Loneliness
...Seclusion can have various effects on a person, for example, the person may become bitter and suffer from denial of the friendships that he/she needs. Loneliness can also develop from several places within an individual. A person will isolate themselves away from others because that person thinks they will be hurt. This situation is similar to Crooks' situation in Of Mice and Men. Then there are those that are unable to be sociably compatible, such as, Lenny's because of his mental condition and Curley's Wife's because of her actions. They may be overtly cruel or even not popular in society because of their condition. Being cruel to others or not being popular in society will make other people not relate with them. Loneliness can change the way a person acts, thinks or behaves in everyday relationships or situations. In John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, loneliness alters Crooks, Lenny, and Curley's wife in numerous ways.
Loneliness has made Crook's a very bitter and isolated individual. He is not able to leave this situation because of his race. The other men at the ranch do not relate with Crooks unless he is working because he is black. Other than when they are working, the other men shut Crooks out off almost all of their activities. He has become bitter and known to lash out at people because of the loneliness that he has. Crooks' emotions are displayed to the reader when he talks to Lenny in his room about having no one to relate to and communicate with. He states, "Maybe you can see now. You got George. You know he's goin' to come back. S'pose you didn't have nobody. S'pose you couldn't go into the bunkhouse and play rummy `cuase you was black...A guy needs somebody--to be near him" (72). In a way, everyone needs someone to talk to, whether it is a friend, family member, or even a pet. This is a source of comfort and wealth for the person....
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