Symbolism is very apparent in this extract; Steinbeck uses it to present the unfortunate circumstances that Candy is in and to foreshadow the imminent outcome, therefore creating tension and suspense. “Gotta bad gut ache,” even though we know that Candy’s pain is due to what he has eaten, it is representative of a gut feeling that something bad is about to happen.
The entrance of Whit is also symbolic “Candy looked for help…it was quite dark outside now. A young labouring man came in.” The darkness signifies that there is no hope for Candy now, he is looking for help but there is no-one willing the help him. It represents the end of the dog’s life and the end of Candy’s companionship. We instantly know that the dog will die as death and hopelessness have been denoted, we are just waiting for it to happen, creating suspense. However, the entrance of Whit provides Candy with a false hope; Whit could distract from the topic of the dog and make everyone forget. During this entire part it is very tense for both Candy and the reader, Candy is hoping in desperation that Carlson will be sidetracked and let the dog live on for another day and the reader awaits in suspension to find out what happens.
The symbolism of darkness is used again “He led the dog out into the darkness.” Carlson has finally got his way and Candy’s efforts proved to be in vain, the dog is being led out to its death, and there is no hope for it now.
Steinbeck’s use of both verbs and adverbs help to suspend the tension within this extract ‘He pointed with his toe.’ Carlson is being very blunt about his plans to shoot the dog, showing very little consideration to the thoughts and feelings of Candy. By pointing to the dog with his foot he is showing an apparent lack of empathy for the animal, he is very selfish and only wants rid of the dog because of his odour. I personally am angered by Carlson’s actions and want Candy to defend himself and the dog, thus creating tension and suspense as we wait to see if Candy will react.
After he has reluctantly agreed to let Carlson kill the dog we are worried for Candy as we know how much it meant to him. ‘Candy lay rigidly on his bed’ he is unable to move due to shock and pain and although he doesn’t want to show this through obvious emotion due to his pride, we know how isolated he feels. ‘He rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent’ again, Candy does not want to show his feelings, by rolling over he is trying to block out the rest of the people along with the very tense atmosphere of the room. By rolling slowly he is showing how vulnerable he is right now, he is a defenceless old man who has just has his only companion taken cruelly away from him. His silence illustrates his new found grief and complete loneliness. These slow, quiet movements that block out the rest of the room make the characters feel very awkward, the tension is suspended and the mood of the room very uncomfortable, no-one wants to be the first to break the silence and distract Candy from his thoughts.
Descriptions of sounds are also used by Steinbeck to intensify the suspense felt in the room in this extract. ‘There came a little gnawing sound’ the room is so quiet and tense that mice can be heard but also the men leap upon this chance for a distraction from Candy’s pain.
‘Carlson’s footsteps died away.’ As long as the characters (especially Candy) could still hear Carlson walking they knew that the dog was not yet dead. As a reader, the end of his footsteps left me knowing that the dog only had a matter of seconds left to live, forming suspense as we wait for his death. ‘A shot sounded in the distance’ This is a turning point in the extract, throughout the pages we have been waiting tensely for the death of the dog and at this point we are no longer hoping that Carlson will change his mind because we know it is too late. All the tension that has been suspended is released although the unease felt in the room deepens as the characters sympathise with Candy but do not know how to appease the situation.
Throughout this extract Steinbeck has suspended the tension by use of pauses & silences, the stalling of the narrative, symbolism, verbs & adverbs and descriptions of sounds. He has provided Candy with small amounts of false hope but these proved futile. I personally think that the tension and suspense was very apparent and as I read I empathised with Candy and was anxious about his dog.
