We all have a best friend or someone who is there for you no matter what. Imagine having to let them go, or even worse-being the one to kill them. This situation is portrayed in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. This novella takes place in the 1930s around northern California. George and Lennie are two main characters who are “partners in life”. George is always there for Lennie due to his mental disability. Throughout this book, they face challenges together working on a ranch striving to reach their dream-their own land to share. They meet Candy on the ranch who has a old dog. He loves this dog because he has been with it since it was a pup. Now, the dog is old and “useless” so Carlson shoots him for Candy. The killing of Candy’s old dog was significant on several intense levels because of the concept of old age, concept of worth, and the foreshadowing of Lennie’s death.
The concept of old age portrays to Candy and his dog because they are both aged and “worthless” to others in the book. Carlson was talking to Candy and said, “He ain’t no good to you, Candy. An’ he ain’t no good to himself. Why’n you shoot him, Candy?” (Steinbeck 44). He was explaining how Candy is making the dog suffer because he is old and can
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Lennie and Candy’s dog were killed because of their “barriers” based on their handicaps. Lennie did not mean to kill Curley’s wife but because of his mental block, he accidentally took her life. When she was screaming for help, he was mad because he thought she would get him in trouble with George. Both were killed out of mercy because their partner did not want them to suffer. These two deaths are similar because they symbolize mercy and peace. Sometimes, people have to make hard decisions that are for the best of
Candy felt terrible after Carlson shot his dog because Candy was the one that raised it, and it is only for them to kill it, not some stranger. George is like a father to Lennie
Whyn’t you shoot him, Candy?” (Steinbeck, page 44) This clearly proves that the dog is just suffering and has become too old to live. As Candy and the dog are growing older, the dog is not able to do anything and cannot survive on its
John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is the story of two migrant workers, George and Lennie, who are on a mission to live off the “fatta the lan’.” The story is based in 1930s Salinas Valley, California, and shows the troubles that George and Lennie meet while they work on a ranch to earn enough money to buy their own land. After a mishap leads to Lennie killing a rancher’s wife, George kills Lennie as an act of mercy for the safety of others and for Lennie himself. The differences and similarities between George and Lennie give light to what motivates their actions and how they function together.
Lennie’s actions on the people at the ranch were at first confused of why George was with him and Slim even states people feel alone with someone with them. For example when Candy’s dog was shot. “Candy if you want me to I put that dog out of it’s misery right now, won't hurt him at all,” says Carlson. “Let’s wait till tomorrow,” says Candy. “We can’t sleep with that stinken dog in here,” yells Carlson.
Have you ever thought of killing your best friend? No, no one does, that person is supposed to be your everything. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, a main character gets killed by his best friend. George had no reason to kill Lennie. Lennie did not mean to kill them on purpose.
When Candy loses his dog, he is deeply affected, which is detected by the audience when he says, "You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They say he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody'd shoot me. But they won't do nothing like that. I won't have no place to go, an' I can't get no more jobs" (Steinbeck 60).
Candy´s dog is killed , simply for the fact that he is aging , and ¨ smells bad¨ . Due to his old age , he is rendered useless. Candy insinuates that the same will happen to him when he becomes incompetent of fulfilling his duties . The quote ¨ I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn´t ought to have let no stranger shoot my dog.¨ ( 89 ) symbolizes the companionship you also find in george and lennie.
Another form of discrimination Steinbeck portrays is ageism. Ageism is defined as “...stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups on the basis of their age.” (“Ageism”). The main victim of ageism in Of Mice and Men is Candy, the Skinner, who is an elderly man who hurt is hand in an accident and is not fit for most jobs on the ranch. Ageism can affect the youth and the elderly, and anyone in between, but during the Great Depression, it mostly affected the elderly.
Being forced to kill someone would be really emotional, but imagine if that person was your best friend. In John Steinbeck’s book “Of Mice and Men” George and Lennie have been together since they were kids. Lennie idolized George and George, as often as he gets mad at him, still loves Lennie. They run from their old town of Weed to get a job as ranch hands in Salinas Valley. From there they meet many people, most of which welcomed them, while some had a harder time accepting them.
Steinbeck states in the novel, “You seen what they done to my dog tonight?”(60). An example of Candy telling George and Lennie his problems. Candy still feels upset over his dog death by Carlson. But by using that excuse he got George to agree with him, to let him live in the ranch once they earn enough money. With Candy’s help with George and Lennie’s dream, it is easier and now faster for the three of them to get their ranch.
Lennie’s Experiences with Animals Foreshadow Death Lennie's experiences with animals foreshadow later events because the actions with animals are negative. They show that Lennie is out of control and careless. For example, Lennie has killed mice by only petting them, which was said in the passage. Next , when Carlson wants to shoot Candy’s dog right in the back of the head, Candy is hesitant because he has had the dog for a very long time. This foreshadows Lennie’s death when he is shot right in the back of the head by George, who really does not want to because George has been beside Lennie for so long and how innocent and benevolent Lennie had been.
Candy lost his right hand in a ranch accident, which is why the owners “give me a job swampin’” as he says (Steinbeck 59). He believes he will that he will be “can[ned] purty soon,” so he wants to go with George and Lennie (Steinbeck 60). When Carlson wants to shoot Candy’s dog, Candy does not want him to. He says “No, I couldn’... I had ‘im too long” and “I had him from a pup” (Steinbeck 45).
Candy’s character is one who represents the want for a companion, even though companionship can end in heartbreak. Carlson told Candy that he needs to shoot his dog, his loyal companion, “‘I’m so used to him,’ he said softly. ‘I had him from a pup…’”(50). Everyone leaves to find Lennie while Candy stays with Curley’s wife, “Old Candy lay down in the hay and covered his eyes with his arm”(108). The words “used to” are significant because it shows how Candy doesn’t know what it’s like to be without his dog, his companion, because he has had him for so long.
Of Mice and Men; A Literary Analysis “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that 's why,” says George in the book Of Mice and Men. John Steinbeck wrote this book about two boys who took care of each other mentally and physically throughout. They endure many journeys together and are able to suffice over very little. They show the strength in friendships in many dissimilar ways and make diligent decisions that some may never be able to make. Of Mice and Men is not only about two friends and their journey together, but as well as giving one a deeper meaning of the book, such as showing the nature of their dreams, the characters as archetypes, and if the killing of Lennie is justified in the end.
George prohibits Lennie from petting mice, making Lennie sad. While Lennie killing mice is a bad thing, Carlson killing Candy’s dog is actually isn’t. Carlson shoots Candy’s beloved dog to stop it from enduring any more suffering. Carlson recognizes the love that Candy feels for his dog, and lets Candy know that the way he would shoot him: “‘...He wouldn’t feel nothing...