Of Mice and Men
The character of Candy
Candy is the first of the ranch hands to greet George and Lennie on their arrival
at the ranch. He is described as ‘a tall stoop shouldered old man’. He is dressed in
the denim clothing worn by the workers. His right hand is just a stump as he
suffered a farming injury in the past. His duties now are menial – he is the
‘swamper’, which largely involves sweeping and cleaning.
It is from Candy’s perspective that we are first introduced to some of the
other characters. Of Curley he says “Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates
big guys”. Of Curley’s wife he says “Well-she got the eye”; of Slim he says
“Slim don’t need to wear no high heeled boots”
At a further point in the novella Candy says “accusingly” to Curley’s wife
“You gotta’ husban’. You got no call foolin’ aroun’ with other guys causing
trouble”; here Steinbeck is using the literary technique of foreshadowing;
these words infer that trouble will ensue as a direct result of Curley’s wife
inappropriately seeking the attention of the men on the ranch.
Candy has an old sheepdog that has been with him since it was a pup. The dog is
his only friend. Candy speaks proudly of the dog’s prowess in younger days: ‘he
was the best damn sheepdog I ever seen’. When Carlson pushes for the dog to be
put down, Candy protests: ‘Well - hell! I had him so long’. Eventually Carlson leads
the dog outside to shoot him in the back of the head. When the shot rings out,
Candy turns miserably to face the wall. Before the dog is shot Candy looks to Slim
hoping that he will intervene. Slim is the one that everyone respects and looks to
for advice. But Slim does not intervene “Candy looked a long time at Slim to try
and find some reversal. And Slim gave none.” At this point Candy gives in and
allows the dog to be taken. The killing of the dog is symbolic of the prejudices of
the era towards the old and infirm. It also foreshadows the killing of Lennie with
the same gun. Both killings can be viewed as merciful killings.
Foreshadowing: the scene of the killing of Candy’s dog thus foreshadows the
killing of Lennie. It is to be noted that the only two real friendship bonds that exist
The character of Candy
Candy is the first of the ranch hands to greet George and Lennie on their arrival
at the ranch. He is described as ‘a tall stoop shouldered old man’. He is dressed in
the denim clothing worn by the workers. His right hand is just a stump as he
suffered a farming injury in the past. His duties now are menial – he is the
‘swamper’, which largely involves sweeping and cleaning.
It is from Candy’s perspective that we are first introduced to some of the
other characters. Of Curley he says “Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates
big guys”. Of Curley’s wife he says “Well-she got the eye”; of Slim he says
“Slim don’t need to wear no high heeled boots”
At a further point in the novella Candy says “accusingly” to Curley’s wife
“You gotta’ husban’. You got no call foolin’ aroun’ with other guys causing
trouble”; here Steinbeck is using the literary technique of foreshadowing;
these words infer that trouble will ensue as a direct result of Curley’s wife
inappropriately seeking the attention of the men on the ranch.
Candy has an old sheepdog that has been with him since it was a pup. The dog is
his only friend. Candy speaks proudly of the dog’s prowess in younger days: ‘he
was the best damn sheepdog I ever seen’. When Carlson pushes for the dog to be
put down, Candy protests: ‘Well - hell! I had him so long’. Eventually Carlson leads
the dog outside to shoot him in the back of the head. When the shot rings out,
Candy turns miserably to face the wall. Before the dog is shot Candy looks to Slim
hoping that he will intervene. Slim is the one that everyone respects and looks to
for advice. But Slim does not intervene “Candy looked a long time at Slim to try
and find some reversal. And Slim gave none.” At this point Candy gives in and
allows the dog to be taken. The killing of the dog is symbolic of the prejudices of
the era towards the old and infirm. It also foreshadows the killing of Lennie with
the same gun. Both killings can be viewed as merciful killings.
Foreshadowing: the scene of the killing of Candy’s dog thus foreshadows the
killing of Lennie. It is to be noted that the only two real friendship bonds that exist
