Of Mice and Men - Essay 19

Loneliness is one of the main themes in “Of Mice and Men”. People who are lonely have the most need of dreams to help them through. George is described as a small man, but has brains and a quick wit. He has been a good friend to Lennie, ever since he promised Lennie's Aunt Clara that he would care for him. He looks after all Lennie's affairs, such as carrying his work card, and tries to save him from trouble. He needs Lennie as a friend, not only because Lennie's strength helps to get them both jobs, but so as not to be lonely. His threats to leave Lennie are not really serious. He is genuinely proud of Lennie. They also share dreams. But as we go on in the story we notice how dependent George is on Lennie. George becomes lonely in the end, when Lennie dies.
  Lennie is a big man compared to his name. He has limited intelligence (acts like a small kid), so he relies on George to look after him. He copies George in everything George does and trusts George completely. Without him he has no one, which shows his lonely because when George is not with him he has no one to go to or talk to. Steinbeck conveys Lennie’s loneliness by animals, “the way a bear drags his paws”, “he drinks from the pool like a horse”. He pets mice, a puppy and wants rabbits in their dreams. He does not have any one which attracts him to animals who would never say anything.
  Curley’s wife is newly married to Curley. She is young, pretty, wears attractive clothes and curls her hair. She seems flirtatious and is always hanging around the bunk house which shows she has no one to talk to. She is lonely, there are no other women to talk to and Curley is not really interested in her all he cares about is work and appearance. She force talks to guys even when they aren’t interested in her "What kinda harm am I doin' to you? Seems like they ain't none of them cares how I gotta live. I tell you I ain't used to livin' like this. I coulda made somethin' of myself." This shows how lonely she is and...