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Beliefs In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

1441 Words6 Pages

Candy’s submission to Carlson, Slim, and the other men of the bunkhouse on the decision of killing of his old dog reveals how one’s fundamental beliefs and stances can be forcefully shaped or altered by an external majority whether the opposing opinion is justified or not. In the case in Of Mice and Men, Candy’s mutt is very old and unfortunately crippled in many ways, as he has no teeth, walks with a weighted step, and suffers from rheumatism. Candy has raised him from when he was just a puppy and has utilized its abilities as a sheep dog when it was younger and more agile, creating a strong emotional bond between Candy and the mutt, one that affects his thought process later on. However, Carlson, a worker on the ranch, wants to end the dog’s …show more content…

Additionally, they are unable to comprehend the emotional reasons for why the dog should be saved, such as the fact that Candy has developed a friendship with the dog over the years and is not ready to let go of his companion. The self-interests of the men eventually take precedence over Candy’s emotional bond with his dog, a self-centered decision made by the inhabitants of the bunkhouse. Yet, when Candy agrees to let Carlson kill the dog, he says it, “softly and hopelessly” (47), showcasing the core fact that although pressure from people can eventually convince one to make a decision they previously would not have, it does not necessarily prove that he/she is satisfied with the outcome of the conflict, as he/she was given virtually no other choice than to buckle under the burden sustained by the people supporting the majority

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