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Loneliness and Isolation

Loneliness and Isolation. Of Mice and Men. The Ranch. Soledad- Spanish for “loneliness” Ranch itself is isolated George and Lennie must walk many miles from road to arrive. The Workers. All workers, except the disabled Crooks and Candy, seem to only be passing through No permanence

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Loneliness and Isolation

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  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?

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