"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck: Identifying Loneliness

A major theme in Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, is loneliness. Many of the characters experience loneliness, but some more than others. Candy, Curley's wife, and even George all experience loneliness. Some more than others.
Candy, the ranch's farm hand, is an old man who has nobody in the world but his dog. Since Candy cannot go out to work in the fields, he is left behind to clan and take care of things. He is most grateful for his dog being there. But not everyone feels that way. Candy's dog is old and smells, and the other men on the ranch complain. …