Anne Hathaway once said, "Loneliness is my least favorite thing about life. The thing that I'm most worried about is just being alone without anybody to care for or someone who will care for me." There are some people who are suffering from loneliness because of race, appearance, or wealth. Loneliness can cause an effect in peoples' personality in many ways such us by making them behave different. Many people would try their best to get along with other friends to avoid being solitary, because everyone needs someone who cares about them. In the story Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck explores how painful loneliness is, especially through Crooks, the black stable hand. Crooks is the only black person who works at the ranch. Due to his race, he was segregated, and was not allowed to associate white people. In the novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the plight of loneliness affects the thoughts and actions of Crooks by leading him to treat people cruelly, yet also causing him to seek friendship.
Crooks' loneliness prevents him from treating others in a generous way, as seen when Lennie meets Crooks for the first time. When Lennie goes into Crooks' room, Crooks reacts negatively and tells him not to come. Crooks do not want a close relationship between the ranch people, just as they hold no desire of building a friendship with him. The fact that Crooks treats Lennie cruelly demonstrates that loneliness has made Crooks a bitter and hostile person. When Lennie tries to go into Crooks' room, Crooks says harshly, "Well, I got a right to have light. You go on get outta my room. I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain't wanted in my room" (Steinbeck 68). The phrase, "I ain't wanted in the bunkhouse," illustrates how the people in the ranch have emotionally isolated him, which further causes him to be a malicious person toward others. It also shows the suffering of isolation and exclusion throughout Crooks' life at the ranch.