Consider the theme of loneliness

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L5 Karly Wai        5/9/00

Consider the theme of loneliness

Steinbeck employs character are restrained by the “rules” of society and through them, to convey the characteristics of American society in the 1920s:a society based on physical strength and individualism. The unusual pair, Lennie and George, seemed incongruous in their situations and by comparing and contrasting their relationship to the others, the reader is given a further understanding to the theme.

The entire novel is full of references to this theme. In Soledad, also the Spanish word for loneliness, situates the ranch where the majority of the story is set. It is an ordinary ranch with ordinary people doing monotonous, meanual work such as “bucking barley”. The nature of this work suggests the kind of lifestyle the characters on the ranch lead. The ranch also represents a microcosm of the outside world. Here in this close community, a range of characters, each identify by their own personality, are required to work closely together inorder to achieve their own, individual dreams.

When George and Lennie first enters the ranch, they are greeted by “an old swamper” by the name Candy. A fragile old man with only one hand, he is used by Steinbeck to demonstrate the cruelty of society towards elderly and the disabled. In a society that emphasis physical strength, Candy is clearly at a disadvantage. However, he does not attempt this disadvantage but rather expose the more feminine and sensitive side of him to others to reinforce this weakness. His domestic role in the bunkhouse and part as the gossiper again is an expansion of his at5/9/00titude towards the rest of the male in the ranch. Candy separates himself from the rest of “guys” and has only the company of a “dragged-footed sheep-dog”. When Carlson demands the killing of this dog, although disapproves of it, does not retaliate but instead “looked hopelessly at Slim” and asks for his assistance. His reaction to Carlson’s demand is passive in the way that he only “watched uneasily” and tries to delay the killing by suggesting “may be to-morra”. His deep-rooted relationship with the dog is shown in this intensely emotional part that explicitly dissects his sensitivity. At the sound of the shot, he appears lost and all he manages to do is to “stare into the ceiling” blankly. Similar to this, at the end of the story, George too has to face with the death of his love ones. The difference however lies in the reason behind the killing. George justifies the killing and does it out of his concern for Lennie and not out of pressure from others.

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Curley is the second character appearing on the scene. “A thin young man” wearing “high-heeled boots”, he is clearly no ordinary labouring man. He is the boss’ son and is determine to show his status and authority using this kind of symbolism. However, by doing so, he achieves exactly the opposite. The other men do not acknowledge his authority and even Candy thinks of him as a “scrappy little guy”. His method of trying to gain respects by false image works against him and isolates him from the others. Curley also has a wife who is the only female in ...

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