Comparing Crooks and Candy in the novel 'Of Mice and Men'

     Moreover, since  Steinbeck  does not refer to both characters by name he indicates as to how they may be portrayed. As Crooks is firstly described by the racist term ‘nigger’, and Candy as ‘The old swamper’, Steinbeck cleverly uses these terms to enlighten us as to how the workers see them.  Steinbeck isolates both characters, to demonstrate the lack of morality and injustice of society during that period.

    In view of the isolation Crooks and Candy are subjected to, both characters have a dread of ending their lives alone. Which is why the characters have a hunger to be involved with George and Lennie’s  ‘dream’.  This is because the ‘dream’ offers the ability to be free from insecurities they suffer due to their lack of power, and the discrimination they face every day.

     Since Steinbeck cleverly conveys both characters lack of power he shows the reader the inequalities in society for those  with no money. Candy is weak willed as he allows his dog to be shot. However, when describing the way in which Candy gives in to the workers, Steinbeck  uses  the premodifier ‘hopelessly’  which conveys Candy’s unhappiness at the decision. Candy is supplied with this weak nature by Steinbeck to convey to the reader that due to his old age he has been a victim of society’s injustice for a long period of time. Portraying to the audience that his will has diminished with time because of his obvious deficiency  in power. Whereas Crooks is also a Victim of society because of his colour, however, he is still strong willed. As time has not yet managed to break him down. Also, Crooks has a slight advantage over the other workers, as he is literate due to the books he owns. The adjectives which describe the books such as ‘tattered’ and ‘mauled’ show the reader that Crooks must have read them repeatedly. However, as he has a lack of money the power he will always be desperately seeking power.      

     In conclusion, neither Crooks nor Candy serve a specific role in the novel, however Steinbeck cleverly uses them to convey the savage enditement of society. As the  two characters show, due to their lack of power, the variety of people in society  that are disfranchised . Steinbeck also demonstrates through the characters the inequalities in society for those who have no money.