Paper Summary:

This paper examines the theme of loneliness in Steinbeck's novel, "Of Mice and Men." The author looks at the symbolic meaning of using the town of Soledad in the novel and how it contributes to the theme of loneliness.

From the Paper:

"The novel Of Mice and Men is based upon the lonely lives of wandering ranchers in the 1930s. The setting is just outside of a town named "Soledad," whose Spanish name means loneliness. Moving from ranch to ranch every couple months didn't give the rancher much time to make friends. It was considered rare for ranchers to travel together as the main characters, George and Lennie, did in Steinbeck's novel. George and Lennie were cousins and had been together their whole lives traveling from ranch to ranch. They could never seem to stay in one place because Lennie was constantly getting in trouble. The closeness of their friendship was odd to many of the current workers on the ranch. They seem interested in the companionship between Lennie and George, and this interest helps bring out the other ranchers loneliness. The loneliness of those living on the ranch in Of Mice and Men is evident through the lives of Candy, Curley's wife, Crooks, and eventually George as well."

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