Mice and Men

             The Great Depression took place in the 1930's and had a large effect on many people's lives. Lost jobs, economic decline, and uprooting of families were all results of this depression. John Steinbeck's novel, Mice and Men, reflect this time period in which it was written. Through out the novel many characters experience loneliness, the most evident being Candy, Crooks and Curley's wife.
             Crooks, a black stable buck that works on the ranch, experiences loneliness through out the novel. The reader is led to believe this through the author's quotes such when Lennie asks, "Why ain't you wanted?", and Crooks responds, "Because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me." (P. 68). The reader understands that Crooks is not accepted by the other workers on the ranch because of his race. Crooks feels discriminated against and is defensive and angry with the other men for not including him. Another quote which displays Crooks's loneliness is, "Spose you didn't have nobody. Spose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and play rummy cause you was black. How'd you like that? Spose You had to sit out here an read books. Books ain't no good." (P. 72). Here Steinbeck lets the reader know that Crooks "has nobody". He has no family left and no friends on the ranch. He reads books to fill his time and keep him company because the other workers do not want him in the bunkhouse to simply play a game of cards, but a book cannot compare to a human being. It is evident through these quotes that Crooks feels isolated and lonely throughout the novel because of his race.
             Another character who exhibits loneliness is Candy, a very old man whose able working days are coming to an end. This loneliness is shown when Candy says, "I'd make a will an' leave my share to you guys in case I kick off, 'cause I ain't...

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Mice and Men. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 12:06, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/81990.html