Two men travel together on a journey to reach an American dream. On the way they meet lonely ranch workers and show them friendship. But in the end, loneliness wins and dreams are left behind. .
In the novel, Of Mice and Men, the death of George and Lennie's friendship shows the reader that loneliness and not friendship is the dominant feeling in the world. With this theme, Steinbeck gives the reader perspective on the lonely life as a common man. He does this in many ways. .
George, for instance, says to Lennie "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. With us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. (13-14)" The companionship between George and Lennie contrasts the loneliness that surrounds them. .
The ranch was shocked to see this new way of living. Slim, for example explains the rarity of this, "I hardly never seen two guys travel together . It jus" seems funny a cuckoo like him and a smart little guy like you travelin" together. (39)" And all the other characters said something about this. The very reason that George and Lennie's friendship seems strange to the Salinas River ranch workers, shows how lonely they are. .
In fact, three characters by the names of Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife are driven by the curiosity of their friendship because they realized that loneliness can mar ones soul and rob one of dreams and hopes. Therefore they search for friendship in George and Lennie to fill the void of loneliness. .
Steinbeck uses George and Lennie as an example of friendship, but only as a way to make the reader clearly see the dominance of loneliness. And he uses Candy, Crooks, and Curley's wife as a way to show the reader the influence of friendship and in the end, how loneliness is dominant. .
Candy was the first to seek after a bond with the two companions. After his only companion, his old dog, died, Candy fell into loneliness until overhearing George talk about owning a ranch.
