Candy's Dream and Social Commentary

Candy's involvement in George and Lennie's dream of owning a farm serves as a powerful social commentary on the aspirations and realities of working-class Americans during the Great Depression.

Quote: "You know where's a place like that?"

Candy's eager question about the dream farm reveals the desperation for hope and a better life among workers of his generation. It also highlights how such dreams often seemed too perfect to be true in the harsh reality of 1930s America.

Highlight: Candy's dream and social commentary in the great depression era reflects the widespread desire for freedom, self-control, and escape from the oppressive conditions of the time.

Steinbeck uses the dream to illustrate how marginalized individuals like Candy longed to be valued and seen as equals in a judgmental society. The dream represents a utopia - a paradise too perfect to exist in the corrupted society they inhabit.

Definition: Utopia - an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.

The ultimate failure of the dream, following the death of Curley's wife, serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by workers in 1930s America. It demonstrates how dreams were often seen as distractions from oppression and a futile search for happiness in a world that offered little hope.

Example: How is Candy's dream destroyed is shown through the chain of events leading to Curley's wife's death, which shatters the possibility of achieving their shared aspiration.

In conclusion, Steinbeck uses Candy's character to powerfully illustrate the discrimination and prejudice faced by elderly and disabled individuals in 1930s America. Through themes of loneliness, weakness, and unfulfilled dreams, the author paints a vivid picture of a hierarchical society where vulnerability was equated with insignificance and lack of human value.

Candy as a Reflection of 1930s American Society

John Steinbeck uses the character of Candy in Of Mice and Men to highlight various aspects of American society in the 1930s, particularly focusing on ageism and discrimination. Candy serves as a mirror to the social prejudices many faced based on age and disabilities during this era.

Quote: "Jus' as soon as I can't swamp out no bunk houses they'll put me on the county"

This quote from Candy encapsulates the fear and insecurity experienced by older workers during the Great Depression. It reflects the lack of social safety nets and the disposable nature of labor in that time.

Highlight: Loneliness in Of Mice and Men is exemplified through Candy's isolation from other ranch workers due to his age and disability.

Steinbeck portrays the weakness associated with old age in a society that valued physical strength and productivity. Candy's physical description, including his "round, stick-like, wrist," emphasizes his vulnerability in a harsh, competitive environment.

Example: The shooting of Candy's dog symbolizes the fate of the weak and vulnerable in 1930s American society, foreshadowing Candy's own potential future.

The author uses Candy to illustrate the loneliness experienced by itinerant ranch workers. The lack of empathy shown towards Candy, especially during the scene where his dog is shot, demonstrates the absence of sentimentality in a world where survival was paramount.

Vocabulary: Itinerant - traveling from place to place, especially to find work.