic, Curly shows his true colors from the beginning. Cold and heartless toward the people working on his fathers ranch he always has a conflict with his newly wed wife always blaming her for cheating on him. “He glanced coldly at George then Lennie.” (Steinbeck Pg 23) Getting defensive over the very sight of Lennie and George trying to pick a fight with the wrong people.
i mean if there wasn't knowledge, there wouldn't be life. ________ In the novel “ Of Mice and Men “,John Steinbeck wanted to show that even though money is what pushes people to do things, there is more than just money in the world so you must always love and help a person that cannot take care of themselves. ________ Author John Steinbeck uses the novel Of Mice and Men to carry a letter to the world that men cannot be changed for who they are. ________ “Of mice and men” written by “John Steinbeck” shows the theme of lonesomeness and loneliness of the people on the ranch. ________ A mental problem person would never change his attitude and character towards certain situation.
When Lennie and George first meet Curly’s wife, she was being flirty and Lennie couldn’t stop staring. What she really wants is someone to talk to, because Curly doesn’t pay attention to her. He treats her as property. So the only way to get the attention of the guys is by using seduction. Towards the end of the story she find Lennie in the barn and start being flirty because she knows she can make him talk to her.