Character Analysis Of John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

[Candy] said miserably, "You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else”(Steinbeck 60). Candy is introduced in the start of chapter two, he is described indirectly by the narrator as a “Stoop shouldered old man”(Steinbeck 18). He is said to have a round stump on his right arm, but no hand. His dog enters later in chapter two, whom is described as a “dragfooted sheepdog, gray of a muzzle, and with pale, old eyes”(Steinbeck 26). Through these characters, Steinbeck helps the reader understand the stereotype of the uselessness of the elderly and disabled. Along with this, Candy and his dog create a parallel with George and Lennie.
Candy and his dog in are both characterized as old, useless, and disabled. “ 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 60). Obviously from this quote, Candy is so old that he may no longer be able to work and he will be tossed out by society, he won’t be able to make anymore money and will die lonely. He is a hard
worker, but because of his age he may soon be thrown out, dumped, left to die. “When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me. But they won’t do nothing like that”(Steinbeck 60). Candy’s dog can be said to have it better off than Candy, for when he gets too old and useless, they’ll shoot him, somewhat of a parallel to Candy. "Whyn't you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up? I can smell that dog a mile away. Got no teeth, damn near blind, can't eat. Candy feeds him milk. He can't chew nothing else”(Steinbeck 36). From these quotes we know, both candy and his dog, are both old, useless and disabled. Quotes from both candy and other characters show that elderly people are as useless.
Candy and his dog are parallels to George and Lennie. In both cases, one of them relies pretty much completely on the other. The dog relies on Candy, Lennie relies on George. Also, in both cases, one of them has to allow the other one to be killed. “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. “I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog”(Steinbeck 61). This shows how Candy feels about his dog and what should have happened. This could be what was going through George’s head when he was going after Lennie. “But Curley’s gonna want to shoot ‘im. An’ s’pose they lock him up an’ strap him down and put him in a cage. That ain’t no good George. “I know” said George “I know”(Steinbeck 97). One can easily infer what was going on in his head. George learns how candy felt about his dog. The killing of the dog could be said to be a foreshadowing to the end of the novelette. From the quotes, it shows how both Candy and his dog are parallels to George and Lennie.
In conclusion, the characters show both the stereotyping of elderly and useless people and also the relationship of Lennie and George.
Quotes from the book show how useless Candy and his dog are, being old, disabled, and not being able to do work. Showing the stereotype of the elderly in this time. And they also show the relationship of Lennie and George, just with different characters. These characters are important to understand because of one: they show the stereotype of the elderly and disabled during the great depression; and two: they show the relationship of Lennie and George and foreshadow the end of the book. Tying the symbol and character back to the quote, [Candy] said miserably, "You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else”(Steinbeck 60). It shows both the side of not being useful and also, the relationship and foreshadowing of George and
Lennie.