Of+Mice+and+Men

"It is loneliness that makes the loudest noise. This is rue of men as of dogs." In the story "Of Mice and Men" by John STeinbeck, this quote byEric Hoffer applies to a great majority of the characters, as loneliness is one of the story's several important underlying themes. For instance, Candy, who works as a swamper on the ranch, evidently felt hopeless and secluded. Likewise, Curley's wife is prohibited from communitcating with anyone except himself. The sable buck, Crooks, is possibly the most seperated of them all.

first of all, multiple things seem to show that "Old" Candy feels lonely. For example, when George and Lennie first arrive at the ranch, Candy seems to immediately reach out to them in an attempt to engage in conversation. THis relates to Eric Hoffer's quote because Candy seems desperately to be "making noise" in order to escape loneliness. "I'll make a will and leave my share to you guys, in case I kick off,'cause I aint got no relatives nor nothing".(59) Candy makes this statement shortly after his dog was killed, aiming it toward Lennie and George. This auote shows that, other than George and Lennie, Candy has nobody to reach out to.

Another of the characters in the story who is evidently the victim of loneliness is Curley's wife. One of the key elements that portrays this is that her name is never provided. This seems to label her as unimportant and secluded from the beginning of the story. Curley's wife often approaches various characters unannounced, and, in the words of Candy, gives them "the eye." this is evidently her way of attempting to reach out to the other characters. "YOu can talk to people, but I can't talk to nobody but Culey."(87) Curley's wife makes this self-pitying statemtn to Lennie fter one of her few successful attempts to reach out to somebody. According to this statement, Curley restricts his wife from communicating with anyone whenver he can. This explains the source of her evident loneliness.

Finally, Crooks the stable buck is perhaps the loneliest and most secluded character in the entire story. Primarily because of his skin color, Crooks is forced to stick to himeself the majority of them time, and seems to be disliked by a great many people, very rarely shows up in the story, many other points highlight Crook's sharp loneliness.

"A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody." (Page 72) Many of these points arise when Lennie and Candy visit Crooks in his room, including this statement. Unlike many of the characters, Crooks openly discusses his loneliness. And, aslo unlike many of the characters, Crooks pretends to be unwilling to open up to anyone, although he eventually caves to Lennie's persistance. Because of this secludedness, as well as his slave-like position, Crooks is most likely the lonliest character in the story.

Eric Hoffer's quote clearly applies to many of the characters and their varying personalities. This includes Cand's desperatness, Curley's wife's hoplessness, and Crooks' secludedness. Ironically, Lennie at least temporarily cures everyone's loneliness, and yet he is the only one who is never lonely. Quite clearly, loneliness brings out the desperateness of mankind.