In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, there is a major theme of loneliness. One of the lonely characters is Crooks, the African-American stable hand who has a crooked back from being kicked by a mule. Crooks isn't very friendly because of his loneliness. He is considered an outcast on the ranch where he works, he doesn't really want to be with people, and doesn't trust some of the other characters.
Crooks isn't accepted on the ranch where he works. One night, some of the other workers were playing cards and they wouldn't let Crooks play. Since he was African-American, many people looked down upon him. He stayed alone in his living quarters since there were no other African-American workers, and he couldn't share a room with a white man. .
Another example of Crooks being lonely is when Lennie wants to talk to him, but Crooks tells him to go away. Crooks says that if he, as a black man, is not allowed in the white quarters, then white men aren't allowed in his. This confuses Lennie. Lennie says that everyone else had gone to town and he saw Crooks" light on and simply wanted to keep him company. Crooks later says ".A guys goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he with you.".
A third example of Crooks showing his loneliness is when he puts down Lennie when he is telling him about his dream to own a farm. Crooks says "Just like heaven. Ever"body wants a little piece of lan". I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land.".