Discuss the theme of loneliness in `Of Mice And Men'

`Of Mice and Men' is a poignant, distressing tale of the extraordinary friendship between two itinerant workers in the harsh depression years of 1930's America, written by John Steinbeck. The two main characters featured in this novella are Lennie, a child trapped in a mans body, and George, a bitter man who's somewhat ostracised from a carefree life. However, despite their differences, both have stuck together for the majority of their lives.

Both Lennie and George work on a ranch in an isolated community, along with several other pivotal characters. These include Curley, the boss' son, who, although is in a position of wealth and power compared to the other ranch hands, is also a victim of loneliness. His wife, the only women on the ranch, is treated by her husband...