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Discrimination in the book of mice and men
Is all about inequality and discrimination
Literary analysis of mice and men
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Jessica Buckley
Lutrell
English
31 January 2018
Dreams Cease To Exist Past the Sound of A Gunshot
Steinbeck’s novella, “Of Mice and Men,” exhibits the different types of discrimination within society during The Great Depression. This novella is centered around two characters, George and Lennie. These men, as well as several other men, have the natural desire in life to accomplish the American Dream. However, all of the characters in this novella have his/her dreams crushed due to a certain disability or handicap. There are characters in this book that have lived just to live. The oldest character in this book, Candy, has his dreams shattered when another man in the bunkhouse (Carlson) disposes of Candy’s dog because he thinks he is too
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People throughout time have always wanted to replace the old with the new. This is just how society handles change. Steinbeck includes a scene that Carlson is talking to Candy about how wretched his dog is. Carlson thinks Candy should get rid of his old dog because he is ‘no good’. Carlson says, “Whyn’t you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up?” (36.) As a society, people do not value the things that are older, in this case it is Candy’s dog. People are always wanting the latest and greatest thing. Not cherishing what they have until it's gone, society shows its inadequacy. Steinbeck uses Carlson as a great example to represent how society views the elderly to be, useless. When something ages, people scrutinize it. Older people specifically in this novella get thrown to the side and forgotten about. Replacing the old dog with a new pup just proves that people perceive the elderly as nothing. Candy is often left out of the American Dream and excluded from other people in the bunkhouse, which leads to a lack of companionship. Depression takes over Candy’s …show more content…
Candy feels excited for once when he hears the men talking about moving to a ranch and living their dreams. However, his dreams are quickly shot down when the men don’t include Candy in their dreams. Candy says, “S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hunderd an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. A ain’t much good, but I could and tend the chicken and hoe the garden some.” (59) George responds, “I gotta think about it..” (59) Candy feels overwhelmed with depression at this point because he feels left out and now knows that no one cares about him. There is no hope for a recovery or a need for life anymore. He has lived a life of loneliness and it takes a toll on him. After Candy’s dog is shot and killed, his spirit is killed. The effects of loneliness on Candy cause great pain and suffering. His only hope is to begin a new life on a dream ranch. He desires to achieve his American Dream. He has every right to ache for this desire and deserves respect for what he has been through. The blatant disrespect that occurs throughout this novella creates an intense need to acquire respect. Respect is the most important thing that Candy deserves. First, his dog is taken away against his better judgement. The lack of reverence in Candy’s life takes a toll on him. Although every character in this novella is disrespected in some form, Candy
In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Steinbeck illustrates the dreams of George,Lennie, and other characters and how these dreams are unrealistic and unattainable .Their dreams were the reason that these characters kept moving forward but because of difficult circumstances the dreams of George,Lennie,Candy and Curley's wife are shattered , they knew that their dream was never really attainable but they still had hope but because they were so greatly impacted by Lennies actions their dreams are never accomplished.
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.
In the book it reads “Got no teeth, damn near blind, can’t eat. Candy feeds him milk. He can’t chew nothing else” (Steinbeck 36). This evidence supports my argument because it shows Candy’s dog being in pain. Candy’s dog deserves to be put out of his misery because of his suffering. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, it reads “And at his heels there walked a drag footed sheep dog, gray of muzzle with pale, old eyes. The dog stuggled lamely to the side of the room and lay down, grunting softly to himself and licking his grizzled, moth eaten coat” (Steinbeck 24). This shows the dog has been in agony and is very old with his suffering self. This evidence supports my argument because Candy’s dog needs help getting around how Lennie needs help when he gets in trouble. By shooting Candy’s dog, Carlson offers mercy to his dog. Mercy killing can also happen in real life
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.
“You seen what they did to my dog tonight? They say he wasn’t good to himself, nor anyone else. When they can me here I wish somebody’d shoot me - Candy”. This quote shows how Candy was so lonely that he would rather want someone to kill himself instead of his dog because without his dog, he is now even more lonely. He is more lonelier than when he was before because before he was just old and he had his dog with him....
Also, his thinking pattern is rather awkward or odd for someone of his age because what keeps him concentrated is this depiction of a farm where they will “tend the rabbits.build up a fire in the stove” (Steinbeck 14) which makes him mentally ill. When something is said to him about animals, he would instantly recognise this desire, but for everything else, he is pretty much a useless man but other people who were willing to listen like Slim and Crooks who got to know him understood that he is if anything vulnerable which is what many characters were even George.
As the novel continues on we are introduced to another pair whose relationship is just as strong as George and Lennie’s, the two being Candy and his old pup. Candy and his pup have been together for years on end and have formed a indescribable love for one another. However, as the years have rolled past, age has caught up with the Candy’s best friend causing many to suggest euthanasia. Regretfully, Candy agreed, afterwards uttering, “I ought to of shot that dog myself George. I shouldn’t ought to let no stranger shoot my dog” (Steinbeck 61) Often with age, humans and animals alike become impaired and quite sentinel. In the case of Candy’s pup, his age had progressed to the point where life was too difficult and pain was more relevant than pleasure. It would only be fair for Candy to place his feet where paws lay and imagine if he could go out peacefully rather than through heavy slow breathing every day. Although Candy recognized this and allowed this procedure to be completed who showed he had the best intentions for his pup, he did not take manors into his own hands. Rather than stand shoot his pup out of love, he remained inside and allowed the dog to be killed without emotion, almost as though there was no meaning. Sadly, the past cannot redo itself so Candy is forever regretful of the loss of his canine friend, yet by
In both the film and the book, Candy is often isolated from all the others. Because of an injury to his hand, he can 't work out in the fields, so much of his time is spent alone shuffling around the ranch doing small jobs. His one and only constant companion is his dog. It is a very old dog that he has had since he was a pup. Again, both the book and the film do a good job of showing the affection that the dog and Candy have for each other. However, the book does a much better job of conveying the importance of the dog to Candy after the dog is shot. In the film scene, Carlson broaches the subject of killing Candy 's dog to put him out of his misery. Candy looks anguished but gives in fairly quickly. Once Carlson takes the dog, he lies back on his bed and just waits for the sound of the gunshot. The men resume their card game. (DVD) Although it is obvious Candy is sad about the dog, it does not have the same emotional impact that the book does. In the book, Steinbeck better conveys Candy 's anguish and desperation to save the dog. He tries to put Carlson off by offering different arguments as to why not to shoot the dog. His arguments include that it might hurt the dog, that Carlson doesn 't have a gun, that tomorrow would be a better day and that he doesn 't mind taking care of him (44). He even pleads silently for help. "Candy looked about unhappily"(42). "Candy looked helplessly at him,
As Mark Twain once stated, “The more I know about people, the better I like my dog.” This sentiment is often echoed by general society; people seem to have lost faith in humanity. However, John Steinbeck illustrates his more optimistic opinion about “the perfectibility of man” by suggesting how man can improve. In his novel, Of Mice and Men, two tenants called George and Lennie go through many hardships all while chasing their dream of possessing their own farm. While they work at a farm, they meet an old swamper called Candy who offers to help them achieve their dream; he does so to ensure that he will have a future after he is fired for being too old. On page 60, Candy discusses the recent death of his dog and asks to join in on George and Lennie’s dream. Through this passage, Steinbeck proves that humans have an animalistic tendency of eliminating those who are weaker than them. This is depicted through the details connecting Candy to his dog as well as Candy’s diction when describing his potential future life. Steinbeck’s negative attitude towards man’s predatory nature implies that society needs to improve and prevent such oppressive behavior from occurring.
Candy was an old swamper, and was missing one hand, his dog was just like him, very old and in poor shape. The poor old dog was blind, deaf, had no teeth and everyone complained about it smelling horrible, “we can’t sleep with him stinkin’ around here. (Steinbeck:47) All the farm hands believe that killing the dog was in the favor of the dog’s own good.
Couldn't swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get him.”. in this environment the strong characters attack the weak an example would be when Carlson bullied candy in to killing his dog "I'll put the old devil out of his misery right now," (p.47) and the weak ones attack the weaker, like when crooks picks on Lennie "jus' s'pose he don't come back," (p.72) Lennie is by far the most venerable because of his mental disability, making him easy to manipulate. Candy and his dog reflect George and lennie, George being candy and lennie being the dog, this is because much like the dog lennie depends greatly on George, and just like the dog lennie gets shot in the back of the head with the same gun that was used to kill the
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.
The central element of this novella is its symbolism. This novella has plenty of symbolical forms, such as people, creed, and some of the animals. Candy has several terms of symbolism, for example his disability is a symbol of the migrant workers who are just literally forgotten about, they are forgotten when they are no use to the owners. Candy’s dog is a symbol of a life only for advantage to others Lennie also for shadows this, he is belittled of his mind but enormously commented for his strength. Also he is compelled to lie about the fight he had with Curley, this is a symbol of typical male society in the, “Depression era”.
In Of Mice and Men, it seems an incontrovertible law of nature that dreams should go unfulfilled. From George and Lennie’s ranch to Curley’s wife’s stardom, the characters’ most cherished aspirations repeatedly fail to materialize. However, the fact that they do dream—often long after the possibility of realizing those dreams has vanished—suggests that dreaming serves a purpose in their lives. What the characters ultimately fail to see is that, in Steinbeck’s harsh world, dreams are not only a source of happiness but a source of misery as well.
Steinbeck expresses the theme of loneliness in the character of Candy. Candy is lonely because his is missing half an arm. Candy?s disability separates him from society, an example of Curley being set aside is when everybody else goes to town he is left in the barn with Crooks, Lennie, and Curley?s wife. Candy?s only friendship was with his old, smelly dog. Candy?s dog was a symbol of himself (old, and useless). When Carlson kills Candy?s dog he kills Candy on the inside as well.