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The Role Of Companionship In John Steinbeck's Of Mice Of Men

427 Words2 Pages

Companionship is built upon the mental fiber of Homo sapiens, thus many searches and hunt for a companion in order to feel secure and safe and to form a connection which satisfies that mental desire. Some find companionship with other people while other find companionship with animals. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice of Men, Candy’s companionship stems from an old sheepdog, which he had raised since it was a little puppy. Candy relies on his pet for companionship. Because Candy and the dog have been together for so long, they form a strong symbiotic relationship. Candy regrets his choice to let a “stranger” shoot his companion. The relationship Candy and his dog has is similar to the relationship Lennie and George have. Both groups of companions are introduced together and both rely on each other. Candy and his …show more content…

Candy possess no sense of self as he lets others walk over him. When others dictated it was time came to put down his dog, Candy was allowed for others to shot his dog. Later he repented his choice saying, “ I ought to of shot that dog myself… I shouldn't ought to of let no strange shot my dog (58).” Candy felt an obligation to protect his dog. He recognizes he should have been the one to put down his dog. George feels a similar obligation to care for Lennie. George has known him for so long that they form a codependent relationship. He relies on Lennie to be a companion as well as help work on ranches with him, so both can achieve their dream. Just as Candy is the protector of his dog, George is the protector of Lennie. George realizes he needs to be the one to “put down” Lennie because Curley and his men would kill him painfully and Lennie cannot be independent if he were to successfully flee from Curley and his men. He has seemingly always relied on someone in his life whether it was George or Aunt Clara. He is not ready to be self-reliant. Both George and Candy recognized that because of the bonds they have created, they needed to be the ones to end

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I shouldn't have let no stranger shoot my dog" (page 60). The shooting of Candy's dog represents letting go of something that was once valuable, as the dog was meaningful to Candy but was no longer helpful on the farm. This foreshadows the fate of Lennie, as George ends up letting go of Lennie, who has become a burden to him. Thus, the foreshadowing indicates that the American Dream will not come true for George and Lennie, as the reality of life will intervene and stop them from achieving

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I shouldn't oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog" ( Steinbeck 61). Carlson kills Candy's sick dog because it is too old to work as a sheepdog. Carlson declares that the dog "ain't no good" to Candy because he is unable to acknowledge the dog's ongoing utility as Candy's friend and companion. Candy, unfortunately, was unable to make his dog's suffering come to an end peacefully. Which caused him to feel guilty.

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When Carlson kills Candy’s dog, Candy regrets not being the one that did it. “‘Candy said, “George.” “Huh?” “I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.”’

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Also, George wanted Lennie to die fast, instead of getting inhumanely tortured. Finally, George remembers what candy says about his old dog, and feels the same way. George realized Lennie would never get better, and their dream would never come true. After

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I shouldn’t oughtta let no stranger shoot my dog. ”(pg.61) Candy had raised the dog since it was a pup so their relationship reflects George and Lennie’s friendship as they too were childhood friends. Candy later regretted not being with his dog until the end. If George had not shot Lennie himself, he would be burdened with the fact that he had tolerated a random stranger to kill his best

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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.

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And later on, Candy confesses, “I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.” And you can clearly see that this quote relates and is similar to what happens to George and

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George and Lennie have known each other since they were children, so they have a tenacious bond. He runs from town to town, not to get away from the trouble Lennie has caused, but rather to shield Lennie from its consequences. This says that George certainly cares deeply about his friend. Also, Lennie depends on George to take care of him and tell him what to say and do. Candy's dog was put down because the dog was bothering the other workers on the ranch.

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Candy feels useless without his hand and feels that he has no place to go and no family to turn to and confesses to George, “When they can’t use 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 59).

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Candy after having a dispute with Carlson over whether or not to shoot the dog, candy states that, “I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t oughtta let no stranger shoot my dog” (Steinbeck 61). Although Candy previously disputed over shooting the dog, and had shown that he did not want the dog to die, Candy shows that he knew the dog should have been euthanized the whole time, and that he wish he had been the one to do it. Steinbeck shows Candy regretting not euthanizing the dog himself to make a point that even those closest to the subject of euthanasia know it is the right thing to do. Although Lennie is George’s best friend, George knows that Lennie has no way out of his situation, and that with the way his violence issues are progressing he will only get worse.

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In the light of this, Candy’s companion is man’s best friend, he “ had him so long. Had him since he was a pup”(56) They share a deep bond which is parallel relationship with George and Lennie, they all depend on each other through ups and downs; sadly both friendships came to a bitter end. Additionally, Lennie may not be the brightest one but his loyalty and devotion to George makes them an inseparable pair of friends. In fact, Lennie is willing to give George anything because he believes that the best should be left for his friend, he says “If (ketchup) was here, you could have some… but I wouldn’t eat none…

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1047 Words | 5 Pages

George would protect Lennie at all costs even from himself. After Lennie kills a young woman, George decides it is better for Lennie to be dead rather than to be tortured and kept in a cell or a mental asylum. The decision of killing Lennie hit George like a train, but he knew it was something that was in Lennie’s own good. Knowing he could have an easier life without Lennie, George still kept him around because he needed George and George needed Lennie. George tells Slim “Course Lennie’s a God damn nuisance most of the time, but you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him.”

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The Role Of Companionship In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

1216 Words | 5 Pages

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.

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