Explore the Character Candy in "Of Mice and Men".

Steinbeck uses the character Candy to illustrate the significance of friendship in 1930s America. Like many ranch workers in the great depression ,candy had very few possessions. But the one rare thing that candy has is a friendship, with his dog. Steinbeck uses this as a vehicle to portray the absence of friendship in this era where everyman was for themselves as candy fails to find a true companionship with any of the many ranch workers, but instead confides in his dog.

The character candy and his dog represent the unacceptance of society in the era of 1930s America. Candy’s disability, ‘aint no good with only one hand’ is similarly shared with his dog, ‘a drag-footed sheep dog, grey of muzzle and with white pale eyes.’ Their disabilities result into their unaceptance of their being in society. Candy’s dog is killed and candy realises he is no longer of any use and will soon get the sack, ‘when they cann me, I wist someone shoot me, I won’t have no place to go.’ This idea of survival of the fittest represents the viscous cycle of 1930s America where people with disabilities or were old of age were unaccepted and had very few rights.

The significance of candy is illustrated through the death of his dog which represents the end of candy’s only true long term relationship  and signifies the ruthless era of 1930s America. Additionally, the relationship of candy and his dog is similar to George and Lennies relationship. The dog represents nature, similarly to Lennie, and the dogs master, candy, is similar to the relationship George shares with Lennie, ‘slowly like a terries who doesn’t want to give a ball back to his master.’ Here Steinbeck uses a simile which describes George and lennies similar relationship . The death of the dog acts as a parallel and is significant as it foreshadows the death of Lennie who similarly to the dog has a disability and stands no chance in the vicious circle of 1930s America.

Steinbeck uses cadys character to portray the distinct social hierarchy present in 1930s America . In section 4, the audience sees the conversation between curleys wife, candy and crooks, all of whom are unaccepted in society, ether due to race, sex, or disability. Candy is described as, ‘master of the situation’ which demonstrates his superior status in comparison to a woman and coloured man.  However, candy soon comes to his senses and realises he has no status in the bigger picture of society, ‘nobody’d listen to us’ Steinbeck uses this to demonstrate the brutality of 1930s American social hierarchy that many common ranch workers had no chance of surviving in.

The character of candy is significant because he is used to portray the theme of dreams. He is easily intrigued by the dream and instantaneously offers his money, ‘spose i went with you guys, thats 350 bucks.’ This demonstrates how dreams were contagious in 1930s America as dreams were the only things that ranch workers could hold on to and look forward to. This is a pivitol theme and is portrayed throughout the novel and perhaps shows Steinbeck’s views on dreams and their necessity in a time of loneliness and depression as he had 1st hand experience of the ranch workers lives.

Throughout the novel, Steinbeck uses candy and his dog to portray a poignant message about friendship and the unaceptance of old and disabled people in society. He effectively uses candy as a vehicle to illustrate the brutality of the ranch workers lives and the difficulty they faced in everyday life.