Crooks is fascinated by the strength of the friendship of Lennie and George, especially how close they are. Crooks said, "Well, s"pose, jus" s"pose he don't come back. What"ll you do then?" Crooks asks these questions because he does not have any friend. He was curious about the friendship of Lennie and George. He wants people to feel the way that he did when he was lonely, and have nobody with them. He is striving to achieve sympathy and understanding from others. Crooks would work for nothing if it meant communicating with others. Crooks offers his services to clear out his problems of loneliness. " If you guys would want a hand to work for nothing - just his keep, why I"d come an" lend a hand. I ain't so cippled I can't work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to." This quote supports that he is attracted to the friendship of Lennie and George. It also proves that all Crooks wants to do was talk to people, and he will do anything for it.
Second character that can be seen as the victim of the isolation is Candy. Candy, an old, physically disabled swamper, has worked on the ranch for his whole life. When Candy was on the ranch, he got into an accident that made him loose a physical handicap. Farm machinery took away his hand, leaving him money and loneliness. As a result of Candy's age and disability he has a feeling of uselessness. Since Candy feels that he is old, he places himself in a state of mind that handicaps him more than his missing hand. He looks down on himself as an old useless man wasting away his times. He is often afraid of losing his work, not to mention is whole life. Candy is so down that he puts himself into a state of solitude. He is often allowed to go out with the other guys, but he always refuses due to his negative aspect towards himself. Candy thinks that nobody wants to be friends with him because of his disability. Eventually, he tries to find a friendship by attempting to join the dream of George and Lennie ; to own and run their own ranch.