Most men in the 1920's lived a lonely life. The traveled from ranch to ranch, working for a month before taking their pay and moving on. They usually traveled alone, and the friends they made, they often never saw again. This is just as Slim points out: George explains what becomes of the men who do this. This shows the effect loneliness has on these men. Without true friends they get angry and jealous. They feel like they must put others down to feel superior; this is where the discrimination comes into the story. Loneliness surrounds these people; and sometimes it takes over. …show more content…
No matter who you are or where you go, you need friends. Candy is old and crippled. He was treated as somewhat of an outcast on the ranch, and he doesn’t have many friends. In fact, his dog is his only real friend; he raised the dog since it was a pup. That is Candy’s response to the idea of killing his dog. He doesn’t even want to think about life without his dog. He continues, This parallels with when George tells Lennie how much fun he could have without him. However, when Lennie offers to leave, George back peddles. George realizes that he really wants Lennie around. Lennie is his best friend, a true friend. He really values Lennie's friendship, and he would never replace him. Candy also expresses his unwillingness to lose a friend— his dog. Once you make friends it's hard to let them go. You can never replace them; they will always hold a special place in your