John Steinbeck’s novel carries of lot of symbolism on its pages. It is owing to these symbols the author revealed the characters to the reader. One of the most important symbols of the novel is the symbolism of the Candy’s dog. As Candy’s dog is no longer needed and has given birth to new strong sheepdogs the only possible resolution is to kill the “unnecessary” animal. This killing is hidden behind the motive of not making the dog suffer. Once somebody becomes weak – he is no longer needed. Though Candy loves his dog he does not stop Carlson from killing it. The key of this symbolism is that Candy himself is an “old sheepdog” and Lennie becomes an “old sheepdog” at the end of the novel.…
Candy’s Dog-foreshadowing for George and Lennie and Candy, old/out of use so it is killed, brings out the brutality/carelessness in human nature (Carlson)…
The thought of living without a companion scares Candy and George through most of the book. For example, George cannot live without Lennie, despite Lennie being a burden. When George and Lennie are stopped for the night while on their trip to Soledad, Lennie angers George and asks, “‘...you want I should go away and leave you alone?’”(12) to which George replies, “‘No — look!... I want you to stay with me,’”(13). It would be easier for George to let Lennie leave, but the fact that he is so desperate to have Lennie stay shows how he cannot live without Lennie because Lennie makes him too happy. Of course, the friendship does not have to be with a human, as Candy fears loneliness without his dog. While in their room, Candy and Carlson have a conversation about Candy’s dog,“Carlson said,‘...I’ll put the old devil out of his misery,’... Candy said hopefully,‘You ain’t got no gun… Maybe tomorra,’”(47). With the key words being “hopefully” and “maybe tomorra”, Candy shows how he does not want his dog gone, he would be too lonely. Both George and Candy fear loneliness, as they know it will make them feel as if their lives are worthless. Throughout Of Mice and Men George and Candy fear the loneliness they would feel if they lost their…
In John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie are two friends who leave to work on a ranch where Lennie gets in trouble. Lennie gets in trouble when he kills an innocent lady and runs off. George and the other men set off to find Lennie, but george leaves them to find Lennie himself. After George finds Lennie, he makes him feel happy and excited for what they will have in the future. George should not have killed Lennie because Lennie was slow and did not know how strong he really was, and George was Lennie’s best friend, but Lennie still had killed a innocent woman.…
* Candy’s old dog- symbolizes Lennie! The dog id a companion like Lennie is to George. But the dog is useless, old and a burden. Lennie is a burden on George. Candy says he “should of done it himself” when the dog is killed because it is his best friend. FORESHADOWING ALERT- Lennie’s death, George does it. George is his best friend.…
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck tells the story of two best friends living life on the run, struggling to keep a steady job working as ranch hands. George and Lennie are faced with many obstacles throughout the course of this book, beginning with Lennie and his slow mindedness, George is always side by side with Lennie, practically holding his hand to coach him through life. The story begins with the two men running away from Weed, the ranch they were previously employed at; we later find that George and Lennie had to flee after Lennie had touched a ladies dress and made her feel uncomfortable. Upon arrival at the new ranch, George had told Lennie to stay away from Curley’s wife, Lennie disobeyed George and similar trouble has followed them.…
Candy's regret that he didn't kill his dog himself, foreshadows George's decision to shoot Lennie before Curley gets to him first. Also, Lennie is devoted. Devoted to the rabbits, and devoted to George. The rabbits are an important part of the novel.…
The strong always overpower the weak. Throughout John Steinbeck’s famous novel, “Of Mice and Men,” He tries to express in many ways as possible that the strong will always overrule the weak no matter what. And Lennie’s puppy is a great representation of that one theme. Lennie is the type of guy who isn’t always the best to be around, especially is your small and soft as fur. Because of the fact that Lennie isn’t able to recognize his physical prowess, he tends to kill a lot of animals and objects throughout nature. As George and Lennie are in the bunkhouse, George states; “You not to pet that pup so much or ya might kill em.” (pg. 55) This quote is very significant because just as Lennie is dependent…
Lennie Small was born with a mental disorder and lived with his Aunt Clara until she passed away. Lennie did not attend school and did not have a spouse. All he had was his best friend, George Milton, who was his caretaker throughout all their endeavors. Lennie depends on George for knowledge and protection because he doesn’t know any better and could hurt himself and others. Although George was his caretaker and best friend, he decided to shoot Lennie in the back of the head because he caused too much trouble and was being hunted down to be tortured. Lennie was a large man who couldn’t do much but who worked ranch to ranch along with George. Lennie loved petting animals and was especially fond of mice. Although Lennie is a gentle and kind man, he doesn’t know his own strength and ends up killing the mice he pets.…
[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.…
After the death of his dog, Candy experiences a deep sense of loss and he feels empty inside. When Candy overhears Lennie and George talking about owning a piece of land his emptiness begins to fill with the dream Lennie and George share. Candy tells George, “Tell you what-... Spose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I put in” (p.33). George’s reaction to what Candy said prompts Candy to bare his soul to him and tell George that he will “´make a will an’ leave [his] share to [Lennie and George]” (p.34). But more importantly, Candy develops a friendship with George which is seen later in the story when Candy divulges to George his inner feelings regarding his dog, showing the beginnings of a friendship, “I ought to of shot that dog myself. . .I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog” (p.39). Candy’s actions portray the theme in Of Mice and Men that having a dream creates hope, friendship, and determination.…
Regardless to the fact Lennie is considered one of the principle characters in ‘Of Mice and Men’, he is arguably the least exciting. Throughout the novel he seems to be the same person as on the first pages, enduring no development, growth or significant changes. His character is very simple, in most scenes he is in, it is reinforced that he is very strong, he enjoys petting soft things and is devoted to George and the American Dream, that he and George will someday own a farm. It is this simplicity and helplessness in everyday life that earns the readers sympathy, and also forms the idea in the reader’s mind that Lennie is doomed. The powerful impact is created by the inevitability of Lennie’s death, so the reader’s sympathy and understanding…
In John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, he portrays love as an important part of human nature. Without love or companionship, Steinbeck shows how someone will become monstrous. An instinct in every person causes a horrified reaction to the calloused actions of the uncaring in Steinbeck’s story. Lennie is Steinbeck’s best example of love untainted by the world, as his mental condition doesn’t allow him to learn much, not absorbing the apprehensive, bitter habits that mask other people’s hearts. He shows love most bluntly, making an effort to befriend every creature and character, oblivious to his habit to physically hurt. When Candy’s dog is killed, Steinbeck shows a little caring in the other men, limited as it is, showing that…
Candy is lonely because of his old age. He is rejected by the people of the ranch due to him being old and handicapped. His only company is his faithful dog companion who later in the story is killed by Carlson. Candy response was "You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody'd shoot me. But they won't do nothing like that. I won't have no place to go, an' I can't get no more jobs.”(Steinbeck, 60) This quote really symbolizes the suffering that Candy goes through and how the men were willing to kill the old dog, while letting the old guy suffer. This also leads to Candy wanting to join George and Lennie on there dream to own their own ranch.…
For the characters in ‘Of Mice and Men’, social interactions were often brief and insignificant. Despite working on ranches in groups, having deep, meaningful connections with others was rare, as shown by the other characters being skeptical of the relationship between George and Lennie, such as the moment Curley meets them both, and states, “Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy.” (Steinbeck, 22). Lennie is seemingly developmentally delayed, and he depends on George to care for him and protect him, such as feeding him or getting him out of difficult circumstances they find themselves in, for example the situation in Weed. Although Lennie doesn’t initially appear to offer any…