The theme of loneliness

The theme of loneliness

The theme of loneliness is also evident throughout different characters who are segregated against by other characters in the book. One of the characters that experience loneliness as a result of forced isolation is Candy, the old handicapped man with the responsibility of cleaning up the Bunkhouses. Candy is looked down upon by the other workers because he was older, disabled, and was doing a different job from what the rest were doing. However, this is not his wish, and it is evident how he desires to have friends at the sight of hope he had when Lennie and George shared their dream. It is also that after the death of his dog, Candy lost his will to live because he realized that he no longer had a friend for himself, thus highlighting the impact of loneliness. Crook also plays a vital role in showing the theme of loneliness as a result of racial segregation. Crooks is not considered as one of the workers because he was crippled and black. The author narrates that Crooks is isolated on the ranch because he is valued as a lesser person because of his skin color. It is because of that Crooks said, “S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunkhouse and play rummy ’cause you was black. How’d you like that?” (Steinbeck 38). The conversation here then shows that loneliness was driven by social isolation. The other character to be the victim of segregation that underpinned the theme of loneliness is Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife is discriminated against because she is the only female on the ranch, and at the same time because the husband is jealous. In her attempt to fit in and have someone to talk to through her attitude of self-confidence, men interpret her as flirtatious and promiscuous to lead them on (Meyer 304). It then becomes evident that the main characters depicting the theme of loneliness are victims of discrimination from the other community members.