Universal Message Of Mice and Men

Everybody in the ranch is lonely. We meet Candy the old sweeper who only has his old dog as a friend. We meet Curly, the bosses son, who has a major case of small-guy complex. He is angry all the time and tries to goad Lennie into a fight. We meet Curly's wife who is so lonely that she drifts from cabin to cabin in the guise of looking for her husband. In reality she uses her sexual prowess to get a reaction out of the men. She is so lonely and insignificant, Steinbeck does not even give her a name. Here are some quotes that support the theme of loneliness,

Lennie- "If you don' want me I can g off in the hills an' find a cave. I can go away any time."

George- "No—look! I was jus' foolin', Lennie. 'Cause I want you to stay with me."

Boss- "Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. I just like to know what your interest is."

George- "I got you! You can't keep a job and you lose me ever' job I get. Jus' keep me shovin' all over the country all the time."

Candy- "When they can me here I wisht somebody'd shoot me."

Curley's Wife- "I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely."