Of Mice, Men, and Loneliness

1
Of Mice, Men, and Loneliness

• Project 2
• By Adrian Plummer
• and Paul Jemmott

2
Definition of Loneliness

• Loneliness is an emotional state in which a
  person experiences a powerful feeling of
  emptiness and isolation. Loneliness is more than
  the feeling of wanting company or wanting to do
  something with another person. Loneliness is a
  feeling of being cut off, disconnected and
  alienated from other people. The lonely person
  may find it difficult or even impossible to have
  any form of meaningful human contact. Lonely
  people often experience a subjective sense of
  inner emptiness or hollowness, with feelings of
  separation or isolation from the world.

3
Thesis Statement on Loneliness Of Mice and Men

• Even though Lennie was never truly lonely,
  Loneliness happens to everybody in the story.
  because Everybody on the farm is alone and George
  killed Lennie eventually.
• The best laid plans of mice and men go oft
  astray." - Robert Burns

4
Loneliness Throughout The Story

• Every character in the story exhibits loneliness.
  
• Curley's wife seeks the attention of the farm
  hands as a substitute for the lack of attention
  from the abusive Curley.
• Crooks keeps to himself because he believes that
  the white people want nothing to do with a Negro.
• Candy's only friend is his dog, and when his dog
  dies, he despairs.
• Each of the characters in the story is attracted
  to the plans of Lennie and George. As they
  fantasize about a future together, their
  loneliness subsides momentarily.

5
Analyzing George

• George has always been alone even though he has
  Lennie always following him.
• George had taken care of Lennie and had done his
  thinking and talking for him. He never had time
  for himself, but throughout the story he still
  stuck with Lennie because he knew he would never
  survive on his own.
• All of the trouble Lennie caused, George was
  there to bail him out.

6
Georges Choices

• In the end of the story George had a great
  decision to make.
• This internal conflict ripped George up inside,
  debating the "right" thing to do
• Let Curly kill Lennie, his closest friend,
• Make Lennie run away to suffer more hardships on
  his own,
• Or Kill Lennie himself.
• Either way George knew there dreams would never
  come true!

7
Georges Final Decision

• George decides to kill Lennie himself to save
  Lennie from a society that would never except him
  for who he his.
• He found Lennie and sat beside him, calming his
  nerves. When Lennie was persuaded everything was
  going to be all right he was at ease. That was
  when George pulled out a gun, aimed it at the
  back of Lennie's head and pulled the trigger.
  This decision was the hardest thing that George
  had to do in his life.

8

• Georges decision ended up causing him to become
  one of the people he told Lennie that they
  werent.
• George ended up losing his best friend and his
  chances to live his dreams.
• It is unknown what happens after this event as
  the story ends with a flashback of Lennie and
  George together.

9
After the Story

• George has moved on by the end of the story.
• His many memories of a perfect life he is leaving
  behind. The law enforcement officers would
  probably be looking for him now.
• Without Lennie, George can probably find a job
  and keep it. He might even try and start a
  family for himself. George will perhaps never
  forget about the times he had with Lennie and the
  others on the farm, or their dreams.

10
Other predictions

• Candy, now without any real friends, is most
  likely still on the farm. His bargain with
  George and Lennie is now pointless as they both
  have moved on.
• Curley and the lynching mob have found Lennies
  body down b the river. Curley, still mad at
  Lennie might shot at his body in attempt to feel
  better about his wifes death.

11
Curleys Wifes Killer FoundDead!

• Written by Adrian Plummer After
  the gruesome killing of Curleys wife (age 25),
  by breaking her neck. The suspect, Lennie Small
  (age 21) fled to the woods. According to accounts
  of workers on the farm Lennie was the only person
  whose whereabouts cannot be accounted for. The
  Soledad police found him dead with a gunshot in
  the back of the head. Who killed him is unclear.
  The only clue is the murder weapon a Luger
  pistol
• Curly found out Lennie had been killed
  he said that murdering bth killed my wife. I
  wish I got to him first an blast him to hell.

12
Migrant worker Mysteriously Disappears!

• Written by Paul Jemmott
• From anonymous sources, the Police have found a
  suspect linked to the killing. George Milton, an
  old worker at the farm, strangely disappeared at
  the same time as the killing. It is known that
  he is actually the cousin of the killer, Lennie
  Small. It is possible that he was the one who
  shot Lennie. His motives are unknown at this
  point. The suspect has not been seen since the
  event and is believed to have skipped town. If
  he is found he may face charges, but they could
  be rejected for killing the murderer.

13
Conclusion

• To once again state, the story Of Mice and Men
  is accurate description of loneliness. Not one
  person in the end is left in peace with anything
  good to look forward to.
• This story took place in the Great Depression and
  has been expressed through the workers making
  little money and having no real home. Always
  traveling alone, and some to die alone.