After finishing CURWIFE

LONELINESS DETAILS2
USE EXAMPLES FROM THIS to write
curwife paragraph!!

ESSAY EXAMP(Strengthened-GCSE-English-
Literature-Unit+1-exemplar)
Of Mice and Men is Steinbecks protest against the unfairness of
American society in the 1930s. To what extent do you agree with this
statement?
Throughout the novel, we are greeted by characters who are facing different
problems with unfairness of American society. Firstly, we have Curleys wife. The
fact that she is not named in the novel shows that she is Curleys possession. The
writer shows the aspects ofAmerican society in the 1930s by the men on the
ranch manipulating her and not giving herattention. Which moves us on to Curley.
Curley does not give his wife attention on the ranchso Curleys wife is forced to go
around and find the attention she craves from other men.
Another point is that the men under-estimate Curleys wife. She says to Lennie,
You know what I can do to you if you open your trap? This could show how the
other men on the ranch do not expect a woman to be intimidating in any way, and
she has to get her point across that she is human. The writer shows how Curleys
wife is alienated and ostrisised.The novel shows alot about sexism and
discrimination in American using the character Curleys wife. Some grasp of
context and how it affects C's wife.
We are also introduced to Crooks, who is facing the problems of racism and
discriminationbecause he is black and has a disability. The writer shows the
racism by his views on the theme of the American Dream. Crooks does not believe
in the American dream because of the way he has been treated his whole life. I
think that the reason he has no hope in the American dream is because he knows
realistically that hardly anyone will get the chance to live their dream. He knows
this because he has seen many people fail. The way Crooks istreated on the ranch
is simply disgraceful. He is alienated and isolated because he is black.Also the
way he is treated has had a massive effect on him. Crooks has been mistreated
and discriminated so long that even he believes that its wrong to be black.
Crooks says, I aint nothing but a nigger, showing that he thinks he is nothing
compared to white people.
I think that even the fact that his nickname is Crooks shows how he is
mistreated because he has a disability. The way he is treated is quite similar to
Curleys wife. This is because they both have no real name or life. OK
Steinbeck also used the character of Candy to represent how ageism was present
in the 1930s. He shows this by Candy wanting to shoot himself after his dog has
been shot.Candy wants to shoot himself because he is portrayed as worthless. I
think that Candy has such a strong bond with his dog because the other men
dont talk to him much because heis old, so he has to rely on his dog. When the
dog gets shot by Carlson, this leaves Candy feeling so alienated and isolated
because he has nobody to talk to.
In my opinion, I think that Of Mice and Men is a great representation of the
unfairness of American society in the 1930s. I think this because of all the
characters that are included in these problems are discriminated massively. I think
that the audience will feel sympathy towards the characters because they know
their stories. I think that writing a book is useful to protest against something
because the readers will feel sympathy and then they might realise the problems
of the American society in the 1930s. The writer has presented the unfairness of
society in the 1930s by the main themes of the novel. Themes like the American
dream, isolation, racism, sexism, ageism, friendship and animal imagery all link
differently towards the unfairness of society in the 1930s. The fact that the writer
shows they characters being very discriminated and not having attention gives off
a very sympathetic
vibe that you should feel sorry for the characters being alienated. I laos think that
people
would look to this book and reflect on what it was like to be alive at the time, The
readers
would probably make the unfairness personal, so they would put themselves in
the
characters shoes. The themes have a massive effect on me massively, so the
writer could
change the views on other people in the society and possibly even stop the
discrimination.
Examiner comment:
Identifies characters treated unfairly, some reference to contextual factors.
Becomes
general. Mark: 10.

Of Mice and Men is Steinbecks protest against the unfairness of

American society in
the 1930s. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
In John Steinbecks novel Of Mice and Men there is a protest against the
unfairness of
American society in the 1930s. I agree with this statement because we know that
Lennie
was picked on by Curley for being childish and not understanding things and
Curley used
this to scare Lennie, we know this because He was kinda feelin you out. He
figures hes got
you scared. Knows the text but narrow view of context.
We also know that Curleys wife was treated unfairly. We know this because in the
novel she
is not allowed to talk to anybody besides Curley but we also know that she was
quite a Tart
as she is always going into the huts where the ranch workers are staying and
flirting with
them.
We also see the unfair treatment on Crooks who is treated unfairly for being black
and
having a crippled back, he is only allowed to sleep in a small hut next to the
stables with a
few of his own belongings and he does not like anybody else being in there so he
kicks them
out. Candy is also treated unfairly because he has one hand missing and is the
oldest on the
ranch so people are always telling him that his dog should be shot because it is
really old
and useless.
In conclusion to this I agree with the statement Of Mice and Men is Steinbecks
protes
against the unfairness of American society in the 1930s, because in almos every
part of the
story at least one character is being taken advantage of including, Curleys wife,
Lennie,
Crooks, and Candy.
Examiner comment:
Brief but accurate reference to characters. Very limited awareness of context
beyond the
ranch. Mark: 8.
Rather general some ref to character aware of context but implied

How does John Steinbeck use the character of Curleys wife to highlight
some aspects of American society in the 1930s?
Curleys wife can be seen as a character that portrays and ecompasses what it
was like to be a victim of society during this dark period of the Great Depression
(1930s) whereby how you looked like, who you were and how wealthy you were
determined your quality of life. In this patriarchal society isolation and loneliness
from the outside world was not at all uncommon and many suffered greatly
because of discrimination in this dark age.
Loneliness and discrimination is at the heart of this novel and Curleys wife seems
to display this through her lonely character. links between character and context
Curleys wife seems to be a character who is isolated and marginalised
throughout the novel. Steinbeck writes: "A girl was standing there looking in."
The above metaphor shows how Curleys wife seems to never quite fit in and can
imply that she is always on the sidelines never quite being allowed to participate
with normal activities with the everyone else.
Furthermore the noun girl can tell us that Curleys wife is simply a nave and
simply minded girl who is unable to participate on account of her immature
personality. On the other hand, the noun girl can further indicate that Curleys
wife is simply infantilised and not given the chance to take part in her life.
Or being the only girl on the ranch means that she can never truly be accepted
due to the time at which women were seen as inferior to men and simply not
capable to be a part of anything.
Curleys wife seems to be care about her appearance a lot despite living on a dirty
ranch. Steinbeck writes: She has fully rouged lips Her fingernails were red.
The overuse and repetition of the colour red can foreshadow a great event in the
novel. The colour red has many connotations for example that of prostitution,
love, danger, anger and blood. This colour that Steinbeck has chosen to mention
repeatedly is no coincidence and could be used to warn and foreshadow the end
of the novel whereby Curleys wife can be seen to start a series of events that
subsequently end Lennie and Georges dream.
On the other hand, the girl in weed who made George and Lennie run away was
also wearing a red dress which can further indicate that the colour red symbolises
a bad omen and catastrophe in the novel.
To link to the question Curleys wife mistreatment by society and her own husband
has lead her to become an attention seeker (the colour red stands out) and
consequently to ruin other peoples chances at happiness.
Due to the extreme sexism of a patriarchal society of the 1930s Curleys wife
seems to be trapped in her own body and unable to have the freedom of a happy
life. Steinbeck writes: ostrich feathers. Curleys wife is said to be wearing shoes
trimmed with ostrich feathers. Anostrich (unlike) other birds is a flightless bird
which cannot have the freedom to control many aspects of its life. This can
symbolise Curleys wifes similar imprisonment on the ranch and of her own body.
interesting pt
Additionally, Curleys wifes lack of control and inferiority to the other men on the
ranch can be seen through Steinbecks clever use of the apostrophe to symbolise
that Curleys wife is a possession of her husband; simply a sex object meant for
Curleys own impure desires and intentions. She is simply a trophy wife only there
to be shown off by Curley.
Furthermore, Curleys wife is not given a name which shows how women at that
time of the 1930s werent equal to men and sometimes even basic human rights
werent given to them because of their belief in a male dominated society.
As a consequence of the constant neglect, bullying and harassment of Curleys
wife for example being called names such as a tart, a whore and jail bait,
Curleys wife causes her hurt and anger to hurt and break the only other person
on the ranch that is lower than her on the social hierchy; Crooks. Steinbeck writes:
I could get you strung up on a tree so easy, it aint even funny. The fact that
Curleys wife ultimately resorts in using racism to bully Crooks shows her mean
character, however by hurting Crooks Curleys wife is able to feel more significant
and powerful enough to decide someones fate. This boosts her self-esteem and
self-worth. thoughtful use of events
Curleys wife only seems to be happy when she is dead. Steinbeck writes: all the
meaness and discontent all gone sweet and young. The fact that Curleys
wifes true innoscence is only shown when she is dead shows just how society had
corrupted her mind into believing that she was worthless and useless. focus on
question
Although at the end Curleys wife is also described to look young and fragile, it is
not in an infantilising and patronising way and displays her purity and how by
simply being of the opposite gender her quality of life is significantly decreased.
She is sown as being one of the many victims in the novel but also ultimately she
is seen as a racist and although this is extremely wrong she is simply attempting
to see herself as more important and significant that society has given her credit
for, because of the negative light that women were seen in.
Examiner comment:
Strong focus on question, clear understanding of how context affects character.
Thorough discussion. Mark: 15. clear explanation sees link between context and
character

Write about Curleys wife and the ways in which she is affected by
American society in the 1930s.
Think about:
What you learn about her past;
Her relationship with Curley;
Her relationships with others.
Curleys wife is affected by American society in the 1930s because she is the only
woman at the ranch, and it is hard for her to get along with other people because
she is married to Curley. Curleys wife does not have a real name which enthisis
the point she is Curleys possession. Curleys wife is described as Jail bait. Which
might suggest she is always looking for trouble. We first here about Curleys wife
when Candy was explaing to George she is a tart. We learn in her past that her
mother did not allow he to be in the movies so she married Curley. There is no
relationship between Curley and his wife, as they never see each other because
their always looking for each other. have you guys seen Curley. Steinbeck
creates tention because Curleys wife looks for Attention, and by bullying the
ranch hands. could develop
She does not get along with the people because they think she is brutal and that
she will do anything to get rid of them. The author has sympathy for Curleys wife
because she never has the time to see Curley, and the only reason she is with him
is because she wanted to leave her mother. As the men go out on the Saturday
night only Crooks, Lennie and Candy we left behind. She took advantage be
teasing them and making fun of them. When Crooks tells her to get out of his
room, she shouts at him I could get you strung up a tree.
Towards the end of the novel she gets killed by Lennie. She is killed because she
was not aware of Lennies strength and Curleys wife asks him to feel her hair.
Then she yells and yells and Lennie broke her neck. narrative
My summary is that Curleys wife is a lonely person who does not have the time to
be with Curley. And her dream to be in the movies did not work out. She is a cruel
person who everybody hates at the ranch. No one at the ranch understands whats
she is going through. She died towards the end of the novel.
Examiner comment:
Limited awareness of contextual factors.
Some understanding of main features of character and her story. Beginning to
select relevant events. Mark: 12.
hint of character
needs ref to events
valid pt
some ref.
Knows the text
More specific here
not quite
Choose a character from Of Mice and Men who you think is treated
unfairly by the community in which he or she lives. Write about this
character, explaining the reasons for your choice.
From Of Mice and Men I think that Crooks is treated very infairly by the colour of
his skin. Crooks is a very lonely character in the book Of Mice and Men Crooks
has no company he isnt aloud to speak to anyone and he has his own little room
where he keeps his precious stuff with him. Crooks has alot of shoes? this shows
that he didnt travel alot but in the 1930s migrant wores use to travel alot and
look for jobs. touches on historical setting
Crooks also has alot of dirty books on his shelf this gives me the impression on
him being very lonley and also this tells me that he is aducates which was unusal
in the 1930s times because migrent workers didnt have an education because
they were too busy looking out for jobs so that they can feed their family. At the
olden times the migrant workers and the community people used to treat black
people as slaves which is prejudice. Crooks looks after the horses he has alot of
medicion in his room for the horses and for himself.
Hes always being ignored he thinks its just a nigger saying it this shows that no
one cares in what he says because its just a black guy saying it, back in the olden
times Crooks use to live with his family but he was forbidden to play with whites
and his family was the only black family there. relevant detail
Crooks didnt believe Lennie when Lennie told him about the dream he thougt that
was nuts because he knew that everyone wanted a dream to live off the fatter
land but no ones dream come true. features of character
all Crooks wanted is someone to talk to but no one cares about him. Everyone
calls him Crooks because he has a crooked back and he cant stand up and his
back is not straight because hes been kicked by a horse.
When Lennie told Crooks about his dream he couldnt believe it because he knew
it was never going to happen.
Examiner comment:
Disorganised response but sets text quite securely in context and makes links
between contextual factors and main features of character. 14/15 Mark: 15.
aware of cultural factors
grasp of impact of context
under-developed but relevant
detailed ref horseshoes
Write about Curleys wife and the ways in which she is affected by
American society in the 1930s.
Think about:
What you learn about her past;
Her relationship with Curley;
Her relationships with others.
Curleys wife shows us the treatment of women in America in the 1930s. The
character, Curleys wife, informs us with the impression that, women in the 1930s
in America, were treated as items, or possessions, which were given no respect by
men this is given away as we are not even told Curleys wifes real name, its as
if now she belongs to Curley, and is not even entitled to a name of her own! We
find out that Curleys wifes relationship with Curley, is not at all good, he never
give her attention, and leaves her lonely, this is why she always seems to be
looking for some sort of companionship with anyone! The only time we see Curley
and his wife together, is when she is dead, and even then he doesnt seem at all
upset, he just wants revenge off Lennie, for taking something which belonged to
him. We find throughout the whole novel Curleys wife looking for some sort of
companionship, to aid her loneliness. Really, Curleys wife is exactly the same as
the ranch men lonely and looking for someone. We are told Curleys wife
searches for such companionship, like a ghost ; Candy says she can move
quietly. Curleys wifes relationship with the characters on the ranch is not good
either. She is described by them as poison, a tart and a rat trap. Curleys
wife tries to get attention of the men by flirting and earing provocative clothing,
Curleys wife looks completely out of place on the ranch with her face heavily
made up and her full roughed lips. Throughout the novel, Curleys wife is
described as wearing the colour Red, the colour red is associated with sex and
danger, and is also the colour of the devil, this foreshadows that she spells
trouble, especially with Lennie. A lot of thoughtful points here.
Lennie instantly takes a liking to Curleys wife, as he says she is purty, but
George warns him to stay away from her, as he has seen people like tha before,
poison. Lennie really did try to keep his distance, but as she moved so quietly,
it was really difficult for him to do so. In Chapter Five, Curleys wife find Lennie
alone, so goes to try and aid her ache for companionship and attention. At first
Lennie is reluctant, Curleys wife soon gets mad you think I dont want to talk to
somebody every once in a while? I get awful lonely, she gets her way and soon
starts speaking to him about her past, her dreams and her relationship with
Curley. Curleys wife confides in Lennie, as she knows he wont remember what she
said so therefore wont repeat it. Curleys wife tells Lennie about her dream of
being in the pictures and the movies. Curleys wife comes across as pretty
nave, to think her dream got crushed by her mother hiding the letter from her.
We can tell that there was no letter and there was never going to be, the man
saying differently was obviously lying to get into her pants. Curleys wifes naivety
brought her to marrying Curley. She tells Lennie how she only married
him to get away from her mother, this leading her to live the depressing live
which she live, full of lonliness, isolation and dreams.
Towards the end of the book, Lennie and Curleys wife find something in common,
they both like soft things, Curleys wife tells Lennie how she likes to stroke her
soft hair and the asks him if he wants to feel it. Lennie starts stroking Curleys
wifes hair, but soon starts to stroke to hard, she cries out for Lennie to stop, by
crying out Lennie panicks and holds on to her mouth with his big paws,
inadentally Lennie ends up breaking Curleys wifes neck, leaving her dead. The
author, John Steinbeck, then says how the ache for attention left her face with
the meannes. he describes how she looked young and pretty, and perhaps even
happy lying there dead. We suddenly start to feel sorry for her, throughout most
of the novel, we took an instant dislike to her, just because she wanted attention
but now dead, we see a different side to her and think about how young she was,
and how much of a horrible life she had to persue. Really, she was treated unfairly
by the Ranch men. John Steinbeck shows this throughout the novel, its like the
battle of the sexes, each gender criticising and putting each other into
stereptypes, but thats how life was in American in the 1930s, women were
isolated and lonely, and couldnt do nothing about it.
Examiner comment:
Clear grasp of social/historical factors with strong links made with character in
some detail. Thorough discussion of character. Mark: 18.

Loneliness In Of Mice And Men

Loneliness is an inevitable fact of life that not even the strongest can avoid. In the novel, Of
Mice and Men, John Steinbeck illustrates the loneliness of California ranch life in the early
1930's. Throughout the story, the reader discovers the many sources of solitude, primarily
being discrimination and prejudice, resulting in loneliness and isolation.

One of the most important things that are really needed is a friend. Without friends, people
would suffer from loneliness and solitude. The characters in this novel are intrigued yet
envious of the special friendship shared by George and Lennie because they do not have
that in their life.

All the characters are extremely lonely and unhappy with their lives (except Slim, who is
the only character that seems to be confident and happy with his life), and none of them
can escape this unhappiness. Economic and social forces control them, and free will seems
illusory.

To study the aspect of loneliness in Of Mice and Men, we will study George and Lennies
bittersweet friendship, as well as loneliness through 3 characters who are forced to locate
their happiness elsewhere to fight off their loneliness--in Crooks' childhood on the chicken
farm, or Curley's wife's vision of Hollywood stardom, or George and Lennie's Eden-like
dream of their own farm. And finally we will point out interesting similarities between
certain characters.

The setting of the novel is destined for loneliness. Soledad is short for the town's full name,
'Nuestra Senora de Soledad' which means 'Our Lady of Loneliness'. This is the town that is
closest to the ranch, a place that is already full of lonely, solitary people. The name of the
closest town being Soledad, we understand that loneliness is some kind of vicious circle,
because on the ranch they are already lonely, and going to town to fight that loneliness
wont help since its called Soledad.

"Guys like us, that live on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world." George means that
if not for each other, then he and Lennie would be all alone, with no friends, like all the men
like them, who are nomads working from ranch to ranch without making any friends, and
living a lonely, solitary life. Clinging to each other in their loneliness and alienation, George
and his simple-minded friend Lennie dream, as drifters will, of a place to call their own. But
we can attribute another meaning to this sentence. George and Lennie are very different,
physically as well as mentally, even though they talk to each other, we can sense that they
are both on a different level. George is a smart, quick-witted man, who seems to need
mental stimulation from a companion, which he cannot have in his relationship with Lennie.
And Lennie doesnt always understand what George is talking about, as Crooks points out
Sometimes he talks, and you dont know what the hell hes talkin about. Aint that so ?
Jus talks on, an you dont know what the hell its all about?. Even though they have each
other, they are still both lonely at a certain level, but as Crooks also points outs it dont
make no difference; what he means that its not whats being said that is important, nor
that the interlocutor understands clearly what the others talking about, the important thing
is human contact and being there together.

Crooks, Candy and Curley's wife all suffer injustices such as discrimination and prejudice,
resulting in loneliness and isolation. They learn to cope with their loneliness through their
interest in Lennie and George's friendship. In some ways they are even envious of the
bond.
Crooks is a black man that experiences isolation because the society in which he resides is
racist. The quote "A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't matter no difference who
the guy is, longs he with you. I tell ya a guy gets too lonely and he gets sick" was his
means of finding a personal connection to Lennie. Like Lennie, Crooks has a 'relationship'
with loneliness. Crooks is rejected from every group of people and cannot socially interact
with others, just like Lennie who cant socially interact properly because of his mental-
disability.

"Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm Black. They say I
stink. Well I tell you, you all stink to me!" Crooks loneliness results from rejection; others
treat him unjust because he is different from them given that he is black. Crooks isnt
allowed to participate in daily events with white people such as card games. He is treated
unfairly and therefore acts the same way toward the white people who have offended him

Crooks is fascinated by the strength of the friendship of Lennie and George, especially how
close they are. Crooks said, "Well, s'pose, jus' s'pose he don't come back. What'll you do
then?" Crooks asks these questions because he does not have any friends, and wouldnt
know how losing them unexpectedly would feel. He was curious and envious, about the
friendship of Lennie and George, noticing that Lennie is retarded, he takes advantage of
this situation to torture him mentally, to make him feel better and ease the pain of
having other reject him, he also does this to ease his jealousy towards the friendship
Lennie has, but that he, Crooks will probably never have. He wants the people to feel the
way that he did when he was lonely, having nobody with them.

He is striving to achieve sympathy and understanding from others. Crooks would work for
nothing if it meant communicating with others. He even offers his services to Candy to
work on their dream ranch to join in on the friendship and dream shared by Lennie and
George, in order to leave behind him his lonely life.

Candy, like Crooks is an outcast because his age and physical disability make him different
from the rest of the men on the ranch, but he always tries to communicate with them as
much as he can.

Candy has one true friend in the world, his dog, which he cannot even talk to. However,
when his dog dies, he has to look elsewhere for friendship. He hopes that these friends can
be George and Lennie.

Because of his age and disability, he has a feeling of uselessness Theyll call me purty
soon. Candy thinks that nobody wants to be friends with him because of this disability.
Eventually, he tries to find friendship by attempting to join the dream of George and
Lennie. Candy offered his services to become a part of George and Lennie's friendship and
dream, this is one of Candy's desperate attempts to find a place in society and meaning in
life by making himself useful to someone, by proposing the various things he could do to
show that his is in fact useful and could bring a lot in the dream as well and the friendship
I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some youll let me hoe in the
gardenAn Ill wash the dishes an little chicken sutff like that.

After Candy lost his dog, he felt much lonelier than he was before. The dog was something
that Candy had owned and confided with within his years. Candy and his dog had the same
relationship that George and Lennie had shared for so many years. He offers everything
that he had to support the friendship including money; he offers the biggest share of
money to realize the dream as well as services hoping that the pair will let him help out.
An interesting sentence is Maybe I can give you guys my money, youll let me hoe in the
garden, this sentence is ambivalent, in exchange of a financial contribution to the dream
ranch, he can help out and work on the ranch, but the implicit meaning of the sentence is:
in exchange for my money, we will have a close friendship; Candy tries to buy Lennie and
Georges friendship, or at least a share of it, but money will never buy genuine friendship.

Curley's Wife's loneliness has a different source; her husband causes it.

Even though Curley's wife is mentioned frequently, nobody asks what her name is. Nobody
wants to talk her because people are afraid of Curley; he is jealous and would start a fight
with anyone who tried approaching her. She does not like Curley, and furthermore he
doesnt talk to her at all, and there's no one in her life with which she can share her
feelings, and longs for companionship.

But because she is Curley's Wife, most of the ranchers avoid talking to her, and she notices
that she is being rejected and ignored and asks them several times what is wrong with her,
and why doesnt she have a right to communicate like everyone else does "What's the
matter with me? Ain't I got a righ to talk to nobody?", and that no one cares about her
"Seems like they ain't none of them cares how I gotta live".

She dresses the way she does (heavily made up, in flashy colors), to gain the attention of
the ranchers and to sooth her loneliness. These acts give her a sense of relief and made
her feel wanted so she can share her personal concerns and experiences, she notices that
Lennie finds her purty and tries to talk to him and get close to him several times.

She is obviously very desperate if she wants to talk to someone as dumb as Lennie, "her
words tumbled out" rushes when she talks to Lennie as though she were afraid that
someone was going to take him away from her "she hurried before her listener could be
taken away from her", thanks to this sentence we understand that she doesn't have the
chance to talk to people often, and is trying to say as much as she can, about the emotions
that have been building up inside of her "she went on with her story before she could be
interrupted". She also makes sure that Lennie is listening to her when she speaks "You
listenin'?", since she is not used to talking to anyone, she wants to be sure that what she is
saying is being heard attentively.

Her death could be thought of as a misfortune, but as a positive thing as well because it
ended her suffering; being the only woman in the ranch and having married a man like
Curley she was inevitably destined for loneliness. But now that she is dead, she will not
have to worry about being lonely ever again. Curley's wife's case of loneliness was the
most severe throughout the novel. She struggled in her society to find somebody that she
could befriend in vain.

We can notice interesting parallels between certain characters in the novel. We can draw a
parallel between Candy and Crooks; both of these characters have a physical disability
(Candy has a stump for an arm, and Crooks has a crooked back) both caused by an
accident, as well as another factor Crookss color and Candys old age, those factors make
both of them outcasts. Because of their situation, they are both destined to loneliness,
each of them deals with it in their own way: Candy has his dog for companionship and
makes conversation with the other men that work on the ranch, but Crooks turns towards
books, and becomes hostile towards the other men on the ranch who have rejected him
before because of his race. They are both fascinated and envious of the friendship shared
by Lennie and George and offer their services and money to join in on the dream, hoping as
well to join in on the friendship. To these characters who are outcasts because of a certain
disability, we can add Lennie, who has a mental disability, thus making him part of all the
weak ones that get left behind, as Curleys wife points out.

Another interesting parallel we can draw in the one between the relationship between
George and Lennie, and Candy and his old dog. Both George and Candy and lonely, even
though they have companionship; Candy cant talk to his dog, and George cant have a
really serious conversation with Lennie either. Even though they have companionship, they
need something deeper and more meaningful. It is also interesting to notice the similar
fate of Candys dog and Lennie who will both be shot in the back of the head unsuspicious
of what is going to happen.

We can also draw a last parallel between two of the loneliest characters in the novel;
Curleys Wife and Lennie. As weve seen previously, Curleys wife is the only woman in the
novel, and her husband forbids her to talk to other men, and because of his jealousy,
doesnt let other men approach her or else he picks a fight with them. George also gives
orders to Lennie and strictly forbids him several times Dont even take a look at that bitch.
I dont care what she says and what she doesyou leave her be well, you keep away
from her, they arent allowed to talk to each other, thats what makes the fatal scene in
the barn so symbolical; Curleys wife wanted to talk to someone so bad, that it drove her to
her death.

Even if all people are miserable when they are lonely, the consequences of friendship can
be even worse. When one of the members of a friendship is removed, it causes misery and
pain; when Candy lost his dog, he kept thinking about him, and felt terrible because he
kept thinking that he should have shot his dog himself, and looks for friendship elsewhere.
When George had to shoot Lennie, he felt terrible, because he had just shot his best friend,
his lifetime companion, his only friend in the world. Because of this, he has to live the rest
of his life, in guilt, alone and knowing that he killed his only friend.

Human beings were made to live in society, thus all people are driven towards others, and
is it a natural instinct to seek friendship and companionship. When they find it, they are the
happiest people. The only downside to finding a friend is what happens when one of the
friends is lost. This causes even more misery in the remaining friend, and forces the friend
to start searching again, which is a hard process, because the person has taken the habit of
his friend and being comfortable in his relationship, and opening towards others is harder.

One of the most important lessons we learn in Of Mice and Men is that Friendship and
human interaction are two very valuable things, and that having them is as much as a right
as it is a privilege, that we much treasure as it keeps us away from loneliness.
SAMPLE ESSAY: THEME
THREE BODY PARAGRAPHS (1170 words)
LONELINESS EMPHASIZING COMPANIONSHIP
IN STEINBECKS OF MICE AND MEN
Weve all heard the saying, You cant have a rainbow without a little rain. In John
Steinbecks Of Mice and Men, this principle is applied to the relationships between the
characters. The novel tells the tale of two companions, George and Lennie, who are
travelling
together looking for work and find themselves among many lonely characters. Steinbeck
compares companionship to loneliness in order to show the reader that one cannot fully
understand happiness without first knowing sadness. The author provides the reader with
many
examples of lonesome characters, including Crooks, Curleys wife, and Candy. He does this
in
order to highlight the great friendship between George and Lennie.

The author uses Crooks solitude in contrast to the other friendships. When Crooks and
Lennie are in the barn, Crooks explains to Lennie that a guy gets too lonely an he gets
sick
(73), clearly referring to himself. Steinbeck's goal is to make the character of Crooks appear
opposite to George and Lennies characters. While George and Lennie have each other,
Crooks
only has his books, and even those, he says, aint no good. A guy needs somebody -- to be
near him (72). Crooks room is said to have many personal belongings lying around
unorganized.

By creating such a messy image of Crooks room, Steinbeck demonstrates that being
alone,
Crooks could leave his things about (66). Crooks isolation is aggravated by him being
African-American. Crooks, a lonely character, is used as a counterexample of the
relationship
between George and Lennie. For the reader to fully understand their happiness, he or she
must first be introduced to a melancholy character. Similarly, in life one must first
understand what
he is missing before one can fully appreciate what he has.

An additional example illustrating the importance of companionship is the seclusion

experienced by Curleys wife. Being the only woman among a group of men, she seems like
a
strong character, but in reality, her gender distances her from the others on the ranch.
Crooks,
Lennie, and Candy are in Crooks room when Curleys wife walks in. Crooks emphasizes
that he
dont want no trouble (77), but Curley's wife counters that by saying, Think I dont like
to
talk to somebody ever once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time? (77).
This
passage shows that even a woman who appears to have a companion in life, her husband
Curley,
just wants to have a friend to talk to, like any other person. Curleys wife is willing to go out
of
her way and even get in trouble with her husband just to have a friendly chat. This longing
for a
friend is what ultimately gets her killed by Lennie when she approaches him in order to
have a
conversation with him. Furthermore, Steinbeck forgives the fact that she got the eye
(28),
meaning that she flirts with all of the men, because her intentions are benign and she
simply
wants to have somebody to talk with. This deep loneliness is used to bring out the theme of
companionship. Curleys wife has a sad life, and the reader needs her as an example to
understand how truly grateful George and Lennie are that they have each other. Steinbeck
teaches the reader to appreciate how the melancholy can bring out the boon life has to
offer.

Candy, the old swamper, is shown as an isolated person, much like the other characters.on
the ranch, yet, unlike the others, he is allowed to share George and Lennies friendship. He
willingly accepts the invitation to be a part of George and Lennies dream to purchase their
own
farm. By letting Candy have a glimpse into George and Lennies companionship, Steinbeck
directly shows how different Candys life could have been if he had partners. Candy asks
earnestly to be part of George and Lennies dream. His supplication is more than a
request to
own his own house and property; it is a plea for companionship. He emphasizes this need
to be
with people by saying, Spose I went in with you guys (59). Unlike the others on the
ranch,
Candy experiences the feeling of having a partner in life, his dog. Candy describes him as
true
family, saying that he had him so long. Had him since he was a pup (44). Despite that,
Candy
places the life of his dog into the hands of Carlson, the man who ultimately kills him. Candy
is
the only character from the ranch who experiences the loss of someone close. Candy has a
taste
of companionship and it is suddenly ripped away from him. Only after Candy is forced to
suffer
through the death of his dog does he truly understand the necessity of a friend in ones life.
Likewise, in life, one can only appreciate happiness after having experienced the troubles
that
come with sorrow.

Steinbeck uses the relationship between George and Lennie to express the theme of
companionship in contrast to loneliness. George tells Lennie the same story of their
friendship
often throughout the novel. Lennie knows it by heart and when George begins retelling it,
Lennie completes it by saying, I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after
you
(14). This demonstrates the true bond between George and Lennie because it shows they
are
always there for each other. The thought of losing a friend can make a relationship even
stronger. Steinbeck describes a conversation between George and Lennie after their
argument
when they are resting next to the Salinas River in the beginning of the novel. Lennie says,
If
you don want me I can go off in the hills an find a cave. I can go away anytime (12).
Nevertheless, the men hold on to each other and this makes their great friendship appear
all that much better because it shows how strong it is. The loneliness, an analogy for
something sad in life, is presented alongside companionship, or happiness, in order to show
that one cannot exist without the other and that both are necessary for enjoying life to the
fullest.

In Steinbecks Of Mice and Men, the theme of loneliness is used as a contrast to the
theme of companionship. Many characters are faced with the burden of with going through
life
alone. Crooks is left out because of his skin color. Curleys wife just wants someone whom
she
can talk to, but is considered an outcast due to her gender. Candy shows his loneliness
through
the loss of his dog, but he also has a glimpse into happiness through sharing the dream of
George and Lennie. All of these characters are used to counter the strong relationship
between George and Lennie and their faithful devotion to each other, yet the reader is also
introduced to the fragility of their friendship. Life is full of ups and downs, but is critical to
understand that this bittersweet quality serves a greater purpose: to bring out the good
and make it stand out among all of the bad.

Rev guide of mice and men-Settings

Apart from the clearing in the brush (which is considered elsewhere in this
guide), Steinbeck uses three other settings to provide a backdrop for the
action: the bunk-house, the harness-room and the barn.
The Bunk-house
The bunk-house is the place where the men relax and sleep after their
labour on the ranch. With such little employment available there is no need
for ranch owners to provide anything but the most basic accommodation
men are willing to work anywhere. The building is long and rectangular.
Inside, the walls are white-washed, the floor unpainted and there are three
small windows and a solid door with a wooden latch. The room is bare to the
point of being spartan. Eight men share the space with no privacy. The room
is a place to sleep (it houses eight bunks), somewhere to store their personal
effects (an apple-box is nailed above each bed and these act as small storage
areas for the possessions of the men) and a place to relax (there is a stove
for warmth and a table in the centre of the room). No chairs have been
provided and the men sit on upturned boxes. In chapter 2, when George and
Lennie arrive, the table is littered with playing cards an indication of the
way the men entertain themselves. In chapter 3 we discover, that the
lighting in the room is, like everything else, minimal; a tin-shaded electric
light throws a bright light down onto the table. Steinbeck exploits this for
dramatic effect; both the column of light itself and the shadows created in
the areas beyond the lamps reach provide atmosphere and enable
conversations that are revealing.
In his description of the bunk-house, Steinbeck is revealing the depressing
existence the men lead. There is little comfort on offer and the meagre
articles displayed on the make-shift shelves show how little they possess in
terms of material wealth. The transitory nature of the workforce is evident:
men only own what they can carry when they move from place to place.
Nevertheless, beauty can be found in this world. Steinbeck describes how
the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows, and
in and out of the beam flies shot like rushing stars.
All of the characters apart from Crooks find their way into the bunk-house
and this is where the reader first encounters the people who live and work
on the ranch. (nb Crooks is excluded because of his race; when, in chapter 3,
he needs Slim, he opens the door quietly and put(s) in his head. Candy
speaks of a time when they let the nigger come in but this was purely to
provide seasonal entertainment!) Several important conversations and events
take place in the bunk-house: Georges confession to Slim, the decision to
shoot Candys dog, the telling of the dream in Candys hearing and the
consequences, the fight.
Make sure you are aware of all the conversations and events

The Harness-room
The harness-room is a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn.
There is one small window (under which lurks a pile of manure) and a door
into the barn. It is here that Crooks, the stable-buck, lives; in housing him
here Steinbeck is making a point about his place in society, he is one step
away from being treated as if he were an animal. The harness-room is
furnished with a long box filled with straw (Crooks bunk - another detail
that links him with animals), a working bench, an apple-box shelf, pegs used
to store broken harnesses (Crooks himself is a broken man, crippled by a
back injury). A number of possessions are scattered on the floor of the
room. Crooks is a fixture at the ranch, unable to move on because of his
physical incapacity; consequently, he has acquired more in the way of
material possessions than the other men (more possessions than he could
carry on his back). The men do not enter the harness-room (with the
exception of Slim and, we may infer, the boss and Curley should they wish so
to do). Lennies invasion of Crooks territory, followed by the arrival of
Candy and Curleys wife, is significant and Steinbeck uses it to reveal the
natures of the characters: Lennie doesnt understand the situation at all,
social division is something that doesnt seem to occur to him; Candy is
embarrassed to be in Crooks room, he has never been in it before and his
response highlights the racial divide; Curleys wife is given little or no
respect from anyone nevertheless she feels she can both be in Crooks room
and belittle him there.
Make sure you know what happens in the harness-room.

The Barn
The barn is mentioned in chapters 3 and 4 but not described until chapter 5
where it becomes the backdrop for the death of Curley wife. Off-stage, as
it were, the barn has already been a setting for drama: Curley has gone
there in pursuit of his young wife who he suspects is there with Slim.
At the start of chapter 5, as in previous chapters, Steinbeck sets the scene
with great care. The barn is piled high with new hay and above the crop
hung the four-taloned Jackson fork suspended from its pulley. The idea of
something sharp hovering above the scene draws on Greek mythology and the
story of the sword of Damocles; a story often used to suggest a sense of
foreboding brought about by a precarious situation. There is danger here.
The details revealed to us throughout the story have, when we look back,
prepared us for just the eventuality that is about to occur: Lennie will kill.
At first glance, the scene is a peaceful one: it is Sunday, the horses are
resting, the sun is shining, the men are playing a game with horseshoes
outside. Closer examination reveals other details: the horses are actually
rather restless (they stamped their feet and they bit the wood of the
mangers and rattled the halter chains); the sun sliced in through the
cracks (the use of the word sliced could suggest violence). Is Steinbeck
subtly preparing the reader for the events to follow?
Steinbecks focus narrows to Lennie and the reader learns of the death of
the pup and then witnesses the death of Curleys wife. After Candy
discovers the body and rushes out, the barn seems to orchestrate events:
The barn was alive now. The horses stamped and snorted, and they chewed
the straw of their bedding and they clashed the chains of their halters.
At the end of the chapter, when the man-hunt sets off, Steinbeck writes
that The barn was gradually darkening. Throughout the novel he uses light
to provide tone and carry metaphorical meaning; this small descriptive detail
says much about the loss of the dream (Old Candy lay down in the hay and
covered his eyes with his arm.) and the imminent death of Lennie.