Steinbeck uses characterization to build up the description of Candy so well that the reader feels the isolation and loneliness of which Candy experiences everyday. Candy is an old, physically disabled swamper who has worked on the ranch for a good majority of his life. While working on the ranch a few years ago, Candy got into an accident which resulted in the loss of one of his hands. This unfortunate accident left him a little bit of money and whole lot of loneliness. As a result of Cand

The only other characters in the book shared the same interests and/or dreams as Candy did were Lennie and George. This is why Candy tried so hard to gain the attention and friendship of Lennie and George. He offers everything that he had to support the friendship including money, but money will never buy genuine friendship. "Maybe if I give you money, you'll let me hoe in the garden even though I ain't no good at it." All of these characters are similar because, not only were they affected by loneliness, they were all in pursuit of a dream that could never be caught. Candy was the perfect example of the themes: loneliness, isolation, and insecurity.

Candy, in many ways symbolizes his dog. Both Candy and his dog are very old and they are both coming towards the end of their lives. In their younger years, Candy and his dog were excellent workers. Candy loves his dog with all of his heart. It has been his best friend for years and according to Candy he has "Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him." Even though the dog can no longer run as fast or herd sheep like he did when he was younger, Candy loves him the same. He appreciates all of the joy and loyalty that his once great dog has brought to him during his life and is ready to let his friend now live out the rest of it's natural life. Unfortunately that is not the way that some of the other people in the bunkhouse see it. Carlson feels "This ol' dog jus' suffers hisself all the time. If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head... right there, why he'd never know what hit him". Carlson even offers to give him a new dog to replace the one that he is about to kill. The way that Candy sees it is that his dog isn't not hurting anyone and that there is no reason to have to end it's life prematurely. Even though Candy loves his dog more than anything else in the world he chooses to let someone shoot his dog in the back of the head. After all that they had been through and all the years of loyal service that his supposed

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Approximate Word count = 1361
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)