How does Steinbeck build up the tension in this scene? What is the relevance to the rest of the novel?

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GCSE ENGLISH COURSEWORK- OF MICE AND MEN

How does Steinbeck build up the tension in this scene? What is the relevance to the rest of the novel? (Pages 69-80)

The extract I am studying is from pages 69 to 80, where the men are trying to convince Candy that his dog should be shot. This is a significant scene, as although the reader does not know yet, it is foreshadowing the death of Lennie at the end of the book. A good way that Steinbeck relieves the tension is by introducing a new character. Candy doesn't want to have the dog shot, but it has to be as it is old and physically crippled. George doesn't want to have Lennie killed, but he kills him to put him out of his misery and he is also useless and mentally crippled. The same gun is used and they are both shot in the same manner, in the back of the head (so they will feel no pain) Lennie is occasionally referred to in animal terms, Lennie is, “as strong as a bull” and George is “like a terrier”.

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However, there is one difference between the scenes – later, after the dog has been shot by Carlson, Candy says “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog”. George remembers this when the time comes to shoot Lennie. The other men would shoot Lennie, but George has to make sure that he gets there first so that he can do it himself.

 The death of Candy’s dog also allows us to believe that the dream can come true.

 They speak about the dream when Candy is still there ...

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