Chapter Three In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

In Chapter Three in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, there is a pressing scene in which Candy's dog meets his demise. Carlson first suggests Candy shoot his beloved companion and then turns it into a personal goal of his that the dog does not walk out of the room alive. He thinks the dog doesn’t have any real value, and is better off dead; this belief is a reflection of what happens when usefulness is outlived in this harsh society. The lonely silence that follows the killing shows the emptiness of the room, and the sorrow that follows. This scene is significant because it shows how the dog, who is a cripple and old, is a metaphor for Candy, who will soon outlive his usefulness; the dog is also a symbol of the loneliness the other men feel, and

Carlson emerges from the “darkening yard,” (Steinbeck 64) which just gives an evil aura about him. The ranch hand also walks with a "heavy-legged stride," and the fact that he is larger automatically gives off the impression that he is overpowering and intense. Carlson reveals his objective is to kill Candy’s much loved comrade. There is a deeper reasoning behind Carlson’s hatred, and Steinbeck conveys this when Carlson says he'll “put the old devil out of his misery," (Steinbeck 68) showing how insensitive he is. Since one of the biggest themes in the novel is loneliness is a destructive force, it seems as if Carlson is almost jealous of Candy’s companionship because he, Lennie, and George are the only ones that have someone else. Carlson eliminates his friend so all the men will be, lonely therefore on a level playing field, and Steinbeck shows loneliness by integrating uncomfortable silence into the

Candy and his companion are both aging, crippled, and about to outlive their physical usefulness. When Candy’s dog was youthful he was an amazing sheepdog and therefore of great use to all around him. The idea that a disability is a large hindrance in this community relates to Candy because when he was young he had a lot of purpose on the ranch but after he lost arm in an accident his credibility deteriorated. He knows he will soon be "canned," especially when Slim says “I wish somebody'd shoot me if I got old an' a cripple"(Steinbeck 66). The dog dies and Candy's beliefs are almost confirmed. When Carlson says that there “Ain’t nothing left for him” (Steinbeck 69), Steinbeck shows how the idea that younger is better is highly regarded in this society and if you cannot meet the standards that have been set, your existence is