candy Flashcards
summary
- Candy is an old ranch worker who has lost a hand in a work accident and now works as a “swamper”, or cleaner, on the ranch.
- He feels that as he is ageing he is useless and does not have any value as a person (due to his age and disability). This is reflected in the way that his dog is shot by Carlson. Before his death, Candy’s dog is his only real companion.
- This leads to him asking to be involved in George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own farm; he is willing to give all of his savings to these men who he has just met so that he can feel a part of something.
“They says he wasn’t no good to himself…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
“They says he wasn’t no good to himself… nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me. But they won’t do nothing like that. I won’t have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no more jobs.”
- Candy feels useless and thinks he’s going to get the ‘can’ (sacked) soon, due to his age and disability (shows the 1930s views on people who weren’t deemed ‘useful’)
- Candy feels that without a job, he has nothing to offer society.
- Candy’s dog is shot because it no longer serves a purpose, reflecting the harsh life that the men live, where there is no room for things that are not useful, and this extends to humans too.
- Candy suggests that he would rather die than be without a job, as he will have nowhere to live and no means of supporting himself.
‘Out of the………………………………………………………………………………………
‘Out of the sleeve came a… round stick-like wrist, but no hand’
- Candy is disabled through a workplace injury, but still works with little to no compensation due to the time
‘Candy looked………………………………………………………………………………………….
‘Candy looked for… help from face to face’
- He is desperate to keep his old, smelly dog alive as it is his only companion and without him he will feel even lonelier
- His looks are pointless due to the lack of empathy from the men
- Lack of understanding and companionship
- His looks are for the dog, but also him, as he feels he may face a similar fate because his qualities reflect his dogs
- Candy’s searching for help is pointless because he does not get any from the men on the ranch.
‘I ain’t…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
‘I ain’t got no relatives… or nothing’
- Shows Candy’s loneliness and lack of companionship
- Shows his desperation for inclusion and search for friendship and need for security, with his fear of the inevitable ‘can’ looming
Candy interrupted him………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Candy interrupted him, “I’d make a will an’ leave… my share to you guys in case I kick off, ‘cause I ain’t got no relatives or nothing”
- Candy is desperate to be involved in George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own farm because it will give him security and a place to belong, even when he is old and unable to work.
- His desperation is because he fears he will get the can soon
- Candy’s desperation is clear here as he offers to leave George and Lennie his share in the farm, which he would buy with all of his savings.
- He then makes it clear why he feels the need to create new bonds and friendship as he has no family and therefore no connections and no one to look after him when he cannot work any more.
