Character analysis of Candy

Character analysis- Candy

Candy is the oldest man on the ranch, he's the swamper. His job is actually the least important one and that's how he feels as well. He's missing one of his hands, so he's handicapped in doing important things. His age is also seen in his appearance: He's tall, but stoop-shouldered, he doesn't look fit or happy, because he knows what being the oldest man on the ranch means. The old man in jeans and with a broom in his hand is the owner of an old dog. Between the two of them, there's a huge resemblance: Both of them are old, not fit and not useful, both are handicapped. One difference is, that the other guys of the ranch talk about all these bad things of the dog in front of Candy, but they don't talk about Candy like this. Even though they don't say it directly, Candy feels like they think about him in the same way like they do about the dog. They complain about how badly the dog stinks, that he isn't able to eat and that he's just laying around in the way, he's a burden for everyone. Even though he knows about his possible fate, he's an extremely nice person. He doesn't feel like being useless or being a burden.

His dog is his family, the only thing he has left, he's a constant companion. Since the dog has been a little puppy, Candy has been his owner, he feels connected to him. Just like he doesn't see the dog the way the other guys do, he doesn't see himself as an useless men. He sees the dog like it was in its prime, how good, useful, hard-working, faithful, loyal and intelligent it was. Candy sees the best possible in his companion, he tries to think in the best possible way.

The issue of the other men is that they forgot about the past. How hard-working the dog and also Candy were in their prime. They delete these memories out of their minds and just accept how it is nowadays: Both of them are old and because of that they want to get rid of the dog, and maybe also of Candy.

Beside all of this issues with the thoughts about him, he tries to be as cheerful as possible. His smile's all over his face, he's polite, gentle and friendly. He tries to help everyone, at least the ones he likes. This is seen as he tries to help George and Lennie to adapt as soon as possible to the farm, so they don't get into any trouble with the other guys.

Candy likes being around people, having good relationships and talking to them, the social contact is important to him. When he first heard about George's and Lennie's dream of having an own ranch, he was fascinated. Without any second thought, he offers his help to the two of them. During his whole working-career on the ranch, he has been saving money, and now he wants to contribute this money, so the dream can be realized. Even though this money is the only thing he has left, he would contribute it. This shows how important this is for him, having the guarantee of a save future which he can spend with people he like. This guarantee is important to him because he's scared of loosing his job on the ranch because of his handicap and the age.

He would do anything necessary for realizing the dream of an own ranch, because in a society Steinbeck describes, there is no place for an old, crippled man like him. The young people want to get rid of old, useless people or even animals. One way is shooting them like they did it with the dog and the other way is putting them into an old age home. But for Candy this is no acceptable solution, it would be like a prison. He tries to escape from this form of society. 

Best regards,

Lisa and Michelle F.