What characters show loneliness in of mice and men?

Updated: November 28, 2022
George and Lennie are the only characters that are truly lonely. Everyone else has someone that they can talk to and confide in.
Detailed answer:

In John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, the theme of loneliness is present throughout. Different characters are affected by loneliness in different ways. However, every character experiences loneliness at some point in their lives. The ranch workers spend much of the book alone, and they have few real connections with others. Their loneliness is especially prominent when it comes to their only female companion, Curley’s wife. Loneliness can be very painful. It robs a person of joy and enchants it with its dark, unsatisfying presence. As humans, we are designed to be connected to other people, but sometimes, we feel lonely alone. Loneliness can lead to depression, and this is a very common occurrence in life. The novel explores the negative effects of loneliness on the human psyche and the importance of companionship. Loneliness is a common theme throughout of mice and men, and John Steinbeck has established that theme through the novella’s setting. In the novella, the majority of the characters are ranchmen, and ranchmen are often lonely because of the need to travel from place to place in order to find work. Through this theme, Steinbeck has highlighted the repetitive lives of workers during the Dustbowl and Great Depression. The novel reveals how loneliness can cause low self-esteem. For example, Candy’s condition makes her less useful on the farm, and she feels worthless. She also finds it difficult to form relationships with Carlson, who is indifferent to Candy’s pleading look.

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