Of Mice and Men- Discussing the Importance of the Death of Candy's Dog in 5 Minutes

A five minute speech discussing the importance of Candy's dog being killed in Of Mice and Men. 

Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal. And Slim gave him none. At last Candy said softly and hopelessly, “Awright—take ‘im.” He did not look down at the dog at all. He lay back on his bunk and crossed his arms behind his head and stared at the ceiling.

From his pocket Carlson took a little leather thong. He stooped over and tied it around the old dog’s neck. All the men except Candy watched him.

“Come boy. Come on, boy,” he said gently. And he said apologetically to Candy, “He won’t even feel it.” Candy did not move nor answer him. He twitched the thong. “Come on, boy.” The old dog got slowly and stiffly to his feet and followed the gently pulling leash.

Slim said, “Carlson.”

“Yeah?”

“You know what to do.”

“What ya mean, Slim?”

“Take a shovel,” said Slim shortly.

“Oh, sure! I get you.” He led the dog out into the darkness.

George followed to the door and shut the door and set the latch gently in its place. Candy lay rigidly on his bed staring at the ceiling.

Slim said loudly, “One of my lead mules got a bad hoof. Got to get some tar on it.” His voice trailed off. It was silent outside. Carlson’s footsteps died away.

The silence came into the room. And the silence lasted.

George chuckled, “I bet Lennie’s right out there in the barn with his pup. He won’t want to come in here no more now he’s got a pup.”

Slim said, “Candy, you can have any one of them pups you want.”

Candy did not answer. The silence fell on the room again. It came out of the night and invaded the room. George said, “Anybody like to play a little euchre?”

“I’ll play out a few with you,” said Whit.

The extract I have chosen from Of Mice and Men is from Chapter 3 in the novel, where Candy’s elderly dog is put down by Carlson. It is one of the most important parts of the novel, because it portrays the essence of death and the role of itinerant workers during the Great Depression, whilst also brushing the aspects of the novel that Steinbeck wanted to portray through actions and circumstances, one of which is death, others are the themes of loneliness, segregation, and ambition. The death of Candy’s dog uses powerful symbolism to fully integrate the state of ranch work and the helplessness of outcasts or valueless people.

The dog itself was described by Candy as his oldest companion, and we can see exactly how long Candy has been working on this ranch. He is crippled, as he has lost a hand, and is as old as his dog. The fear he feels for his dog’s death is parallel to his fear that, when he has fulfilled his purpose and is no long effectual, he too will be disposed of as readily as his dog.

At the beginning of the extract, we see Candy begging to Slim for assurance that he does not need to go through with Carlson’s suggestion. Slim is the figurehead of the group, and is seen to be the leader throughout the novel. He is revered, and almost worshipped; Steinbeck described him as “God like”. It is clear, therefore, why Candy turns to Slim when seeking reassurance. Steinbeck uses simple language, as if to represent the simplicity of Slim’s decision:

Candy looked a long time at Slim to try and find some reversal. And Slim gave him none.

The finality of this sentence is harsh and abrupt. Steinbeck is signifying the finality of the dog’s life, and in return, the finality of the fact that Candy will one day be as ineffectual as his dog. It paints a dark and morose picture, and the atmosphere is cold.

However, despite this, there is no cruelty in the scene. Carlson is very calm and kind to the dog, treating it tenderly because of its decrepit nature. The men treat death seriously. This can be seen by the lines:

“Come on boy,” he said gently. And he said apologetically to Candy, “He won’t even feel it.”

Slim shows his own sensitivity by reminding Carlson to take a shovel, to bury the dog. There is a great respect for death amongst the men. Steinbeck is using this to show that the men still band together, even in times of hardship, and while they grieve for Candy’s loss, they still have kept sight of the greater good and working towards a positive future. In this case, it is more humane to shoot the dog and prevent it from prolonged suffering, than to allow it to continue to live in pain.

The personification of silence occurs frequently throughout the novel. Steinbeck makes the silence appear to be real and tangible by describing it at length. By doing so, the reader gets a glimpse to the ambience the men are feeling, as they wait for Candy’s beloved dog to be killed. It proves to be very effective, and increases tension and anticipation. We are engaged and attentive, as the reality and gravity of the situation begins to become substantial. Lines such as:

The silence came into the room. And the silence lasted.

Are made to make the reader aware of the truth- that the dog is being killed. The men are feeling awkward, and silence is permeating the air. There is silence because nobody quite knows what to say. The silence is made to feel like a sentient being. By doing this, Steinbeck introduces the idea that the silence is overpowering, deafening in its lack of noise, because noise would mean life. He also implies that the silence is unwanted.

The silence fell on the room again. It came out of the night and invaded the room.

The silence is an undesirable addition to the feelings these men are experiencing. By personifying the silence, Steinbeck makes the reader feel uneasy.

This leads on to the idea of foreshadowing. This scene is foreboding as it mirrors what will happen at the end of the novel, when George will have to shoot his oldest friend, Lennie, in the head, to save him from the pain of being captured by Curley. Steinbeck uses the death of the dog to show the reader how murder for the sake of saving somebody is justified, but the hurt and misery is still present. The idea that it is crueller to keep Candy’s dog alive is then reflected in the implication that it would be crueller of George to let Lennie live but be handed over to Curley.

This extract is vitally important in showing the reader exactly why George shot Lennie, as he realises it is kinder and more loving, just as Candy allowed his dog to be put down. It is important for showing us how the discrimination against old or crippled men like Candy was a recurring theme throughout the novel, and is seen with the characters Crooks and Curley’s wife, as well as Lennie. It is important for showing us Steinbeck’s personification of the silence, and what he was trying to symbolise. The extract shows us the importance of companionship, which is another theme, and also of the hierarchy of the workers, where Slim is the elected leader, while Candy resides with the outcasts.

To conclude, this extract is the most significant in the novel, as it is vital to Steinbeck’s storytelling and symbolic narration of human nature during adversity in regards to death, friendship and sacrifices.