He thinks that Candy’s dog should be shot because it is old and smelly, he persistently argues to shoot the dog, an example is when he says “Well, I can’t stand him in here” and “and he stinks to bear hell. Tell you what. I’ll shoot him for you. Then it won’t be you that does it.” He suggests that Candy could have one of Slim’s puppies instead, but he does not recognise that Candy has an emotional attachment to his dog. After he shoots the dog, he does not apologise to Candy and he even cleans his gun in full view of everyone, this shows that he is an insensitive character.
Though the pet was once a great sheepherder, it was put out to pasture once it stopped being productive. Candy realizes that his fate is to be put on the roadside as soon as he’s no longer useful; on the ranch, he won’t be treated any differently than his dog. Worse than the dog parallel, though, is that Candy (unlike his dog) is emotionally broken by this whole affair. He can’t bring himself to shoot his pet himself, and we suspect this is going to be the same fear and reticence that keep him from making anything more of his life. Candy can’t stand up for his pet because Candy can’t stand up for himself.
Unmistakable through juror 10’s hostile and aggressive tone displayed, he is led to believe that not only is the boy from a ‘low social economic’ background but “…he’s type…they are- wild animals… they’re going to breed us out of existence.” His prejudice opinions constantly blind him from declaring ‘reasonable doubt’ despite current mishaps presented in the evidence. He continued to manipulate the facts, data and statistics in order to retain his masculinity until proven wrong. Juror 10 did not see eye to eye with any other juror or character and announced that it was a “waste of time.” Furthermore juror 10 continued to vote ‘guilty’ in his ambiguous attempt to send the boy off to an electric chair, helped prove Reginald Rose’s perceptions of letting prejudice and stereotypical thoughts cloud the mind of seeing the truth. Unlike Juror 10, juror 3’s reasons and logic were question due to his previous feud with his ashamed history with his son. Personal vendettas presented in juror 3 prevent him from having ‘reasonable doubt’.
In comparison, Slim was more thoughtful and wanted the dog dead for its own good because of its poor health: “He ain't no good to you, Candy. An' he ain't no good to himself. Why'n't you shoot him, Candy?” At the end of the novel when Lennie must die, similarly, Carlson is only interested in killing the weak (Lennie), so he says, “I’ll get my luger” not thinking about anyone else. The scene that includes the killing of the old dog foreshadows the death of Lennie too; one clue is that the dog is shot in the back of the head completely unaware and with no pain with the luger. Towards the end of the novel, Lennie is also secretly shot in the same place with the same weapon by George out of mercy so his friend doesn’t experience a cruel painful death.
CANDY (OLD AND INFIRM) “lousy ol’ sheep” …Carlson’s attitude towards his dog (A70,P48): ‘I don’t know nothing that stinks as bad as an old dog. You gotta get himout…he ain’t no good to himself. Why’n’t you shoot him, Candy?’ …Candy’s words about his future (A88, P66): ‘You seen what they done to my dog tonight?…When they can me here…I won’t have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no more jobs.’ He believes he will share the same fate as his dog eventually, because he is old he is seen as 2useless2. In the novel old age is associated with lack of ability, even in modern times, we still believe old people to lack vital capabilities. However, there are some old people who are still fit and capable of working.
Of Mice and Men The title “Of Mice and Men” is appropriate for this book because in the poem it says “And leave us naught but grief and pain”, and this book will bring you grief and pain at the end. Lennie was a big , not bright fellow. He loved to play with small animals such as mice and puppies etc. George, Lennie’s guider, didn’t like or want Lennie to play with mice cause he know he would kill him with his big hands and try to hide them while they’re dead in his pocket. George had to always look after Lennie because he was always getting into some sort of trouble with things.
When you first meet candy in the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck, you see Candy with his beloved dog. Raising this dog from a pup, Candy felt a very strong bond with his companion, even though the dog could not speak, sometimes words don’t need to be said to show an un-dividing love. Candy was very proud of his dog, boasting things such as “You wouldn’t think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen.” (Page 47) But, Carlson insisted on putting the dog out of its misery as he was very old, could not eat solids, could not see and it was obvious that it hurt him to move and eventually Candy gave in. Candy didn’t want to let go of his companion because his dog kept him company and without it he would be lonely, and this was an obvious fear of his, which Candy showed by his reluctance to give his dog to Carlson. The reason for Carlson’s eagerness to get rid of the dog was because he didn’t share the special bond between Curly and his dog.
Candy represents what happens to everyone who gets old in American society: They are let go, canned, and thrown out of their jobs were they expected to look after themselves. Candy shows this by presenting his greatest fear as that once he is no longer able to help with the cleaning he will be ‘disposed of.’ Just like his old dog, he has lived beyond his usefulness. Carson makes clear when he insists that Candy let him put the dog out of its misery. Candy’s dog serves as a harsh reminder of the fate that awaits anyone who outlives his usefulness. Though the pet was once a great sheepdog, it was put out to pasture once it stopped being productive.
He hates big guys.” “Well, I think Curley‟s married…a tart.” “Me an‟ Lennie‟s gonna roll up a stake.” “She‟s a jail bait all set on the trigger.” “We could live offa the fatta the lan‟.” “S‟pose I went in with you guys.” “I‟ll show ya who‟s yella.” “The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line.” “They play cards in there, but I can‟t play because I‟m black.” “Books ain‟t no good. A guy needs somebody.” “Well, you keep your place then, Nigger.” “Ain‟t I got a right to talk to nobody?” “I don‟t like Curley. He ain‟t a nice fella.” “Coulda been in the movies, an‟ had nice clothes.” “And her body flopped like a fish.” “I think I knowed we‟d never do her.” “Take off your hat, Lennie.” “Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin‟ them two guys?” 8 „Of Mice and Men‟ exam questions Higher1. What do you consider to be the role of Curley, and the role of Curley‟s wife, in this book? 2.
Lennie was very isolated also from the ranch workers because he wasn't normal and acted very childish, this mustn't of been nice for Lennie and that is how the ranch is unpleasent for him. Carlson made Candy's life on the ranch very hard because he depised Candy's smelly old dog, in the book Carlson kills the dog because it was old and it stank but he never cared about how Candy felt about the dog he just cared about himself. Carlson killed the dog eventhough he knew how much Candy loved it, when Carlson suggested killing the dog “Candy looked for help from face to face” but nobody helped him. The reason why Candy couldn't stop Carlson from killing his dog was because he was a very brittle old man and was mainly over powered by people stronger than him. This event was very unpleasent for Candy.