To be lonely, is to suffer the feelings of loneliness, to want people, social contact, and yet be unable to get any."" (Web of Loneliness).
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When Steinbeck decides to go on a journey through America, he decides to take a companion with him. "It is just a very lonely, helpless feeling at first-a kind of desolate feeling."" (Steinbeck, Travels with Charley, Oral p. 112) I do not believe that he took the dog with him in order not to be alone. He wanted to get rid of the feeling of loneliness, a feeling that most people have in them. He met lots of people during his journey. Some of them were willing to go on such a journey with him. .
"I saw in their eyes something I was to see over and over in every part of the nation-a burning desire to go, to move, to get under way, anyplace, away from any Here."" (Steinbeck, Travels with Charley, Oral p. 113).
Why did these people want to go and leave everything behind them? They were lonely. They wanted to go to a place where they could find people' and social contact. Of course, what they did not know was that loneliness was inside them and they would not get rid of this feeling wherever they went.
"An early morning waitress in New England leads a lonely life, but soon I learned that if tried to inject life and gaiety into her job with a blithe remark she dropped her eyes."" (Steinbeck, Travels with Charley, Oral p. 125).
Steinbeck tried to show that being lonely was a way of life for many Americans. Their loneliness was not due to being alone but due to the life they were leading.
"The lonely man peoples his dreams with friends, that the loveless man surrounds himself with lovely loving women. And how about the areas of regrets? If only I had done so-and-so, or had not said such-and-such. .""(Steinbeck, Travels with Charley, Oral p. 155).
In the 20th century people became materialistic. Most people were only interested in having a good job and earning a lot.