Candy Flashcards
What are the 5 qualities of Candy?
Weak Disposable Parallels George and Lennie with him and his dog Prejudiced Dreamer
What 5 quotes demonstrate Candy being weak? State them and what they mean.
‘stoop-shouldered old man’ - physically weight down by relentless work and poor living conditions
‘shuffled’ - moves around Boss like a frightened animal, indicating subservience: man at top next to man at bottom of hierarchy
‘stick-like wrist, but no hand’ - hands are symbols of power and his use on the ranch is limited
‘Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal’ - no say in fate of his dog
‘lousy ol’ sheep’ - insult mirrors way Candy is viewed on the ranch: age makes him useless
What is the context behind Candy being weak?
Elderly hit heard during Great Depression - lifesaving disappeared after Wall St Crash, no elderly relief before 1935
Elderly expected to be taken care by family - many young ones had little to offer, those without had to support themselves
Tough competition for jobs - high unemployment rate - tougher for disabled people - unemployment rate of 80%
What 4 quotes demonstrate Candy being disposable? State them and what they mean.
‘I ain’t much good’ - aware of the comparatively few skills he has to offer, has affected his self-regard
‘God he was a good sheep dog’ - holds onto memories of how skillful he was, past accomplishments are useless in capitalistic world: worth is determined by productivity
‘Why’n’t you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up?’ - analogy for how Candy will be replaced by a younger worker, all workers are vulnerable
‘just as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk houses they’ll put me on the county’ - aware of his vulnerable position in the ranch and how easily he’ll be disposed of once he can’t provide service
What is the context behind Candy being disposable?
Industrial capitalism support Social Darwinism - belief in ‘survival of the fittest’, people are powerful as they are innately better
Belief left no room for compassion for likes of Candy - struggles considered natural order of things
What 2 quotes draw parallels between Candy and his dog and George and Lennie? State them and what they mean.
‘at his heels there walked a dragfooted sheepdog’ - dependence of dog mirrors Lennie’s dependence on George, both relationships are symbiotic (dog/Lennie gains protection, George/Candy gain companionship),
Sets them apart from other characters who are solitary
‘I ought to of shot him myself. I ought to not let no stranger shoot my dog’ - foreshadows and justifies Lennie’s death, suggests it was inevitable
What is the context behind parallels being drawn between Candy and his dog and George and Lennie?
High demand for work amongst migrant workers created a competitive and hostile environment
Workers’ transient lifestyle made it impossible to form long-term friendships or have a family
What 2 quotes demonstrate Candy being prejudiced? State them and what they mean.
‘tart’, ‘you goddamn tramp’ - misogynistic attitude towards Curley’s wife highlights unequal treatment of women at the time, emotionless reaction normalises violence against women
‘nice fella, n*****’ - juxtaposing descriptions Candy gives Crooks reveal depth of entrenchment of racism in 1930s society
What is the context behind Candy being prejudiced?
Candy’s unfounded anger towards Curley’s Wife representative of a patriarchal world where men are fixated on dominating women
Racism was an everyday part of life in the Southern States - accepted and encouraged
Attitudes towards blacks unchanged despite slaves gaining freedom 50 years prior to novels’ setting
What 2 quotes demonstrate that Candy is a dreamer? State them and what they mean.
‘eyes blinded with tears’ ‘leaned forward eagerly’ - noticeable change in demeanour stresses excitement over ranch prospect, longs the companionship and protection it offers
‘You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George? Can’t we?’ - clings onto dream despite low chances, continual questioning reveals desperation for it to come true - offers escape from cruel world
What is the context behind Candy being a dreamer?
Dream of owning a ranch symbolises the American dream
Failure of his dream highlights unattainability of American Dream during the Great Depression - emphasises necessity of having dreams to make life bearable
What are the 4 components of Steinbecks’ overall message told through Candy?
Representation of most vulnerable groups in US during 1930s: elderly and disabled
Highlights inequalities in workplace and fundamental flaws of social, economic system of 1930s US
Highlights attainability of American Dream in 1930s
Human nature: power is born out of weakness
