Symbolism In Of Mice And Men

In chapter three of “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, numerous intriguing events take place. First, George confesses to Slim what happened when he and Lennie were in Weed; next, Carlson shoots Candy’s dog. Then, Candy joins George and Lennie in their dream for the future, and finally, a fight at the end between Curley and Lennie takes place. Two symbols in the chapter are Candy’s dog and George’s solitaire game.

The first symbol in the story is Candy’s dog.

Dogs are known to be loyal, obedient, and good companions. The dictionary, however, defines dog as “inferior of its kind”. In a way, the latter description best fits Crooks. I think Candy’s “drag-footed old sheepdog” with “pale, blind old eyes” (24) represents inferiority. Despite Candy’s assertion that his dog “was once a good sheepdog” (24), Carlson, a fellow bunkmate, insists that the dog “ain’t no good to [Candy], ain’t no good to himself…” (44). He reasons that the dog has “no teeth, can’t eat, can’t see” and “can’t hardly walk” and “stinks like hell” (36).

Therefore, Carlson recommends putting “the old devil out of his misery” (47) and replace him with a puppy newly born from a litter. The message that Carlson conveys to all is that those who are lesser are expendable, and do not deserve consideration.

Mice And Men Symbolism

The dog’s inferiority can further be seen as representational of the black stable buck, Crooks. All the other workers live in the bunkhouse, but he lives in separate quarters, “a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn” (66).

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In chapter 4, the principle character, Lennie, pays him a visit, and wonders, “Why ain’t you wanted [in the bunkhouse]?” to which Crooks replies, “ ‘Cause I’m black They [the other workers] say I stink”. (68) The other workers view Crooks the way that Carlson views Candy’s dog; a waste of space that only stinks up the bunkhouse. Later, the wife of a worker, C…