Isolation and Alienation in Of Mice and Men

One of the best loved, most widely read and tragic novellas in modern literature; John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a striking paradox that is as touching as it is disturbing.

One element of the story that is perhaps the most striking of all is the theme of isolation and alienation. Every character the reader encounters in this story is out of their element. All are met with physical, emotional, or mental limitations. What transpires is an aura of sheer loneliness and hopelessness experienced by the reader.

The author has been openly criticized many times over for these themes recurring in his works. Steinbeck himself worked on farms and ranches and draws inspiration for his characters from the oppressed, wandering workers he met. He was so enthralled and possibly traumatized by them that he felt the need to introduce the world to their culture of poverty. He immortalized their seemingly inescapable purgatory of limbo. Thus he preserved parts of history time would have rather forgotten with haunting characters impossible to forget.

George Milton and Lennie Small are the two main characters who apparently have a history that has spawned an odd friendship. We know that at some point in the past George has promised Lennie's, aunt that he would take care of him. Lennie remembers her only as the nice lady who used to give him mice to pet. Lennie is overwhelming in stature. His body and his mind are slow moving. Ironically he is child like and gentle with a deep yearning to touch soft things. His hands however are huge and have a strength that Lennie doesn't have the mental capacity to control. Lennie gets into trouble because of this conflict, first in the town of Weed. Lennie is unable to resist the urge to touch a young woman's dress. As the dress rips in a struggle and she cries rape, it is the keen witted George who runs with Lennie to hide until they can escape to another town.