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Loneliness and Isolation in Loneliness and Isolation in “Of mice and Men” “Of mice and Men” John Steinbeck's novel, John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice Of Mice and Men, and Men, is a story in which a is a story in which a dominating idea of inescapable dominating idea of inescapable loneliness prevails. loneliness prevails. "A guy needs somebody to be near him. "A guy needs somebody to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, a guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, a guy gets lonely an' he gets sick." gets lonely an' he gets sick." powerpoints at http://www.worldofteaching.com

Loneliness and Isolation in “Of mice and Men”

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Loneliness and Isolation in “Of mice and Men”. John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, is a story in which a dominating idea of inescapable loneliness prevails. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

Loneliness and Isolation in Loneliness and Isolation in “Of mice and Men”“Of mice and Men”

John Steinbeck's novel, John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice Of Mice and Men,and Men, is a story in which a is a story in which a dominating idea of inescapable dominating idea of inescapable loneliness prevails. loneliness prevails.

"A guy needs somebody to be "A guy needs somebody to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, a guy gets he's with you. I tell ya, a guy gets lonely an' he gets sick."lonely an' he gets sick."

Free powerpoints at http://www.worldofteaching.com

Page 2: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men is filled with is filled with characters such as this, who are characters such as this, who are unable to find a way out of their lonely unable to find a way out of their lonely lives. The loneliness in this story builds lives. The loneliness in this story builds and builds and never is allowed to and builds and never is allowed to escape. escape.

By never allowing its escape, By never allowing its escape, Steinbeck effectively forms a solid Steinbeck effectively forms a solid backing for the characters and events backing for the characters and events in his novel. in his novel.

Page 3: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

LennieLennieLennie's loneliness chiefly stems Lennie's loneliness chiefly stems from the fact that he is both from the fact that he is both mentally retarded and very big mentally retarded and very big and strong. His retardation and strong. His retardation sometimes causes others at the sometimes causes others at the ranch to shun him, even to the ranch to shun him, even to the point of thinking he is "cuckoo." point of thinking he is "cuckoo." Since Lennie cannot think as Since Lennie cannot think as quickly as the other men, he is quickly as the other men, he is often set aside and isolated from often set aside and isolated from them. He is unable to take an them. He is unable to take an active part in conversations active part in conversations because George, Lennie's best because George, Lennie's best friend and travelling companion, is friend and travelling companion, is the only one who can understand the only one who can understand him. him.

Page 4: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

Lennie is frequently off in his own dream Lennie is frequently off in his own dream world and is constantly preoccupied with world and is constantly preoccupied with dreams of the farm which he and George dreams of the farm which he and George someday hope to buy. As a result, Lennie someday hope to buy. As a result, Lennie is unable to face reality at times, a fact is unable to face reality at times, a fact which puts him even more out of touch which puts him even more out of touch with the real world and with other workers. with the real world and with other workers.

Lennie is just like a big baby. He refuses to Lennie is just like a big baby. He refuses to defend himself and often cannot be held defend himself and often cannot be held responsible for his actions. This responsible for his actions. This irresponsibility, combined with Lennie's irresponsibility, combined with Lennie's abnormal size and strength, causes many abnormal size and strength, causes many of the other ranch hands to shy away and of the other ranch hands to shy away and fear him. fear him.

Page 5: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

The men are afraid The men are afraid of Lennie because of Lennie because they know that if his they know that if his great strength were great strength were ever to go ever to go uncontrolled, it could uncontrolled, it could easily overwhelm easily overwhelm any one of them.any one of them.

This constant This constant rejection by others rejection by others increases the depth increases the depth of Lennie's loneliness of Lennie's loneliness and adds to the and adds to the theme of loneliness theme of loneliness running through the running through the novel.novel.

Page 6: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

Crooks, the stable-handCrooks, the stable-hand Crooks, stable-hand, is another Crooks, stable-hand, is another

lonely character at the ranch. The lonely character at the ranch. The chief cause of Crook's loneliness chief cause of Crook's loneliness centres on the fact that he is black. centres on the fact that he is black.

Most of the men constantly put down Most of the men constantly put down Crooks and use him as a scapegoat, Crooks and use him as a scapegoat, even to the point of calling him the even to the point of calling him the "n" word. "n" word.

Page 7: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

Because of his colour, Crooks Because of his colour, Crooks must live by himself in a must live by himself in a small room in the barn. small room in the barn. Crooks becomes so Crooks becomes so accustomed to this constant accustomed to this constant isolation, that he is suspicious isolation, that he is suspicious of any man who suddenly of any man who suddenly tries to make friends with tries to make friends with him. him.

When Lennie accidentally When Lennie accidentally stumbles onto Crooks' room stumbles onto Crooks' room one night in the barn and one night in the barn and tries to sit down and talk, tries to sit down and talk, Crooks becomes so suspicious Crooks becomes so suspicious that he actually tries to drive that he actually tries to drive Lennie away before giving up Lennie away before giving up and allowing Lennie to come and allowing Lennie to come in. in.

Page 8: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

Crooks' deformed back deprives him of Crooks' deformed back deprives him of working with the other men, thereby working with the other men, thereby denying him his last opportunity for denying him his last opportunity for personal contact with them. While the personal contact with them. While the other men work together in the fields other men work together in the fields "bucking" grain sacks or harvesting crops, "bucking" grain sacks or harvesting crops, Crooks must sit all alone in his little room Crooks must sit all alone in his little room in the barn mending harnesses and doing in the barn mending harnesses and doing other menial labour. other menial labour.

Crooks is perhaps the only man on the Crooks is perhaps the only man on the ranch who does a substantial amount of ranch who does a substantial amount of reading, vainly hoping it will help him pass reading, vainly hoping it will help him pass his lonely hours. Unlike Lennie, Crooks has his lonely hours. Unlike Lennie, Crooks has no dreams for the future, which gives him no dreams for the future, which gives him the feeling that he is trapped on this lonely the feeling that he is trapped on this lonely ranch for the rest of his life. ranch for the rest of his life.

Page 9: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

Curley’s WifeCurley’s Wife Curley's wife is perhaps Curley's wife is perhaps

the loneliest person of all the loneliest person of all on the ranch. Since she is on the ranch. Since she is the only woman on the the only woman on the ranch, she is set apart ranch, she is set apart from the others. Curley, from the others. Curley, her own husband, ignores her own husband, ignores her. He does not regard her. He does not regard his wife as a person his wife as a person needing love and needing love and companionship, but companionship, but rather as an object which rather as an object which can be put aside, pushed can be put aside, pushed around. around.

Page 10: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

Instead of being attentive to his wife, Instead of being attentive to his wife, Curley is frequently going out with Curley is frequently going out with "the boys" instead of with his wife. "the boys" instead of with his wife.

Curley's wife has no love for her Curley's wife has no love for her husband and wishes to leave him, husband and wishes to leave him, but her final escape route is blocked but her final escape route is blocked since her father is dead and her since her father is dead and her mother doesn't want her. mother doesn't want her.

Page 11: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

Curley's wife tries to find companionship Curley's wife tries to find companionship with the other men on the ranch but they with the other men on the ranch but they ignore her or try to brush her off fearing ignore her or try to brush her off fearing that if they are caught associating with that if they are caught associating with her, they will lose their jobs. her, they will lose their jobs.

Curley's wife's loneliness finally becomes Curley's wife's loneliness finally becomes so severe that she resorts to fantasizing so severe that she resorts to fantasizing herself as a famous actress just to feel herself as a famous actress just to feel wanted and more popular with others. wanted and more popular with others.

Page 12: Loneliness and Isolation in  “Of mice and Men”

LonelinessLoneliness Loneliness affects many of the characters, and Steinbeck seems to show that it is a natural and Loneliness affects many of the characters, and Steinbeck seems to show that it is a natural and

inevitable result of the kind of life they are forced to lead.inevitable result of the kind of life they are forced to lead. The itinerant workers are caught in a trap of loneliness - they never stay in one place long enough The itinerant workers are caught in a trap of loneliness - they never stay in one place long enough

to form permanent relationships. Even if such relationships existed, they would probably be to form permanent relationships. Even if such relationships existed, they would probably be destroyed by the demands of the itinerant life.destroyed by the demands of the itinerant life.

Let's examine the lonely situation of some of the characters, see how they try to deal with it, and Let's examine the lonely situation of some of the characters, see how they try to deal with it, and the result.the result.

Candy is lonely because he is old, and is different from the other hands. His only comfort is his old Candy is lonely because he is old, and is different from the other hands. His only comfort is his old dog, which keeps him company and reminds him of days when he was young and whole.dog, which keeps him company and reminds him of days when he was young and whole.

He has no relatives, and once his dog is killed is totally alone. He eagerly clutches at the idea of He has no relatives, and once his dog is killed is totally alone. He eagerly clutches at the idea of buying a farm with George and Lennie, but of course this all comes to nothing.buying a farm with George and Lennie, but of course this all comes to nothing.

Candy's disappointment is expressed in the bitter words he utters to the body of Curley's wife, Candy's disappointment is expressed in the bitter words he utters to the body of Curley's wife, whom he blames for spoiling his dream.whom he blames for spoiling his dream.

George is also caught in the trap of loneliness. Just as Candy has his dog for company, George has George is also caught in the trap of loneliness. Just as Candy has his dog for company, George has Lennie (who is often described in animal-like terms). Continuing the parallel, George too is left Lennie (who is often described in animal-like terms). Continuing the parallel, George too is left completely alone when Lennie is killed.completely alone when Lennie is killed.

The dream farm is his idea, and he says 'We'd belong there ... no more runnin' around the The dream farm is his idea, and he says 'We'd belong there ... no more runnin' around the country...'.country...'.

Another lonely character is Curley's wife. Newly married and in a strange place, she is forbidden by Another lonely character is Curley's wife. Newly married and in a strange place, she is forbidden by Curley to talk to anyone but him. To counter this, she constantly approaches the ranch hands on the Curley to talk to anyone but him. To counter this, she constantly approaches the ranch hands on the excuse of looking for Curley. The only result is that the men regard her as a slut, and Curley excuse of looking for Curley. The only result is that the men regard her as a slut, and Curley becomes even more intensely jealous. Finally, her loneliness leads to her death as she makes the ' becomes even more intensely jealous. Finally, her loneliness leads to her death as she makes the ' serious error of trying to overcome it by playing the tease with Lennie.serious error of trying to overcome it by playing the tease with Lennie.

Curley himself is lonely. His new wife hates him as do all the ranch hands who despise him for his Curley himself is lonely. His new wife hates him as do all the ranch hands who despise him for his cowardice.cowardice.

He has married in an attempt to overcome his loneliness, but has blindly chosen a wife totally He has married in an attempt to overcome his loneliness, but has blindly chosen a wife totally inappropriate for the kind of life he leads.inappropriate for the kind of life he leads.

His feelings are all channelled into aggressive behaviour which further isolates his wife and leads to His feelings are all channelled into aggressive behaviour which further isolates his wife and leads to the incident with Lennie where his hand is crushed.the incident with Lennie where his hand is crushed.

Crooks is another who is isolated because he is different. He copes with it by keeping a distance Crooks is another who is isolated because he is different. He copes with it by keeping a distance between himself and the other hands. When he does allow himself to be drawn into the dream of between himself and the other hands. When he does allow himself to be drawn into the dream of working on George and Lennie's dream farm, he is immediately shut out by George's anger.working on George and Lennie's dream farm, he is immediately shut out by George's anger.