Of Mice and Men - Candy Flashcards
Main points for Candy
- Weak
- Prejudiced
- Candy + his dog’s relationship is similar to that of George + Lennie
Weak: ‘stoop - shouldered old man’
Physically weighed down by work + poor living conditions
Metaphorically weighed down by society
Weak: he ‘shuffled’ around the boss
Frightened
Interesting as the top of the hierarchy is next to the bottom of the hierarchy
Weak: ‘stick like wrist, but no hand’
Candy has no power (as he has no hands)
Hands = strength in novel
Weak: ‘Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversion’
Helpless, has no say in the fate of his dog
Powerless/voiceless
Weak: ‘lousy ol’ sheep’
Curley’s wife insults Candy -> mirrors how he is seen as useless on the ranch
Weak: Context
Candy is vulnerable (old + disabled) and is lucky to have a job, so knows that he will be soon ‘canned’
During the Great Depression, savings were lost due to the wall street crash -> they had to continue to work in old age
Unemployment rates were high -> 25%
Prejudiced: ‘tart’ ‘goddamn tramp’ ‘everybody knowed you’d mess things up
Candy misogynistic attidude towards Curley’s wife highlights the treatment of women at the time.
He is emotionless in her death ‘goddamn tramp’ -> normalises violence against women
Prejudiced: ‘nice fella’ ‘n*‘
Juxtaposing description of Crooks and derogatory language to show how racially influenced people were
Prejudiced: Context
Candy’s anger towards Curley’s wife represents the patriarchal world at the time (where men were misogynistic)
Racism was normalised + encouraged. Even though slaves had freedom 50 years before 1930, the attitudes remained in society.
Dreamer: ‘eyes blinded with tears’ , ‘leaned forward eagerly’
Noticeable change in Candy’s emotion emphasises his excitement over the concept of a ranch. He longs the companionship + protection it offere
Dreamer: ‘you an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George?’
Straight after Curley’s wifes death
Candy’s continuous questioning reveals his desperation to escape the cruel world
Candy clings onto the dream even though it is unlikely/futile
Dreamer: Context
The American Dream is symbolised through Candy’s dream of the ranch.
The failure of Candy’s dream highlights the futility of the American Dream due to the Great Depression
The American Dream was a concept only to make life bearable
What does Steinbeck use the character of Candy for?
- Represent vulnerable members of society (old + disabled)
- Highlights the flaws of social + economic system, and inequalities in the workplace
- The unattainability of the American Dream
