In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the author uses friendship to establish a theme and emphasizes that friendship is essential for all. The main protagonist in the story, George, is friends with a mentally disabled fellow named Lennie. The two characters have a common dream of acquiring a piece of land, yet there are many obstacles that hinder their progress. In the end of the novel, George was obligated to kill Lennie, since Lennie compromised all attempts of accomplishing their dream and was the main complication in George’s life. The author depicts friendship as an essential ingredient for happiness, yet in the absence of friendship, loneliness and despair are present, causing some characters to desperately attempt to obtain it. In the presence of it, one must make sacrifices to maintain and support friendship and in exchange, the people with friendship are always lighthearted. …show more content…
Candy would always take his dog with him while he was swamping because he could not leave his dear companion alone. After a few days, Carlson pleaded Candy to kill his dog, but Candy ““had him since he was a pup. [He] herded sheep with him…he was the best damn sheep dog [he] ever seen. (44).”” Candy tried to give Carlson a valid reason to not murder the dog because Candy could not bear to part with the loyal and amusing friend he had for many years. Even after Carlson convinced Candy to shoot his dog, Candy would remember his friend as the best sheep dog he had ever seen and of the joyful experiences they had. Surrendering one’s most valuable possessions or ideas is important in friendship, since without sacrifice, no friendship would
This profound adjustment hints on the upcoming misfortune, Lennie's termination. The evidence that the death of Candy's dog and of Lennie are indistinguishable reflections for the way his murder was achieved. George shot him in the back of the head just like the old dog was. Candy said to George, "I ought to of shot that dog myself"(p.61) making George decide to kill Lennie himself to protect him from dying scared and panicked by a stranger. Killing him the way that Carlson did, for his sake, it was for the best so Lennie would feel no
The killing of Candy's old dog is genuinely heartbreaking. Carlson constantly berates Candy that his old dog should be “ ‘put... out of his misery’ ” (Steinbeck 47). He does not understand that the old, putrid dog is all Candy has. Carlson selfishly and successfully persuades Candy and the other men why the dog should be killed.
The theme of friendship is explored through this novel by George and Lennie. They both heavily rely on one another. Lennie and George need eachother. Without the other, it would be hard for them to get by. They’re there to keep eachother company and to help when one has a difficulty. They give eachother courage. The others on the ranch don’t have the type of bond Lennie and George have. Which means they aren’t as lucky as them to have someone to be there with them every step of the way.
As Thomas Aquinas states, “There is nothing on this earth more prized than true friendship.” Friends cheer each other up when they are sad and support them when they are happy. In John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men, two migrant workers, George and Lennie, arrive as newcomers on the ranch. Throughout the story, different problems are thrown their way, and their friendship is tested with each one. George shows how true friendship requires sacrifice because friends sacrifice personal freedom, they protect each other, and they sacrifice emotional energy.
“I ought to have shot that dog myself, George, I shouldn't ought to have let no stranger shoot my dog” (Steinbeck 61). In this scene, Candy's dog is shot forcibly by Carlson. This symbolizes the lack of control Carlson had against the weak. Consequently, this relates to the bottom of the society and how power is unevenly distributed failing George and Lennie's dream. In addition, a parallel is seen in Candy’s dog and Lennie as both were killed for the best of everyone and likewise George and Carlson made a decision.
Through Candy, the author portrays that over time people’s choices can influence. In the bunkhouse, when George tells Candy about Lennie and their dream of having an acre of land to call their own, Candy says that he feels uneasy. He regrets not executing his dog by himself. Instead, he let Carlson, a man without the knowledge of intimacy. While mourning his dog’s death, Candy explains to George that “[He] oughtta of shot that dog [himself]...”(Steinbeck 61).
In John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, Carlson, a lonely rancher, demonstrates how loneliness can cause people to become abnormally vile and mean to others. In the book, the author portrays Carlson as an insensitive man, and this is eventually shown when he mercilessly kills his fellow ranch hand, Candy’s, pet dog. The entire time, he knows about the long and close relationship between Candy and his dog, yet he still shoots the dog, whom he dislikes the smell of, without any sign of regret or remorse. Right before he kills the dog, “Carlson [takes] a little leather thong…” while “all the men except Candy [watch] him” (Steinbeck 48), and continues to indicate no concern or empathy for the man he has been interacting with for a long time
Without reservation, Carlson says to Candy, “If you want me to, I’ll put the old devil out of his misery right now and get it over with. Ain’t nothing left for him. Can’t eat, can’t see, can’t even walk without out hurtin’” (47). This, much like the ending, illustrates Steinbeck’s ethical view of suffering being greater than death, but in a less extreme situation. Steinbeck prepares readers mentally by exposing them to a situation in which the motif applies and begins to form an internal conflict within readers. If Candy had not let his dog die, he would indeed have the dog he loved, but his dog would be suffering. Candy later says, “I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog” (61). This exposes readers to what will happen and inherently introduces the idea of remorse for not ending their suffering peacefully. The strategic placement of this quote further pushes the overall lesson Steinbeck is trying to teach and lets it mature in readers’ minds by instilling this concept of killing the person the reader loves themselves (or being with them when they die) so that the last experience the person dying has is with someone they love and their last feeling of life is one of love and
Candy loved his dog so much but he wanted to please everyone else and make them happy, but he didn’t think about himself. He was torn between his dog and everyone else being happy. Eventually, he came to the decision to kill his dog and he regretted it so much. “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George I shouldn’t ought to let no stranger shoot my dog.” Candy was in a very odd space and didn’t know what to do.
Candy stated that he had a dog since it was a pup and the reader became aware of the fact Candy was attached to the old dog. The men went to kill the dog to put it out of its misery and the author wrote, “A shot sounded in the distance. The men looked quickly at the old man... he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent.” (Steinbeck, 49).
He continued, “He’s old, toothless, and has no use and he sinks”. But Candy with a quiet voice said that he had his dog since it was a pup and it was one of the best sheep dog he ever saw. But what Candy said was not enough to convince Carlson to not shoot Candy’s
When Candy brings his old dog into the farmhouse, the immediate response is, ”He ain’t no good to you, and he ain't no good to hisself. Why’n’t you shoot him?” (Steinbeck 49). Through this, Steinbeck demonstrates the utter lack of empathy others have for a weak individual. Carlson puts an offensive odor above the dog’s bond with Candy, ending its life just because he doesn’t like having it around.
Friendship is a necessity for almost all living things. Without friendship, many people or even animals around the world would be very lonely or even grumpy. Friendship is something to look forward to when you’re feeling down. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck shows many examples of friendship through the characters Lennie and George. George and Lennie’s relationship shows us the true meaning of friendship. George and Lennie have a great friendship where they take care of one another, support each other, and show how they make sacrifices for the sake of their friendship.
(Steinbeck 45) These words are uttered soon after Carlson proposes that Candy put down his dog. This lengthy relationship and the parallels between Candy and his dog lead him to become lonely both prior to, and after the dog's death. Both Candy and his dog are old cripples that have started to become obsolete from a working standpoint. While Candy does let Carlson put down his dog, this event severely damages his emotional stability.
Friendship is not vital for human survival. In fact, humans could live perfectly fine without it, but there are times when having someone to talk to is mentally beneficial. Two Ranch hands named George Milton and Lennie Small go to a Ranch in search of money and a better life during the Great Depression in the novel, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. The theme that having a friend during difficult times is greatly beneficial, is shown through the dialogue and interactions between the pairs George and Lennie and George and Slim, a jerkline skinner.