The character Candy preforms many examples of how he is lonely and needs companionship. He shows this when he is in the bunkhouse with his dog, Slim, Carlson, Whit, and George. Carlson is going to kill Candy's old dog because he is old and smells bad (Steinbeck 47). This phrase suggests that Carlson is going to kill Candy's only friend which will make him even more lonely than he already is. Candy's representation of his feelings show that he is lonely.
Steinbeck uses symbolism to relate the dog and Candy to Lennie and George. The author states, “At last Candy said softly and hopelessly, “Awright-take ‘im ( 47). Candy has finally accepted the fact that his dog has to die. He can no longer protect the dog from the others and his time has come. This is like Lennie and George because when Lennie kills Curley's wife, George has to accept the fact that Lennie has to die.
The author states Candy said, "I ain't much good with one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That's why they give me a job swampin'. An' they give me two hundred an' fifty
Candy says he wants to live with them on the farm and has offered to pay some of the money toward the farm. Also, Candy helps out with the financials because he’s paying half and George and Lennie are waiting till there payed enough money. They will have to quit their jobs. Candy obviously has to quit his job because he is very old and that’s not good for his health.
Candy and his dog are both old, handicapped, and essentially useless on the ranch. Candy lost his right hand in an accident, and his dog is nearly blind. Candy's only job on the ranch is to "swamp" out the bunkhouse, because he is considered too old to engage in hard labor. Similarly, Candy's dog serves no purpose on the farm and wanders aimlessly around the ranch. Candy and his dog represent what happens to everyone in the economically depressed country once they become too old to work and provide for themselves.
Have you ever had somebody be so mean to you, that it just sticks with you? In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck exhibits the idea that discrimination can have long-term effects on others; therefore, resulting in emotional damage that can impact people’s way of life and how they respond to others in difficult situations. That said, Steinbeck utilizes the elements of characterization to show these ideas throughout the novel. In the novel “Of Mice and Men”, John Steinbeck uses the setting to express the theme of dreams and aspirations. We can start to see the theme express itself when George and Lennie reveal their dream.
In the story, George and Lennie move around looking for work on farms, so that they can one day use their money to buy a house on their own. Unfortunately, Lennie often makes mistakes causing them to leave a job early before making their money. At one farm, they meet a man named Candy who
When Candy was on the ranch, he had an accident that caused him to lose his hand in farm machinery that left him with money but also loneliness. “I got hurt four years ago. They’ll can me purty soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk houses they’ll put me on the county." (Steinbeck, 66).
Candy and George knowing their dream of owning a ranch of their own was now dead decided to tell the rest of the workers that Curley's wife had died. Curley's reaction to this news was as expected and he was not going to let Lennie”s inteltical disability be an excuse to not kill Lennie. “Why-ever'body else was out there playin' horseshoes." He worked himself into a fury. "I'm gonna get him.
Throughout the book, there was constant discrimination from the workers. Candy is very similar to Crooks because he was also an outcast. He isn’t as useful as the rest of the workers since he only has one arm. Both Candy and Crooks have these things that are stopping them from being happy and successful. This is why they both wanted to get in with George and Lennie’s plan of opening a farm.
Lennie shares a moment with another character when they bond over Candy, realizing that because of his hand he is also talked down to and marginalized. As Candy was recumbent on his bed helplessly talking to Lennie he mumbled, “‘ "I ain't much good with one hand. That's why they give me a job swampin'’”(Steinbeck 59). On the farm, Candy is used for sweeping and not much more. Candy does not play games with the other migrant workers because they play games that he can not participate in as a result of his physical disabilities.
Candy: Candy is the owner of the ranch where George and Lennie work at, meaning that she is their boss. He has only one hand due to a previous accident and worries that he will be seen useless and asked to leave to ranch. Candy is very kindhearted and likes to treat his workers equally. He decides to join Lennie and George on their quest for their dream ranch, making candy seem as a very supporting figure in their lives.
"You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn 't no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody 'd shoot me..." - ( Steinbeck, 60. ) Candy, and his dog.
In the novel Of Mice and Men, Candy is discriminated for his physical capabilities because his right hand is only a stump. According to Candy himself, “‘I ain’t much good with on’y one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That’s why they give me a job swampin’” (59).
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).
