In Of Mice and Men how does loneliness affect and connect with dreams?

Dreams are the great adversary of loneliness. In John Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men, George has a dream of owning a "little piece of land." The dream draws in, not only Lennie, but also Candy and Crooks. Candy has become lonely after his dog is put down by Carlson in chapter three. He offers to contribute $350 to the farm which will make it possible to buy. Crooks, who laments his loneliness in chapter five, is, for a short time, part of the dream as well.

George paints an idyllic picture of the farm. It is like paradise and its mythic proportions capable of relieving any ill, including loneliness. Candy is "crestfallen" by the loss of his dog, but once he hears George telling Lennie about the dream, his demeanor totally changes. He has hope again. He tells George,

"Maybe if I give you guys my money, you’ll let me hoe in the garden even after I ain’t no good at it. An’ I’ll wash dishes an’ little chicken stuff like that. But I’ll be on our own place, an’ I’ll be let to work on our own place.”

Crooks is at first critical of the dream. He suggests that everyone has a dream but it never materializes. He tells Lennie and Candy in chapter four,

“You guys is just kiddin’ yourself. You’ll talk about it a hell of a lot, but you won’t get no land. You’ll be a swamper here till they take you out in a box. Hell, I seen too many guys. Lennie here’ll quit an’ be on the road in two, three weeks. Seems like ever’ guy got land in his head.” 

But after Candy explains that the men already have land picked out and most of the money, Crooks becomes very interested. For a moment he believes he might overcome the segregation and racism which plagues him on the ranch. He says,

“ . . . . 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 crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a- bitch if I want to.” 

Unfortunately, racism rears its ugly head as Curley's wife threatens Crooks and reminds him that he is an outcast in the white world. She says, and is certainly right, that she could get him lynched if he said anything wrong to her. He "retreats" and tells Candy at the end of the chapter,

“’Member what I said about hoein’ and doin’ odd jobs?”...

“Well, jus’ forget it,” said Crooks. “I didn’t mean it. Jus’ foolin’. I wouldn’ want to go no place like that.”