'Of Mice & Men' - Character Analysis

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c/w                                                                            21 September 2003

‘Of Mice & Men’ – Character Analysis

        During chapter two of the novel ‘Of Mice and Men,’ we are introduced to another six different characters as George and Lennie begin work on a farm. These characters are the boss, his son, Curley and Curley’s wife, and the other itinerants Candy, Slim and Carlson.

        

        The first of these characters that we meet is Candy. Candy Is introduced as an old man with a physical disability. “Out of the sleeve came a round stick-like wrist, but no hand.” His physical description shows that he cannot work on a farm, and we find out later that he has been demoted to a cleaner. Candy’s behaviour and the way he speaks links to each other. At first he seems a bit hostile towards George and Lennie as he doesn’t really welcome them. He then starts to talk to them properly and tells them about the ranch. Candy doesn’t really have any moral values. When he talks about the way the black stable buck is beaten up by the boss, instead of expressing concern he laughs and jokes about it. This shows that he is very biased. George and Lennie and Candy get on right from the start, but George is very angry after the interview when Candy eavesdrops on a conversation between George and Lennie. Candy is a very lonely man with no family. The only thing of significance to him is his dog, who is very much in parallel to him. The dog is very old and half-blind. Both are disabled and near the end of their working life.  

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        We learn a few things about the boss when Candy is telling George and Lennie about him. The first thing that Candy says about the boss is that he was very angry about them being late. “Where’s the hell them new men?” He always takes all of his anger out on the “nigger”, showing that he is racist. The stable buck, Crooks, even has a crooked back which he got from being kicked by a horse. Despite all of this anger, Candy goes on say how nice the boss is and about the Christmas where he bought a gallon ...

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