Essay Symbolism of Loneliness in ‘Of Mice and Men’ by...

Symbolism of Loneliness in ‘Of Mice and Men’ by Steinbeck Steinbeck’s novel ‘of mice and men’ is set in the time of the Great Depression after the stock market crash of 1929. The currency is almost worthless and people can afford little possessions. Because of the situation there are many people moving from place to place to find work. This means they are never in one place long enough to form any relationships, so this is a very lonely existence: â€Å"Guys like us, that live on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world.† All that the men really ever spent their money on was the cathouses and bars, so they can never break free from their dire lives. Steinbeck†¦show more content†¦This is good imagery as the town is the place where all the ranch hands blow their pay on alcohol and women. It is very ironic how they go to ease their loneliness in a town called loneliness. This kind of symbolism with words to do with isolation is also used by Steinbeck when George, although the only one with a companion, continuously lays a ‘solitaire’ hand, to play alone. This emphasises that loneliness is something that cannot be escaped, shown by a man with a friend still isolating himself. The other ways Steinbeck gets his message across are through types of segregation –  · Racism  · Sexism  · Ageism Crooks is a black man, who is lonely because the society is racist. He is so separated from the others because he is different: A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody. Dont matter no difference who the guy is, longs he with you. I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an he gets sick.† Crooks is rejected from every group of people and cannot socially interact with others, just like Lennie who can’t socially interact properly because of his mental-disability. Crooks hates the way he cant be with the other men: â€Å"Cause Im black. 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