I Should Let No Stranger Shoot My Dog Analysis

“‘I shouldn’t ought let no stranger shoot my dog”’(61). Everyone wants a life with no regrets and Candy ends up regretting not killing his own best friend, instead of killing his dog he lets Carlson shoot him, and now he regrets it. The killing of Candy’s dog foreshadows the death of Lennie because the dog was shot in the back of the head like Lennie is, this quote is extremely important in the book because it is a statement that sticks with George especially when Lennie is being chased and Curley plans to kill him. George doesn’t want someone else killing his best friend, and when it comes down to it George kills Lennie. George also knows that if someone else were to kill Lennie that they would not have sympathy and George would end up regretting it for the rest of his life just like Candy. “‘Got a Luger”’(47). “‘I’ll get my Luger”’(96). These are two simple and very similar quotes but both times Carlson’s Luger was talked about someone or something died. The first time Carlson says he has a Luger he kills Candy’s dog, and the second time he mentions he will get his Luger it is when George kills Lennie. Carlson’s Luger is used to kill Candy’s dog and Lennie in the same exact way… in the back of the head. Also, this is an act of persuasion by the other ranch hands because Candy wasn’t ready for his dog to die and he was sad that everyone thought so, George in the same situation later when he doesn’t want Curley or anyone to kill Lennie because he doesn’t think it’s Lennie’s time but George knew that it had to be done.
The killing of Candy’s dog is a huge example of foreshadowing, from the way the dog was killed, to the gun that was used to kill it, the death of Lennie was extremely similar to the death of Candy’s