Candy, like his dog, is old and worn out. He feels useless and that he does not belong to anything. Candy longs for a sense of belonging and purpose. This farm has a magical effect on him. It is a place where he can feel useful and call home. It is a place of friendship and camaraderie. The farm represents home and home is a very illusive concept in this novella. To these men it is a fantasy, somewhere that exists but impossible to attain.
