The Killing of Candy's Old Dog in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

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The Killing of Candy's Old Dog in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

George is a small man but has strong features and Lennie is a giant

but has a mind of a child. They are the main characters and are two

more migrant workers who travel together from place to place because

of Lennie's stupidity and ability to get attracted to trouble. The

main reason for this is he loves to feel soft things, which leads him

to trouble and eventually to his death. They have a dream of owning

land and settling down, so did millions of other Americans but only a

few succeeded. John Steinbeck tried to draw attention to the social

situation. At the time of 1920's and 1930's there was 12-15 million

out of work, which led to depression. This book was published in 1937

and situated in America. The title Mice and Men came from Robert Burns

poem, which means wrecked by fate. Lennie's death at the end of the

novel and the previous killings of candy's old dog are similar in many

ways.

Candy's old sheep dog is suffering all the time and is stiff with

rheumatism, he has no teeth and isn't any good to himself or anyone

else. Carlson persuades Candy to let him shoot the dog with his lugar

and says he will shoot him at the back of his head so he won't feel it

at all. Whit and Slim tried to change the subject but Carlson wouldn't

be put off and kept on persisting. Candy eventually gave up and

disappointingly agreed. Carlson then put the dog out of his misery.

Afterwards candy felt the guilt of not shooting the dog himself and

told George " I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't

ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog."

Lennie killed Curley's wife acc...

... middle of paper ...

...after he's gone."

Candy didn't shoot his own dog as Carlson shot it "Tell you what. I'll

shoot him for you" but George did kill Lennie "And George raised the

gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back

of Lennie's head…He pulled the trigger."

Candy regretted not killing his dog himself "I ought to of shot that

dog myself, George." George knew he had to protect Lennie from A death

brought about by someone else "I'll kill the big son of a bitch

myself" said Curley.

Candy's dog's death and the killing of Lennie have many similarities

and differences. Both deaths have features that make them alike

however, their differences are also clear. Lennie's death does appear

to be foreshadowed by the killing of Candy's old dog by Carlson's

lugar, giving an insight into what is about to happen.

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