Character Analysis Of Candy In Of Mice And Men

Character Analysis Essay
Candy, Of Mice and Men

Candy is described as a stereotypical old handyman, with only a stump as his right hand due to a machine-related incident at the ranch. Steinbeck preconceived the idea to the readers that Candy has spent the best - and perhaps the most efficient - years of his life working on someone else’s ranch, only to loose his hand and have little money. He also paints a dog as a companion for Candy, who very much like Candy, is old and crippled; but also stinks and is blind. Throughout the story Candy keeps reiterating his greatest fear of ‘getting canned’, made worse by the faith of his dog. A symbol of Candy himself, the dog was once a great sheepherder but as time passes, neither past accomplishments nor current emotional ties matter as the dog has outlived his usefulness and is killed. It is this bleak truth of Steinbeck’s Darwinian social world, in which the unfit will be disposed of, that compels Candy to help fund George’s and Lennie’s dream. Candy wishes to live his last days with a feeling of peace, belonging and security. More

In many ways, Candy’s dog plays a significant role in foreshadowing Lennie’s death and the manner of the death itself. Certainly, George has taken responsibly of killing Lennie himself after Candy tells him, “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.” Candy and his dog lead a parallel relationship to that of George and Lennie. Alike Candy’s dog, Lennie depends wholly on George to take care of him. Vice versa, Candy alike George values his old dog not because of its usefulness but as a constant companion, someone who is devoted and loyal to him. Moreover Candy aides George when they found Curley’s wife dead in the farm, giving George the chance to go into the bunkhouse and escape any conviction that might be made against