John Steinbeck's novel 'Of Mice And Men' is a classic story of loneliness and friendship. Two friends, on the run, become employed in a farm. Lennie, with the mind of a boy trapped in the body of a man, and George, being held back by his friend, befriend the other farmers and become entangled in the goings on at the ranch. In this essay, I shall discuss who I believe are the three loneliest characters. The three characters are Crooks, George and Curly's Wife.
             This story is set in a time where discrimination against coloured people was common, and Crooks, being black, gets treated no differently. Crooks is employed to take care of the horses fix the harnesses. Instead of living in the bunkhouse with the other workers, Crooks lives in the barn with the horses. Although he puts on a brave face and makes believe that he would rather be alone, he would much rather be socialising with the other workers. He confides to Lennie and tells him: -
             'They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black.'
             'S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose
             you couldn't go into the bunkhouse
             and play rummy 'cause you was black.'
             Crooks feels strongly about the lack of privileges that he has. Later on in the novel, Crooks gets involved in George and Lennie's plan to have a place of their own and gets high hopes of the future. However, just when Crooks starts to feel accepted, Curly's Wife lashes out at him and discourages him and puts him back in his place, calling him a 'nigger' and saying that he is getting excited for nothing. When this happens, Crooks sinks into himself again.
             Although Crooks verifies as a lonely character, I believe that George is lonelier. George and Lennie have been friends for a long time and Lennie seems reluctant to leave George's side. Both men have been travelling for quite a
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