How Are Lennie And Candy Similar

In “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, a variety of colorful characters are introduced. Lennie, a vital character from the beginning, is George’s childish complement. He’s known for having behavioral issues and being obsessed with the dreams of his rabbits. Candy is the swamper at the ranch they arrive at. He’s older, doesn’t have a right hand, and has a gnarled old dog that he is later forced to give up. He wishes to have his own life where he can choose his fate. Though it seems like Lennie and Candy are two completely different characters, they are intertwined throughout the book. Both have wishes they want to achieve, and both are dependent on George, in one way or another, to get what they want. The similarities between Lennie and Candy …show more content…
However, disappointment occurs when George backs out of their farm venture, leaving Candy to wonder what may have been of his life. To understand Candy’s dream, it’s important to first understand his life on the farm. He has only one hand, he’s aged, and is stuck doing simple tasks around the ranch. The moment he loses that ability, he will be kicked out. He’s outgrown society’s view of usefulness. Because of this, he has little choice in what happens on the farm, even when it comes to matters of his own property. Carlson constantly pesters Candy about getting rid of his gnarly older dog, and he is forced to accept as Slim agrees with Carlson. He makes a few feeble arguments, saying “I had him from a pup” (45), which shows his utter attachment to the dog. We see him go from the one-dimensional gossip of the ranch, to a heartbroken man about to have something very important taken away from him. This highlights why he wants his own independence, his ultimate goal- He wants to be able to make his own decisions. Sadly, on the ranch, he can’t do that. Not only that, but his ranch is the only source of livelihood in his future. He’s older, doesn’t have one of his limbs, so he knows he “won’t have a place to go, an’ [he] can’t get no more jobs” (60). Not only is it his dream to be able to live independently, it’s his only chance at being able to continue on into his old age. So, it’s no surprise that when George agrees to let him come with them, he is overjoyed. Candy may finally be able to live his own life because of him. After all, he can’t do it on his own, he has no other way to make a livelihood, and his current job is unsteady. Ironically, to be able to gain his independence, he must be dependent on George. He has a spark of hope he seems to have lost, and that carries with him for the next few chapters. Disaster strikes, however, when Lennie ends up accidentally