Of Mice and Men includes many symbolic features that align the story for a better understanding of the novel as well as help strengthen the development of particular themes. Three examples of different symbols that the novel has are: Candy's dog, Lennie's puppy and George and Lennie's farm. Candy's dog is an example of a symbol in Of Mice and Men because it symbolizes the concept of the Great Depression. Candy's dog was once a powerful sheepdog, though as since he becomes older as he grows, the dog is now old, weak and useless, which is why Carlson suggested they kill the dog and he did. "He's all stiff with rheumatism. He ain't no good to you Candy. An' he ain't no good to himself. Why'n't you shoot him, Candy?" This is symbolic to how only
…show more content…
Lennie's puppy is always dependent on Lennie, where he takes care of him, feeds him, pets him and constantly visits him out in the barn. This is symbolic to that point because Lennie is always dependent on George, coming to a stage where Lennie wouldn't even survive without George making sure he is safe, out of trouble and is okay, especially with his intellectual disability. "I got you! … Jus' keep me shovin' all over the country all the time. An' that ain't the worst. You get in trouble. You do bad things and I got to get you out." [page 13] and "If you jus' happen to get into trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush." … "Hide in the brush till I come for you." [page 17]. Even though George is constantly frustrated with Lennie's forgetful memory, particularly when he is telling him something important, he still is there for Lennie. He has been Lennie's friend since Lennie's Aunt Clara passed away, or even before that. This is why Lennie wouldn't be able to do things without George. Just as Lennie is, the puppy symbolizes the fate of the weak in the face of the strong, which indicates George. This symbol of Lennie's puppy helps the development of the loneliness theme by showing that both George and Lennie rely on each other and if they weren't travelling together all the time, they would practically be
Lennie's puppy is always dependent on Lennie, where he takes care of him, feeds him, pets him and constantly visits him out in the barn. This is symbolic to that point because Lennie is always dependent on George, coming to a stage where Lennie wouldn't even survive without George making sure he is safe, out of trouble and is okay, especially with his intellectual disability. "I got you! … Jus' keep me shovin' all over the country all the time. An' that ain't the worst. You get in trouble. You do bad things and I got to get you out." [page 13] and "If you jus' happen to get into trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush." … "Hide in the brush till I come for you." [page 17]. Even though George is constantly frustrated with Lennie's forgetful memory, particularly when he is telling him something important, he still is there for Lennie. He has been Lennie's friend since Lennie's Aunt Clara passed away, or even before that. This is why Lennie wouldn't be able to do things without George. Just as Lennie is, the puppy symbolizes the fate of the weak in the face of the strong, which indicates George. This symbol of Lennie's puppy helps the development of the loneliness theme by showing that both George and Lennie rely on each other and if they weren't travelling together all the time, they would practically be