In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses diction and imagery to explore the theme of loneliness. One literary technique he employs is the use of diction to convey the isolation and despair felt by the characters. For example, when Candy speaks about his old dog, he uses language that reflects his own sense of loneliness and abandonment. He says, "I had him so long, he wasn't no trouble at all. Never was. An' he was a good dog. Jesus, I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I get old an' a cripple" (Steinbeck 37). The use of the word "somebody" and the phrase "I wisht" suggests a lack of connection to others and a desire for release from suffering.
Another literary technique Steinbeck uses to explore the theme of loneliness is imagery. The setting of the ranch, with its vast, empty fields and distant mountains, serves as a metaphor for the loneliness of the characters. The loneliness is further emphasized through the use of animal imagery, such as when Candy speaks of his old dog as "an old dog lay in the shade, head on forepaws, looking at nothing" (Steinbeck 37). The image of the dog, with its head on its paws and its gaze fixed on nothing, conveys a sense of despair and isolation.
Through the use of diction and imagery, Steinbeck effectively conveys the theme of loneliness in Of Mice and Men. The characters' use of language and the setting of the ranch serve as powerful symbols of the isolation and desperation they feel, underscoring the importance of connection and companionship in the face of loneliness.