Some may view the Great Depression as the loneliest and most isolated period in American history for the people who experienced it first hand. It can be difficult to really capture the essence of the need for companionship that was immensely present in the Great Depression. However, when John Steinbeck uses the dialogue of Crooks, the actions of Curley's wife, and multiple characters undergoing major inconveniences for friendship it openly depicts the need for companionship in his novel, "Of Mice and Men".

The primary way that Steinbeck portrays loneliness and the need for companionship, is through the articulation of the character Crooks. Initially, this can be viewed when Crooks expresses that he feels unheard and that nobody listens …show more content…
This is illustrated when Curley's wife constantly searches for attention from the laborers on the ranch and consequently is accused of looking for trouble with the workers. One can see this when Candy explains that she and Curley have only been married a week, and she has already given "the eye" to some workers (Steinbeck 28). What can be gathered from this, is that Curley's wife doesn't feel like she has anyone to express her emotions and therefore looks for attention in any form she can get it. Another evident way the Steinbeck acknowledges loneliness through Curley's wife, is in how she expresses that she isn't allowed to converse with any of the employees. She distinctly expresses this when she says, "You can talk to people, but I can't talk to nobody but Curley"(Steinbeck 87). This implies that she has no one to talk to that really understands her and considers her feelings like a true friend should. The final way that Curley's wife experiences loneliness can be viewed in how she ignores others wishes for her to leave them alone. When Lennie and her are in the barn and he repetitively tells her to leave, but she just gets offended and declares there is no reason they shouldn't talk (Steinbeck 87). This displays that she is so desperate for any type of togetherness that she refuses to give up on any type of chance she has of obtaining it. Overall these …show more content…
This can be viewed through the closeness of Candy and his dog. Carlson points out that the dog has no teeth, he smells, and has rheumatism and therefore should be shot (Steinbeck 44). The fact that Candy has kept the dog despite his bad traits and uselessness show what he was willing to go through in the name of companionship. A closeness that is parallel to Candy and his dog would be George and Lennie in the sense that George gives up a lot for Lennie.This is implied when Steinbeck says, "George shivered and looked at the gun, and then he threw it from him, back up on the bank, near the pile of old ashes" (Steinbeck 106). What can be gathered from this is that George has put Lennie out of his misery and saved him from a terrible future, and in turn has given himself a lifetime of grief and guilt. The last time this theory can be proved is through Curley and his wife's relationship. Curley's wife's true feelings about him are evident when she sarcastically says, "Swell guy, ain't he" (Steinbeck 78). This reveals that Curley's wife really doesn't like Curley but can't stand the idea of being alone more, so she stays with him. These instances support the claim that characters undergo great inconveniences for friendship and that there is a need for companionship present in "Of Mice and