The Significance of the Killing of Candy's Dog in Of Mice and Men
Why is the killing of Candy’s dog a significant incident in the novel?
As Carlson first initiates shooting Candy’s dog, Candy is described to be extremely uneasy and tries to avoid the situation, “I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup.” Candy has been in the dogs company for so long and this animal has been the only true companion that Candy has ever had. The friendship between the two could be viewed as unusual as most of the ranch workers would not think of an animal as a companion but merely as a necessity. When it has gone past its usage it would be killed but Candy loves his dog and tries to protect it from the other men. Candy and his dog have a co-dependent relationship, they are both old and vulnerable which in some ways is similar to the relationship of George and Lennie. Candy's dog is to Candy is as Lennie is to George. Both are considered liabilities on their own. Candy lacks power and authority as the insensitive Carlson is constantly tormenting the old man to allow him to kill the dog. He is adamant and states “This ol’ dog just suffers hisself all the time” but doesn’t understand the loneliness and attachment between the dog and Candy because he has obviously never experienced a relationship in which each value each other’s company. Both Lennie and Candy's dog could not help that their presence would cause people to get angry and end up getting themselves killed.
Carlson appears to be quite selfish and tends to not think before he speaks. He doesn’t take Candy’s feelings into account and this makes us feel sympathy towards him because he has so little power and control that he cannot express his true feelings on killing the dog. Slim agrees with Carlson that the dog is old and says “I wisht somebody’d shoot me if I got old an’ a cripple.” This careless comment was not intended to patronise Candy but we know that it belittled him and made him feel worthless in the way that the dog is viewed. They are both old and feeble, having no
As Carlson first initiates shooting Candy’s dog, Candy is described to be extremely uneasy and tries to avoid the situation, “I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup.” Candy has been in the dogs company for so long and this animal has been the only true companion that Candy has ever had. The friendship between the two could be viewed as unusual as most of the ranch workers would not think of an animal as a companion but merely as a necessity. When it has gone past its usage it would be killed but Candy loves his dog and tries to protect it from the other men. Candy and his dog have a co-dependent relationship, they are both old and vulnerable which in some ways is similar to the relationship of George and Lennie. Candy's dog is to Candy is as Lennie is to George. Both are considered liabilities on their own. Candy lacks power and authority as the insensitive Carlson is constantly tormenting the old man to allow him to kill the dog. He is adamant and states “This ol’ dog just suffers hisself all the time” but doesn’t understand the loneliness and attachment between the dog and Candy because he has obviously never experienced a relationship in which each value each other’s company. Both Lennie and Candy's dog could not help that their presence would cause people to get angry and end up getting themselves killed.
Carlson appears to be quite selfish and tends to not think before he speaks. He doesn’t take Candy’s feelings into account and this makes us feel sympathy towards him because he has so little power and control that he cannot express his true feelings on killing the dog. Slim agrees with Carlson that the dog is old and says “I wisht somebody’d shoot me if I got old an’ a cripple.” This careless comment was not intended to patronise Candy but we know that it belittled him and made him feel worthless in the way that the dog is viewed. They are both old and feeble, having no