The Importance Of Candy's Dog In Of Mice And Men

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In the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ John Steinbeck focuses on protagonists, George and Lennie and their time working on a ranch. It is set around the 1930s in America, life was hard at this time. America had suffered the Wall Street Crash and people lived in isolation. This essay will be examining the importance of Candy’s dog being shot in the novel. Candy’s dog symbolises love and friendship, this is because most people lived in solitude. However, Candy has had his dog since it was a puppy: this shows love and the caring of one another. Dogs are a symbolism for loyalty because they love their owner and when Candy's died it ends hope for a loving environment where people care about each other. Furthermore, it shows a deeper bond between Candy and his dog, because it was unusual for people to keep …show more content…

Slim, who is viewed in a godlike manner is looked to for support by Candy, although he doesn’t stop the situation as he knows though it might be hard it is morally correct. He ‘gazed at him for a moment and then looked down.’ Slim sympathises and looks down perhaps in guilt. George stays out of the situation and tries to lighten the mood by offering a game of cards. On the other hand, Carlson sees the shooting of the dog as entertainment and enthusiastically takes it, without regard to the emotions of Candy. This incident foreshadows that useless items are disposed of and replaced, this foreshadows that this could happen to the men if they become too old for use of disabled. The situation also foreshadows Lennie receiving his new puppy, this signifies that older and less able objects are traded for those that are new and more efficient. Steinbeck uses the situation to create tension between the men. This is shown because of the repetition of ‘silence,’ which creates tension and makes the audience feel uneasy. It also gives the impression that the men are speechless and lets the audience expect an

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