"We are born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through love and friendship can we create for the moment the illusion of not being alone "Orson Welles. In this novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck focuses on the loneliness of life on the California ranches of the 1930s. One of the most important things in life is to have a friend, without friends people will suffer from loneliness like in this novel, not everyone. the novel has the same bond and special friendship as Of Mice and Men of George and Lennie. It's the story of lonely men who travel from ranch to ranch without really communicating with the other ranch hands. Candy, Crooks and Curley's wife were all alone and dealt with their loneliness in different ways. Candy dealt with his loneliness by becoming friends with George and Lennie and becoming a partner in getting the little ranch that was George and Lennie's dream. Candy was something of an outcast due to his age difference compared to the other ranch owners. “I could cook, take care of the chickens, and dig the garden a little” (Candy 319). Candy tries to be helpful in someone else's life. He heard that George and Lennie have this dream of "living off the fat of the land" as soon as they have enough money. Candy wanted to join, she offered everything she could. He wanted to join the dream but not only did he want to join, he wanted to join George and Lennie's friendship. “Maybe I can give you guys some money” (Candy 325). Candy offered the money she receives from the government for her disability. From an exchange of money Candy develops a friendship. So he's paying George and Lennie to actually be his friends. I think money will never buy true friendship. Not only was Candy lonely and unhappy as she tried to deal with loneliness, but Crooks too... in the center of the card... Hey's wife is truly lonely. Shouldn't you be happy when you're married? Yet she is still unhappy and alone. Candy, Crook's wife, and Curley were all alone and dealt with the situation in a unique way to feel alone. I think one of the most important lessons of the novel is friendship and social interaction with other human beings is very important and we should all be grateful for it, because it keeps us away from loneliness. I remember a time when I was alone and couldn't stand it. When my mother and family went to the store for a while to do some shopping. I felt like I was going to explode, it didn't feel like just a couple of minutes, it felt like days. From the moment they walked in the door I said hello, they thought I was eccentric. They kept asking "are you okay?" It was only about an hour, I don't want to see if it was for a week.