Loneliness & Companionship

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George and Lennie Fighting Loneliness

George and Lennie fight off loneliness with their partnership.

George's loneliness

George confides in Slim that he has “got no people of his own” (George, Section 3) and that he has gotten “used to goin’ around with” (George, Section 2) Lennie.

George's need for Lennie

George recognises the importance of their relationship, and he also seems to fear the idea of being alone. He is very aware that “guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world.” (George, Section 1).

The importance of friendship

Through George’s repetition of the same story, Lennie has also been able to learn that his relationship with George is what sets them apart from other ranch workers: “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you.” (Lennie, Section 1).

Lennie's need for George

Although both George and Lennie clearly benefit from their relationship, it is Lennie who depends on George.
It is mentioned several times throughout the novel that Lennie would not be able to survive alone: “How'd you eat? You ain't got sense enough to find nothing to eat.” (George, Section 1).

Other Characters Fighting Loneliness

Steinbeck presents loneliness as a central theme in Of Mice and Men, and almost every character is affected by loneliness in one way or another.

Crooks

Crooks has lived most of his life alone.
He has faced racist abuse and isolation and, as a result, has become bitter.
This is seen when he spitefully taunts Lennie, trying to make him believe that George would abandon him and leave him alone: “S'pose George don't come back no more. S'pose he took a powder and just ain't coming back. What'll you do then?” (Crooks, Section 4).

Curley's wife

Curley’s wife suffers from loneliness and isolation.
Her husband, who she doesn’t like anyway, mostly ignores her, and the men avoid talking to her for fear of getting into trouble.
She confides in Lennie when she says, “I get lonely” (Section 5), and perhaps this loneliness helps us to understand some of the spiteful things she says to Crooks.

Candy

Candy relies on his dog for companionship and to stop him from feeling lonely.
Candy and his dog have been companions for a very long time, suggesting they have a strong connection: “I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup.” (Candy, Section 3)
When Candy’s dog is killed, Candy is reminded that his days are also numbered because he is no longer useful: “They'll can me purty soon. Jus' as soon as I can't swamp out no bunkhouses they'll put me on the county.” (Candy, Section 3).

The Danger of Relationships

While many of the characters in the novel seem to crave relationships as a way of avoiding loneliness, Steinbeck seems to suggest that, actually, relationships are ultimately a source of pain.

Curley and his wife

Curley and his wife are stuck in an unhappy marriage and, for Curley’s wife in particular, this relationship is a source of stress and anguish.

George and Lennie

While George’s companionship with Lennie stops George from feeling lonely, in the end he is forced to make the painful decision to kill Lennie.
George frequently suggests he “could live so easy” (George, Section 1) without Lennie, and the ending shows that perhaps this is true.

Candy

Candy’s heartbreak when his dog is killed again shows that this companionship has only brought him pain in the end.

Slim and Carlson

In fact, the happiest characters on the ranch seem to be those who don’t depend on anybody else: Slim and Carlson seem to have accepted the fact that they will be alone, and this makes their lives more straightforward.