How Does Steinbeck Present Candy In Of Mice And Men

Candy -similarly to other roles- is a significant character in Steinbeck’s novella ‘Of Mice and Men’, due to his clear links to the main themes appreciated such as segregation, loneliness and friendship among others throughout the story.

For starters, Candy is the first character that interacts with George and Lennie when these finally arrive at the farm in chapter 2. Candy has a word with them, unlike any other hands of the ranch would’ve bothered to do. He goes further, providing us descriptions of the most recognisable characters in the ranch. We learn that he likes to gossip, and talks a lot because he usually lacks human interaction of such sort. This fact is significant because the readers learn about the other characters through Candy’s

It was a very isolating life.

For this reason, Candy and his dog as well as George and Lennie were “different from the others” as George himself assures to Lennie. Although the power of their friendship could make possible to overcome the loneliness that a nomadic life implied, it could not last forever as demonstrated when Candy’s dog is gunshot in chapter 3 similarly to Lennie in chapter 6. Reality was harsh in those times, where only the strong and authoritarian could survive, and innocent dreams would only remain as such; simple dreams.

In addition, the death of candy’s dog was also significant as it crearly was not only linked to themes of violence but also was a representation of his owner; it is described as “ancient” and “old” such as Candy. Furthermore, it seems to be unable to function since even to “[get] (...) to [Candy’s] feet” was “painful”. It was an old animal that fullfilled it's purpose and awaited for death to come - at the same time illustrating his weakness. Candy’s dog’s execution by Carlson again demonstrated that how the weak could not survive in those time (and foreshadowed Lennie’s death). Nevertheless, it also portrayed the importance of hierarchy in that particular time of history; Carlson belonged to a higher hierarchy within the ranch than Candy, hence, Candy could not have a say and his words would be treated as