The Old Dog In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

“I shouldn't oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.” (Steinbeck, p. 61). John steinbeck is the author of Of Mice and Men. In this book, he introduces us to Candy and his dog. Candy and his dog are both on the old age side, and both are becoming more and more less helpful. Steinbeck used the dog to represent Candy and his fear of being old and useless. Steinbeck uses Candy’s old dog to represent Candy himself. His dog is old and gets in the way. When Carlson killed his dog it was like a reminder to Candy that he was getting older and someday he could end up being fired or kicked to the side. “Ain’t nothing left for him. Can’t eat, can’t see, can’t even walk without hurtin.” (Steinbeck p. 47). Candy fears that one day the same thing that happened to his dog will happen to him. He fears that one day the boss will realize that he is older and can’t get as much work done as younger men, and that he will fired. “When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me. But they won’t do nothing like that.” (steinbeck p. 60). Candy fears that when he gets fired that’s it for him. He won’t be able to get no more work in.
Candy’s dog’s death foreshadowed Lennie’s death. “If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head -- right there, why he’d never know what hit him.” (Steinbeck p. 45). Carlson explains here how if he killed Candy’s dog like this, he wouldn’t feel a thing. This is also how George killed Lennie at the end of the book, in the back of the head. “ I shouldn’t oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.” (Steinbeck p. 61). Candy regrets letting someone else kill his dog. George knew that if Curley got his hands on Lennie, he would have a painful death. So instead George gave Lennie a merciful death