Candy

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Candy's Physical Character

Candy is old and weak. This makes it difficult for him to work.

Physical appearance

Candy is an old and physically weak character. In addition to his age, he has lost a hand as a result of an accident with farm machinery: “Tall, stoop shouldered old man.” (Section 2).

Candy's dog

Candy is also described through his dog.
Candy and his dog share many similarities, and Steinbeck uses Candy’s dog as a way of helping the reader to imagine Candy himself: “A drag-footed sheep dog, grey of muzzle and with pale, blind old eyes.” (Section 2).

Weakness

Curley’s wife is quick to point out Candy’s physical weakness, referring to him as “a lousy ol' sheep”. (Curley’s wife, Section 4).

Holding On To a Dream

Candy wants to join George and Lennie on their dream farm.

George and Lennie's farm

When Candy overhears George and Lennie talking about their dream, and realises he could become involved, Candy is described as “grinning with delight” (Section 3).
Having given up hope after the death of his dog, the prospect of living on a farm with George and Lennie seems to give him a new lease of life.

Candy's savings

It is at this point that Candy reveals that, unlike the other men, he has some money saved up which he can contribute to the purchase of the small farm.
This shows that Candy is useful after all: “An' they give me two hunderd an' fifty dollars 'cause I los' my hand. An' I got fifty more saved up right in the bank, right now.” (Candy, Section 3)

The death of the dream

Candy pins all of his hopes and dreams on being able to purchase the farm, and he is therefore heartbroken at the end of the novel when Lennie ruins it by killing Curley’s wife: “Old Candy lay down in the hay and covered his eyes with his arm.” (Section 5)

Candy's Loneliness

After Carlson shoots Candy's dog, we see that Candy is desperate for companionship. This shows his fear of loneliness,

Candy's affection for his dog

Candy clearly loves his dog very much and relies on it for companionship: “I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup.” (Candy, Section 3).
When he is eventually persuaded to allow Carlson to kill the dog, Candy expresses regret that he did not kill it himself: "I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.” (Candy, Section 3).

Fear of loneliness

Like all of the men on the ranch, Candy fears loneliness. With his dog gone, Candy is left with nobody.
Perhaps this is why he attaches so much hope to George and Lennie’s dream.

1Context & Overview

1.1Context & Overview

1.1.1The Great Depression

1.1.2Racism

1.1.3The American Dream

1.1.4Of Mice & Men

1.2John Steinbeck

1.2.1John Steinbeck's Life

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Overview

2Plot

2.1Section 1 - Analysis

2.1.1Section 1 - Plot

2.1.2Section 1 - Overview

2.2Section 2 - Analysis

2.2.1Section 2 - Plot

2.2.2Section 2 - Overview

2.3Section 3 - Analysis

2.3.1Section 3 - Plot

2.3.2Section 3 - Overview

2.3.3End of Topic Test - Sections 1-3

2.4Section 4 - Analysis

2.4.1Section 4 - Plot

2.4.2Section 4 - Overview

2.5Section 5 - Analysis

2.5.1Section 5 - Plot

2.5.2Section 5 - Overview

2.6Section 6 - Analysis

2.6.1Section 6 - Plot

2.6.2Section 6 - Overview

2.6.3End of Topic Test - Sections 4-6

3Key Characters

3.1Main Characters

3.1.1George

3.1.2Lennie - Strength

3.1.3Lennie - Innocence & Dependence

3.1.4Slim

3.1.5Curley

3.1.6Curley's Wife - Flirtatious

3.1.7Curley's Wife - Lonely & Heartbroken

3.1.8Crooks

3.1.9Candy

3.1.10End of Topic Test - George & Lennie

3.1.11End of Topic Test - Slim, Curley & Curley's Wife

3.2Minor Characters

3.2.1Minor Characters

3.2.2End of Topic Test - Crooks, Candy & Others

4Themes

4.1Key Themes

4.1.1Hopes, Dreams & Reality

4.1.2Racial Prejudice

4.1.3Loneliness & Companionship

4.1.4The Weak & Strong

4.1.5Women

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes

5Authorial Method

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Dialogue

5.1.2Imagery

5.1.3Light

5.1.4Sound

5.1.5Symbolism

5.1.6Structure

5.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

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