Ms. Boberek
21 November 2008
Period 1 English
Ms. Boberek
A Comparison and Contrast of the Coping Mechanisms of
Lonely Characters in Of Mice and Men.
People cope with emotions differently. Some may shut people out when they feel
lonely; others might eagerly seek out the company and attention from others in order to
rid themselves of their lonely feelings. Individuals can choose to isolate themselves as a
coping mechanism and people can be isolated by others based on circumstances beyond
their control. Isolation can lead to loneliness; loneliness can be a consequence of
intentional or unsolicited isolation.
In the novella, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, two characters experience
loneliness due to their isolation. Both Crooks and Curley’s Wife make choices that bring
forth their loneliness, but they also experience loneliness and isolation because of
circumstances beyond their control. These two characters cope with the feelings of
loneliness differently.
It is apparent, based on the fact that Crooks bunks alone in the barn away from the
other ranch workers, that he must be lonely. “He kept his distance and demanded that
other people keep theirs” (67). This passage demonstrates Crooks’ isolation as reciprocal;
the other men isolate Crooks because of his skin color, but Crooks maintains his isolation
by shutting out others. The fact that Crooks is an African-American living in America in
the 1930s, contributes to his loneliness and isolation. When Lennie first wanders in to
Crooks’ room, Crooks is unwelcoming and tries to make Lennie leave.
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Crooks said sharply, ‘You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my
room. Nobody got any right in here but me […] You go on get outta my room. I
ain’t wanted in the bunk house, and you ain’t wanted in my room’ (68).
Crooks deals with his loneliness by isolating himself in the barn and pushing the other
characters away. It cannot be ignored that Crooks’ actions are likely a direct result of the
discrimination he experiences.
Lennie, possibly feeling lonely himself, seems to genuinely want to visit Crooks
when none of the other men are around. Lennie’s effort to talk to Crooks, in conjunction
with Crooks’ loneliness, motivates Crooks to invite Lennie in to his room.
Crooks scowled, but Lennie’s disarming smile defeated him. ‘Come on in and set
a while,’ Crooks said. ‘ ‘Long as you won’t get out and leave me alone, you
might as well set down.’ His tone was a little more friendly. ‘All the boys gone
into town, huh?’ (69).
It is only Lennie’s “disarming smile” that overpowers Crooks’ attempt to isolate himself.
At first, Crooks does not seem to want to be bothered. It is unclear whether he just
doesn’t want to try to establish friendships and has given up, or if he is unable to establish
friendships due to racial discrimination.
Discrimination can lead to isolation; isolation can lead to loneliness. Sexism is
another type of discrimination that Steinbeck addresses in the novel. It is this type of
discrimination that hinders Curley’s wife from establishing meaningful relationships. In
the eyes of other characters, Curley’s wife tends to be bothersome in her pursuit to
alleviate her loneliness.
Readers might initially feel as though Curley’s wife is somewhat of a “tart”; she is
described as such by the men at the ranch. However, she may also be a victim of sexism
and loneliness; she is the lone women on the ranch and seeks companionship that she
doesn’t get from her husband.
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The behavior of Curley’s wife is quite different than that of Crooks. She does not
try to isolate herself, but seeks companionship and tries quite diligently to avoid complete
loneliness and isolation. “Think I’m gonna stay in that two-by-four house and listen how
Curley’s gonna lead with his left twict, and then bring in the ol’ right cross?” (78). She
would rather roam the ranch than be isolated inside her home. But it is her husband’s
jealousy that contributes to her isolation. “‘I get lonely,’ she said. ‘You can talk to
people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to
talk to anybody?’” (87). Curley’s wife is forced into isolation by her husband but makes
constant attempts to find friendship. This attempt to avoid complete isolation and
loneliness might be a contributing factor in Curley’s wife’s death.
Both Crooks and Curley’s wife are lonely characters who experience feelings of
isolation on the ranch. Curley’s wife actively seeks out companionship. Crooks tries to
maintain his isolation by staying away from others: perhaps because he doesn’t want to
establish relationships or perhaps he is unable to due to discrimination. Curley’s wife is
lonely because she is the only women on the ranch and is isolated from not only the
outside world, but she is also isolated from others who are on the ranch. Crooks cannot
overcome the racial oppression he experiences, but he can, however, make an effort to
avoid constant isolation. These characters, who although experience similar emotions,
cope with those emotions quite differently. This consideration of the topics loneliness
and isolation as presented in Of Mice and Men promotes the concept that people deal
with discrimination and circumstances revolving around that discrimination quite
differently; the means in which people cope with certain experiences in their lives
greatly affects the outcome of their lives.
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