How does Steinbeck Present Loneliness and Isolation in “Of Mice and Men?”
John Ernst Steinbeck wrote the novel “Of Mice and Men” in 1937. 1937 obviously during the time of the Great Depression- due to the crash of the wall street stock market basically meaning the American dollar becoming worthless. The plot is based around the lives of two itinerant farmhouse workers - George Milton and Lennie Small who are greatly portrayed to echo loneliness as Steinbeck shows loneliness and isolation in the novel through the representation of characters as well as showing sexism racism age discrimination and disability discrimination. The novel is set in a ranch in Soledad – Soledad being Spanish for solitude. Steinbeck shows loneliness and isolation right from the beginning the very location of the ranch is isolated and remote “A few miles south of Soledad, the Salina’s river drops in close to the hill side bank.” The two end up at this ranch having escaped weed, their previous job after being chased by a posse of men due to harassment changes on Lennie's head.
The Tyler ranch is located deep in the hillsides of Salina’s valley, Steinbeck greatly portrays the growth of an amazing friendship throughout the novel and shows an uncanny ability to connect the reader into this very unique almost father/son relationship. Steinbeck’s inspiration for the name originally came from the poem “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns. The poem also gives a slight hint of inspiring the plot as the mouse, as a common characteristic to this time, is in tune with nature. Because he is in harmony with nature, the mouse only worries about the present action. The man envies this action and realizes that the mouse is far better off than he is because he does not worry about the past and does not dread the future. It talks about how even the best of plans can still go wrong – which in the end is what happens to George and Lennie’s. Hinting to the plot as the dreadful ending of the relationship happens because George and Lennie concentrate too much on their future that they do not see what is about to happen in their present and thus, destroys their dream. Which brings me onto my next point John Ernest Steinbeck wrote this book almost to an autobiographical standard living during the great depression Steinbeck was heavily effected and also had faith in the American Dream, the proposal that anyone can achieve/do anything if they believe strongly enough despite their class, income or lack of opportunities. In addition, to pursue happiness. The main part of the plot as George and Lennie work towards this goal breaking all the bonds of loneliness and isolation thrust upon them by a harsh environment.
Lennie is a pivotal character in “Of Mice and Men” all occurrences from the sharp retirement from weed to his own unfortunate death. Steinbeck
Chooses to portray Lennie’s loneliness through his learning disability he is immediately outcast from the public on the ranch which makes him a very isolated character. Lennie is severely misunderstood by the men on the ranch and his disability is selfishly unacknowledged or properly understood. Lennie thinks very literally, he does not understand sarcasm and does not have the ability to understand metaphors, due to his vast simplemindedness. George confirms Lennie is not “cuckoo” despite struggling to read peoples emotions and not being very intellectual. In chapter, one Steinbeck describes him as an animal; “a huge man”, “shapeless of face”, “dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.” Again Steinbeck outcasts him through his defenses. Bears can be seen as being cuddlely creatures often admired by small children Steinbeck creates Lennie to be a gentle giant. Bears can also however be seen as violent destructive and uncalming. The theme of Lennie’s animal likeness is carried on through to the end of the first chapter, when he is seen at the deep green pool. Steinbeck greatly brings into the novel this feeling of reincarnation – everything starts over from the beginning for example when Candy's old dog dies, some pups are born, and Lennie is found at the riverbed where unknown by him he dies – “he dabbed in his big paw and snorted water”. Again made to be uncivilized an animal drinking from the river. It later becomes apparent that Lennie is very protective over George and deeply admires him, as we see when he is talking to Crooks. “Ain’t no body gonna talk no hurt to George. Almost like a child would protect his father and Lennie is perhaps capable of realizing George is all he has and no one is going to carry the burden of Lennie so He is terrified of losing George and becomes quite unsettled when the thought of George and his dream being taken away from him so when Crooks implies that George could abandon him he is very unsettled. Lennie may also realize that George and Lennie have a special relationship George says, “ guys like us, that work on ranches, are the lonliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place … with us it aint like that. We got a future … because I got you to look after me and me to look after you.” In addition, I believe Lennie realizes that the only way they can possibly gain this dream is together. Lennie deeply admires George and he knows he can rely on him. Almost a father/son relationship. We see this many times later on in the film such as when Lennie crushes Curley’s hand even through the energetic environment and the inability to see why Curley is hurting him he follows George’s instructions almost like a trained dog “Go on Lennie, get ‘im!” however Lennie is then taken almost into a spontaneous rush as his instincts take over he doesn’t release Curley and shows no sympathy almost as if he only understands basic emotion- which out casts him more. Lennie gains much respect here but unfortunately, outcasts him more as his strength and inability to interpret feelings and understand when to stop frightens the other workers of whom do not understand why he acts as he does. All Lennie thinks is he did what he was told and does not realize the consequences such as a child/ animal would do. After the incident, it is apparent the other workers become frightened of Lennie and keep their distance. Lennie however is incapable to realize his isolation and therefore Lennie is definitely not lonely. The idea of Lennie being child like is reinforced later on when Lennie says “Come on George, tell me. Please, George. Like you done before” almost like a child begging for a bedtime story. George likes this story as it has rabbits in it- a common pet rabbits are seen as a very friendly and unharmful children’s figure often seen in children’s books. Lennie’s fondness of rabbits relating him more as a child as children often have favorite stories because of the things included in them not because of the more complicated meaning. Lennie may also like this as it is a common interest shared between the friends to him it appears an unthreatening place where he will not be outcast by strangers it is also linked with happy feelings. They dream that one day they will have a ranch of their own. they both have very different reasons for wanting it. Lennie however being incapable of understanding finances and wants the joy of being able to take care of the rabbits on the ranch. “Go on George, how I get to tend the rabbits.” He seems content with rabbits and doesn’t perhaps understand anything to do with the rest of the ranch or how they are going to finance the project. I also believe that the feeling of a dream could have easily inspired the creation of Lennie in these depressing times robin hood may have been seen as an idol in books as he steals from the rich and gives to the poor a lot like a childhood hero to me it seems that Steinbeck has based Lennie small on Little John, Robin Hoods accomplice also a big man perhaps not the smartest of people and both sharing an ill temper. They both share ironic names in Little John And Lennie Small when they are obviously both very big men.
