We all see our own shortcomings and feel that we must work harder in order to be accepted in today’s society. This helps us to easily empathize with many characters and their longing to be equal with others. Throughout John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” Candy is shown to be a man that is easily swayed by the opinions of a crowd and wants to be recognized as useful by others. In chapter three, George and Lennie begin plotting buying their own land. Candy overhears them and jumps in. “He leaned forward eagerly. ‘S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and howth garden some. How’d that be?’” (Steinbeck, pg 59). Candy is immediately willing to give all that he has to help out Lennie and George in buying their ranch. He also has a pretty serious physical handicap, missing one hand and because of this he feels that he must offer more. Rather than just “wanting a stake in their new land” he wants to be included and make a contribution to their plot. It is very easy to relate emotionally to Candy. He is giving up all he has in order to get a chance to do something big and almost …show more content…
Because of this he decides to make his offer even better. He goes on to say, “‘I’d make a will an’ leave my share to you guys in case I kick off… ‘“ (Steinbeck, pg 59). You can hear the determination in Candy’s voice, to be acknowledged as someone useful and helpful. He wants to be important, with or without his physical disabilities. His characteristics are very common to us as we'll which makes it very easy to sympathize with him. We often feel that we must offer up a lot at the chance of having or doing something big, we will agree to everything that someone needs in order to fit in, even when those people are not making a conscious effort to pressure
In the book, Candy’s right hand is amputated. Symbolically, hands mean the ability to do work. Especially in Candy’s case, who is most likely right-handed. Logically, if Candy is able to work, he will be able to save enough money to retire. However, his lack of a hand is a worry because if he cannot do work, he will not make enough money to be able to live the American Dream. Candy explained to George what his injury meant for working on the farm, saying, “‘I ain’t much good with on’y one hand’”(Steinbeck 58). This lets George, someone who does not fully understand Candy’s job, know that previously his tasks were different. Without a job, there is no way Candy can live the American Dream.
Candy’s dog is very precious to him, not only because he had been with him ever since he was a pup but also because he could see himself in the dogs place after a very short period of time. He was getting old and would be of no use soon. Just like the dog, everyone would be eager to get rid of him. He had lost his hand at the ranch. He is disabled, both, physically and mentally.
John Steinbeck, the author of the novel Of Mice and Men uses many stylistic devices and description in chapter one to give the reader a deeper understanding of what may occur throughout the novel. Firstly, the name of the city the two protagonists, Lennie and George, are heading to is called “Soledad,” which means loneliness in Spanish; this is symbolism and foreshadowing because it can mean that as they get closer to the city, their relationship as friends may deteriorate and they may end up alone towards the end. Furthermore, this could also mean that there can be major problems in further chapters because of Lennie’s unpredictable behaviour due to his mental disabilities. In relation to Robert Burns’s poem, “To a Mouse,” the author may be
The character Candy could be considered lonely after the death of his dog. Before that he seems relatively happy and, in fact, is quite gregarious in chapter two when George and Lennie first enter the bunkhouse of the ranch. He goes on about the other characters and describes the Boss, Slim, Crooks, Curley and Curley's wife. He even gossips with George, telling the story about the glove on Curley's left hand which is full of vaseline so he can keep "that hand soft for his wife."It is not until chapter three that Candy's life turns lonely. Carlson, a laborer on the ranch, believes that Candy's dog is too old and decrepit. He suggests that Candy shoot it to put it out of its misery. Candy can't do it and, because Slim gives Carlson the approval, the man takes Candy's dog and kills it.
The theme that John Steinbeck amits from the novel Of Mice and Men is not everyone’s american dream can come true because one wants it to. This alludes to a famous poem by Robert Burns called “To a Mouse”. The theme of this poem is the greatest schemes of mice and men often go astray. Meaning that things do not always go as one plans it to. The novel is set in the Great Depression (1929-1939) in Southern California (near Soledad). Characters in the novel such as George and Crooks have obstacles that hold them back from achieving their own american dreams. George is held back from his by having to care of Lennie, who cannot take care of himself. Crooks is held back from his american dream because of his skin color.
Candy shows great spirit throughout the book and really shows off the good aspects of the American Dream. It is only until the end of the book until the plan to go away starts to be questioned. He starts asking questions like ”You an’ me can get that little place cant we, George?”(Steinbeck,94) This denial was once again recognized by Kevin Attell, who said “George and Lennie’s dream is specifically necessitated by and responds to the limitations played on their lives. ”(Attell)
When asked about John Steinbeck’s career, people often refer to Steinbeck as a playwright, journalist, and a well-known novelist. The book Of Mice and Men is a popular novel by John Steinbeck and a required read for most high school students. Most of Steinbeck 's novels have a central theme focusing on the relationship between man and his environment. The American dream for George and Lennie, two of the main characters in Of Mice and Men, is to have a place of their own, to be respected, and to work hard for everything they earn and deserve. In Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, the land and a hope of a better life becomes the talisman of an American dream for Lennie and George that is left unfulfilled.
Candy dealt with his loneliness by being friendly with George and Lennie and becoming a partner in obtaining the small ranch that was George and Lennie’s dream. Candy kind of an outcast because of his age difference from other ranch hands. “I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some”(Candy 319). Candy attempts to be useful in someone else life. He heard that George and Lennie have this dream to “live off the fat of the land” as soon as they get enough money. Candy wanted to join, he offered as much as he can. He wanted to join the dream but not only did he want to join, he wanted to join the friendship of George and Lennie. “Maybe I can give you guys money”(Candy 325). Candy offered his money that he gets from the government for his disability. An exchange for money Candy gets a friendship out of it. So he is paying George and Lennie to be friends with him really. I think money will never buy a real friendship. Not only was Candy lonely and miserable trying to deal with loneliness, but so was Crooks...
There is only one way an author can get their readers to cry, laugh, and love or just enjoy their master pieces. That one way is through the uses of literary devices such as similes, metaphors and personification. These are the small things that brings the author`s thoughts and ideas alive. The author`s ability to use literary devices through the book helps in direct characterization and lets readers get a better understanding of Lennie and George, the two main characters Of Mice and Men. It also helps in keeping readers thinking on their feet and constantly questioning George and Lennie`s next move while in Salinas, California. John Steinbeck, in his novel Of Mice and Men, makes use of similes and foreshadowing to keep readers in touch with the characters and at the edge of their seats throughout the story.
This is the piece of speech, when Candy is trying to persuade George to let him in on the ranch their going to get. The language Steinbeck uses here, makes Candy seem overly eager to get in with George and Lennie. Mainly because, he’s dog dies so now he doesn’t have anybody, and he feels he might get canned. So as soon as he hears the opportunity to break away from being lonely, he jumps at it. I feel extremely sorry for Candy because he has nobody to turn to. He really does try to find friendship in people, but sometimes tries to hard.
George, before the prospect of Candy’s money, already had the ambition needed to one day seek out and acquire his own land, yet it is after hearing how much Candy actually has that he begins really see his plan falling into place. He expresses this when he exclaims dreamily about convincing the owners of the land he wants to sell it to him: “’Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her.’ His eyes were full of wonder. ‘I bet we could swing her,’ he repeated softly” (Steinbeck 67). Candy also has the specific tools – his money – that is needed when pursuing an operation that requires a large income. Lennie, however, realistically never had the tools needed to achieve his dream. His dream was dependent on George, and when he does the unthinkable and murders Curley’s Wife, he immediately assumes that his dream has been demolished because of George’s previous threats and taunts. Lennie envisions a giant rabbit appearing before him and berating him, saying: “’Christ knows George done ever’thing he could to jack you outta the sewer, but it don’t do no good. If you think George is gonna let you tend rabbits, you’re even crazier than usual. He ain’t’” (Steinbeck 115). It’s Lennie’s mental disability and dependency on others that alludes that he will never achieve his
John Steinbeck was inspired by the line "The best schemes o' mice an' men [often go awry]" by Robert Burns in one of his poems. This line refers to ambitions that went off track during the process. There are multiple examples in the novel that refers to the line in the poem, that inspired John Steinbeck. Those examples are Curley's boxing career coming to an end, Curley's wife not becoming a actress, and Lennie's plans of tending the rabbits, but messed everything up.
For example, the boss is suspicious of George and doesn't believe in friendships: "What stake you got in this guy? You takin' his pay away from him?"(22). This portrays that the boss has never seen anyone have this strong of a friendship, and only assumes that George is using Lennie for his money. Also, Carlson reveals the cruelty of human nature by the way he treats Candy. Candy is an old and lonely man who has no company except his dog.
...deal with them that together, they could “get a big stake” (63) in order to buy a “little place an’ live on the fatta the lan’” (63). Candy says he would “cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some” (67). However, after Lennie accidently kills Curley’s wife, Candy in “his greatest fear” (107) asks George if they could still “get that little place” (107). But he knew it was no, and right at that moment his American Dream comes to an end. Therefore if Candy would be all by him following his American Dream without depending on George and Lennie, he would have been successful.
We got the money right now” (Steinbeck 75-76). “Candy spoke his greatest fear. Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew” (Steinbeck 94). Subsequently hearing George apprise Lennie about getting a piece of land together, Candy inquired George about the cost of the place, then soliciting him to become a part of their group.