of mice and men candy essay

• Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

• Literature Notes
• Of Mice and Men at a Glance
• Book Summary
• About Of Mice and Men
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Character Analysis
• George Milton
• Lennie Small
• Curley's Wife
• Character Map
• John Steinbeck Biography
• Critical Essays
• Major Themes
• Major Symbols
• Structure of the Novel
• Full Glossary
• Essay Questions
• Practice Projects
• Cite this Literature Note

Character Analysis Candy

Candy is "a tall, stoop-shouldered old man … . He was dressed in blue jeans and carried a big push-broom in his left hand." His right hand is simply a stump because he lost his hand in a ranch accident. Now the owners of the ranch keep him on as long as he can "swamp" out or clean the bunkhouse. Candy gives  Steinbeck an opportunity to discuss social discrimination based on age and handicaps. Candy represents what happens to everyone who gets old in American society: They are let go, canned, thrown out, used up. Candy's greatest fear is that once he is no longer able to help with the cleaning he will be "disposed of." Like his old dog, he has lived beyond his usefulness.

Candy and his dog parallel the relationship of George and Lennie . Like Candy's dog, Lennie depends on George to take care of him and show him what to do. Candy, like George, is different from the other ranch hands because he has his dog as a constant companion, someone devoted and loyal to him. When the unfeeling Carlson suggests that Candy's dog be put out of its misery, Candy abdicates the responsibility to Carlson. He tells George later that he should have shot his dog himself, foreshadowing George's decision to take responsibility for Lennie's death and "be his brother's keeper."

Candy also plays a significant role in the dream, providing the money needed to make the down payment. Because of Candy, the dream almost becomes real. Candy's down payment causes George to believe that, perhaps, the dream can be realized. But none of them count on the tragic meeting between Curley's wife and Lennie in the barn. Even then Candy still thinks he can have his safe haven, a place where no one will throw him out when he is too old. The dream is so strong in him that he pleads with George, to no avail, to have their farm despite Lennie's death.

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Of Mice and Men

John steinbeck, everything you need for every book you read., candy quotes in of mice and men.

“Carl's right, Candy. That dog ain't no good to himself. I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I got old an' a cripple.”

“Maybe it’d hurt him,” [Candy] suggested. “I don’t mind takin’ care of him.”

Carlson said, “The way I’d shoot him, he wouldn’t feel nothing. I’d put the gun right there.” He pointed with his toe. “Right back of the head. He wouldn’t even quiver.”

“S'pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing." Old Candy nodded in appreciation of the idea. "We'd just go to her," George said. "We wouldn't ask nobody if we could. Jus' say, 'We'll go to her,' an' we would. Jus' milk the cow and sling some grain to the chickens an' go to her.”

“I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.”

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Essays on Of Mice and Men

Of mice and men essay topic examples.

A wide range of essay topics, introduction paragraph examples, and conclusion paragraph examples for different essay types aim to help you exercise creativity, delve into personal interests, and engage deeply with John Steinbeck's classic novella, Of Mice and Men . Your choice of topic can significantly impact the quality and depth of your essay, so choose wisely!

Argumentative Essays

Argumentative essays require you to analyze and present arguments related to the novella. Here are some topic examples:

• 1. Analyze the moral responsibility of George for Lennie's fate.
• 2. Argue whether the American Dream is attainable or an illusion for the characters in the story.

Example Introduction Paragraph for an Argumentative Essay: John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men introduces us to the complex relationship between George and Lennie, two displaced ranch workers during the Great Depression. This essay delves into the moral responsibility of George for Lennie's tragic fate, examining the ethical choices made by the characters and the consequences they entail.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for an Argumentative Essay: In conclusion, the exploration of George's moral responsibility in Of Mice and Men invites us to grapple with the complex nuances of friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice. As we contemplate the choices made by the characters, we are compelled to reflect on the moral dilemmas that persist in our own lives.

Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast essays enable you to examine similarities and differences within the novella or between it and other literary works. Consider these topics:

• 1. Compare and contrast the dreams and aspirations of George and Lennie with those of the other ranch workers.
• 2. Analyze the similarities and differences between the relationship of George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men and that of Frodo and Sam in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings .

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Essay: Dreams and aspirations serve as powerful driving forces in both literature and life. This essay embarks on a journey to compare and contrast the dreams of George and Lennie with those of their fellow ranch workers, shedding light on the shared human desire for a better future.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Essay: In conclusion, the comparison and contrast of dreams in Of Mice and Men reveal the universal longing for a life filled with purpose and hope. As we consider the dreams of these characters, we are reminded of the enduring human pursuit of happiness and fulfillment.

Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays allow you to vividly depict settings, characters, or events within the novella. Here are some topic ideas:

• 1. Describe the natural beauty of the Salinas River and its significance in the story.
• 2. Paint a detailed portrait of Crooks, focusing on his isolation and resilience.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Descriptive Essay: The Salinas River in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men stands as a tranquil yet powerful backdrop to the characters' struggles. This essay embarks on a descriptive journey to capture the beauty and significance of the river, immersing the reader in the setting's natural wonders.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Descriptive Essay: In conclusion, the descriptive portrayal of the Salinas River not only serves as a setting but also symbolizes the characters' dreams and the fleeting nature of their aspirations. Through this exploration, we are reminded of the profound connection between the natural world and the human experience.

Persuasive Essays

Persuasive essays involve arguing a point of view related to the novella. Consider these persuasive topics:

• 1. Persuade your readers that the treatment of Curley's wife reflects the societal attitudes towards women during the Great Depression.
• 2. Argue for or against the idea that George's decision to shoot Lennie was an act of mercy.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: Curley's wife in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men emerges as a character representative of the challenges women faced during the Great Depression. This persuasive essay asserts that her treatment reflects the prevailing societal attitudes towards women, shedding light on the gender dynamics of the era.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: In conclusion, the persuasive argument regarding the treatment of Curley's wife prompts us to reflect on the historical injustices faced by women during challenging times. As we consider her fate, we are reminded of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and justice in society.

Narrative Essays

Narrative essays offer you the opportunity to tell a story or share personal experiences related to the themes of the novella. Explore these narrative essay topics:

• 1. Narrate a personal experience where you encountered friendship and sacrifice similar to that of George and Lennie.
• 2. Imagine yourself as a character in the world of Of Mice and Men and recount your interactions with the other ranch workers.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Narrative Essay: In the tapestry of our lives, we often encounter moments of profound friendship and sacrifice. This narrative essay delves into a personal experience where I witnessed acts of camaraderie and selflessness akin to those of George and Lennie in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men .

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Narrative Essay: In conclusion, the narrative of my personal journey reminds us of the enduring power of friendship and sacrifice in the human experience. As we reflect on the bonds formed in the face of adversity, we are encouraged to cherish the meaningful connections we make in our own lives.

The Elusive Nature of Dreams in of Mice and Men

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Of Mice and Men Setting Analysis

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The Importance of Place and Destination in of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

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Detrimental Effect of Discrimination in of Mice and Men

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1937, John Steinbeck

Novella; Social Realism

Lennie Small, Curley's wife, George Milton, Curley, Crooks, Slim, Carlson, The Boss, Candy

It was intended to be a play of 30,000 words, which is why it has a dynamic structure.

Tragedy, betrayal, anger, social relationships, Napoleon complex, despair, loneliness, mental illness.

As a book that has been banned more than once in the United States, it was named as one of the most challenging books of the 21st century because of the complex issues it brings up and the portrayal of tragedy where no one but the difficult times are to blame.

The book revolves around George and Lennie, two itinerant workers, during the 1930s in a place with a symbolic name "Soledad", which stands for the Spanish word "loneliness". The entire story is fit into four days that slowly end up in a tragedy when George kills Lennie. The book also deals with a mental disability, which can be seen in Lennie's portrayal of schizophrenia. This complex mixture of tragedy and the loss in Steinbeck’s book tell the tale of loneliness and the ways how anger and the lack of any hope end up in death, both mental and physical.

The first version of the book was eaten by Steinbeck’s dog called Max. The book has been banned in the United States. The original title was "Something That Happened" This book has been written in a place, which is now called Monte Sereno, California. It was adapted into an opera in 1969. The book drew several dialogues from Steinbeck's own life. The house where "Of Mice and Men" was written represents a historic landmark today.

“A guy needs somebody ― to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick.” “As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.” “Trouble with mice is you always kill 'em. ” “Just like heaven. Ever’body wants a little piece of lan’. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It’s just in their head. They’re all the time talkin’ about it, but it’s jus’ in their head.” “I ain't got no people. I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain't no good. They don't have no fun. After a long time they get mean. They get wantin' to fight all the time. . . 'Course Lennie's a God damn nuisance most of the time, but you get used to goin' around with a guy an' you can't get rid of him.”

In simple terms "Of Mice and Men" tell about life during the Great Depression era and the acts people have done to survive. John Steinbeck did not choose a special setting that would tell a single story, but opted for a different plot where people have made hard decisions for other persons as well. It was a way of survival without compromise or thinking twice. As Steinbeck often said himself, it is not the tragedy itself but a reflection of times and loneliness that drove people insane. It is a reason why this book contains racial remarks and vulgarity exactly the way as it has been back then. It is not an intention to be so, yet a reflection that has been made in a sincere way.

It deals not only with the Great Depression and the tragedy that comes along when a person is lost and confused but also speaks of mental disorders that most people have failed to notice. Through the lens of grief, it reveals the topic of human loneliness and one’s being forced to make a decision that a person thinks to be a better solution. “Of Mice and Men” is the call back to the era of survival of the fittest, which is also applicable to the present times. It is a reason why it is still taught at school and used as an essay topic choice.

Candy, Crooks, and Curley represent three stages of loneliness, according to the book as Steinbeck has put it. One of them is getting old, the other one is being unable to show one’s beauty, and the last one is the loneliness of being ignored and misunderstood.

1. Marsden, J.L. (1995). California Dreamin’ The Significance of “A Coupla Acres” in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Western American Literature 29(4), 291-297. (https://muse.jhu.edu/article/533081) 2. Spilka, M. (1974). OF GEORGE AND LENNIE AND CURLEY’S WIFE: SWEET VIOLENCE IN STEINBECK’S EDEN. Modern Fiction Studies, 20(2), 169–179. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/26279931) 3. Tallmon, D. A., Jules, E. S., Radke, N. J., & Mills, L. S. (2003). Of mice and men and trillium: cascading effects of forest fragmentation. Ecological Applications, 13(5), 1193-1203. (https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1890/02-5111) 4. Monica Brady (2014) On Being (and Not Being) Mrs Curley’s Wife, Changing English, 21:4, 334-347. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1358684X.2014.969002) 5. Benson, J.J. (1984). Through a Political Glass, Darkly: The Example of John Steinbeck. Studies in American Fiction 12(1), 45-59. (https://muse.jhu.edu/article/440764) 6. Cerce, D. (2006). The Perception of John Steinbeck's Work in Slovenia. Steinbeck Review, 3(2), 63-78. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1754-6087.2006.tb00081.x) 7. Clark, S. (1984). Of Mice, Men, and Supermen: The Copyrightability of Graphic and Literary Characters. Louis ULJ, 28, 959. (https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/stlulj28&div=48&id=&page=) 8. Hale, P. J. (2010). Of mice and men: Evolution and the socialist utopia. William Morris, HG Wells, and George Bernard Shaw. Journal of the History of Biology, 43, 17-66. (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10739-009-9177-0)

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Essay Questions

• Besides being a place to live, how does the little piece of land that George and Lennie want to own represent freedom to them? Even though they have the freedom to work where they choose, do you think that they are really free? Explain.
• How does Steinbeck construct loneliness in the story? Despite living in close proximity, all of the characters seem to be lonely. Do you think that loneliness is caused by socially imposed barriers, personal choice, or both? Explain.
• Why did Crooks say that he did not want to join Candy, George, and Lennie after all? What is Steinbeck saying about the constraints of race during the time period of the story?
• Considering the fate of Crooks, Candy, Lennie, and Curley's wife, what statement do you think the novel makes about those who are considered outcasts by society?
• Had the unfortunate murder of Curley's wife not occurred, do you think it would be possible for George and Lennie to attain their goals? What does the killing of Lennie and Curley's wife ultimately imply about the American Dream in the novel?
• Though Curley's wife's death was purely accidental, can it be considered a mercy killing, like George's killing of Lennie, or Carlson's killing of Candy's dog? What might Curley's wife's life have been like had she lived?

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Critical Analysis Essay

Help develop students’ critical analysis abilities. The assignment can be modified per grade level/ability, and is a perfect introduction to scholarly papers.

Short Writing Prompts

An in-depth, section by section breakdown of short writing prompts for use in journal assignments, assessments, and discussion starters.

Study Guides

Provide additional structure and guidance to that found in “Mining for Examples.” Students create their own study guide for the novel.

Mining for Examples

Students work collaboratively to create an in-depth study guide to understanding key scenes, quotations, and themes in Of Mice and Men.

Favorite Passages

Create a “message board” where students can post and comment upon important, entertaining, and interesting passages from Of Mice and Men.

Discussion by Section

Breakdown major events, themes, and discussion topics. This is a rich source of information to help frame an entire unit plan for Of Mice and Men.

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Character Essay Plans - Of Mice and Men

Last updated

31 March 2024

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Resources included (8)

Lennie Essay Plan for GCSE

George Essay Plan for GCSE (Of Mice and Men)

Candy Essay Plan for GCSE (Of Mice and Men)

Slim Essay Plan for GCSE (Of Mice and Men)

Curley and Curley's Wife Relationship Essay Plan for GCSE (Of Mice and Men)

Curley Essay Plan for GCSE (Of Mice and Men)

Crooks Essay Plan for GCSE (Of Mice and Men)

Curley's Wife Essay Plan for GCSE (Of Mice and Men)

This collection of comprehensive guides give students a full insight into the presentation of certain characters and their relationships in Of Mice and Men. The essay plans contain a range of analysis, covering context too - making it suitable for all exam boards including Edexcel IGCSE, AQA and WJEC. Characters covered: Crooks Curley Curley’s Wife Slim Candy George Lennie

Relationships covered: Curley and Curley’s wife

(To come are Carlson and George and Lennie’s relationship)

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‘They Never Came Home’: Bridge Collapse Casts a Pall Over Baltimore’s Hispanic Community

The six men who were killed were all immigrants from Latin America. Their deaths have shaken the growing Hispanic community in and around Baltimore.

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By Eduardo Medina

Reporting from Baltimore

• Published March 28, 2024 Updated March 29, 2024

Jose López was one of the first in his family to leave Guatemala for a new life in the United States. He wanted work that would give him a better life. So in the early 2000s he found his way to Baltimore, a city where strivers have long found a home and where Mr. López made one for himself and his family.

He found fellow Guatemalans along with Mexicans and others who had left their countries with similar aspirations. He and his wife settled in a house with a porch, his brother Jovani said. The couple had two children, and Jose López often picked them up from school.

About two years ago, he took a new job, working late nights for a contractor repairing roads on Maryland bridges.

He didn’t mind the arduous hours because he viewed his purpose in life as providing food and shelter for his family, Mr. López’s older brother said.

Early Tuesday morning, a friend of both brothers called Jovani López with harrowing news. A ship struck a bridge that Jose López had been working on, causing it to collapse and sending six workers, including Mr. Lopez, into the Patapsco River. Hours later, Jovani López learned that they were dead.

“He was there to work,” Jovani López said on Thursday outside of the family’s home, where relatives embraced and cried. “Who could’ve ever imagined this?”

That question has echoed across Baltimore’s Hispanic community, as it mourns the six workers.

Five of them have been identified by the authorities, relatives or advocacy organizations: Mr. López, who was in his 30s; Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, also of Baltimore; Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, of Dundalk, Md.; Miguel Luna, who was in his 40s and from El Salvador; and Maynor Yasir Suazo Sandoval, who was in his 30s and from Honduras. The authorities have said there are six victims.

They were men who had gone to work on a bridge late into the night, in cold temperatures, to ensure that thousands of other Marylanders could use the Francis Scott Key Bridge to make it to their own jobs.

“And they never came home,” said Lucía Islas, a community leader and president of Comité Latino de Baltimore, a nonprofit that assists the Hispanic community. Ms. Islas and other Latino community leaders have hosted meetings this week to highlight how immigrants often do the difficult and dangerous jobs that others do not want to do, such as roofing and road maintenance.

Last year, six highway workers, including two brothers from El Salvador and a father and son, were killed on a busy highway outside Baltimore when they were struck by a car that plowed into their work zone.

The dramatic ship crash, collapse of the bridge and the frantic search for survivors have captured the attention of the city and the country, but the disaster has cast a particular pall over the growing Hispanic community in and around Baltimore. From Dominican barbershops and Mexican taquerias to markets stocked with mango and tamarind candy, communities such as Highlandtown, Dundalk and Glen Burnie have been transformed by waves of immigrants from Latin America.

Zeke Cohen, a Baltimore City Council member whose district includes Highlandtown, said that the city had benefited by embracing its immigrants. He credited them for starting businesses, lowering vacancies in the housing market and reversing the blight that had marked some neighborhoods.

“It’s a blessing.”

Even as they are grateful for the support and concern, friends and family members of the victims said they were preoccupied with unanswered questions, none more painful than whether more could have been done to save the men.

Donna Batkis, a clinical social worker in Baltimore who has been helping the victims’ families, said in an interview that they were in shock.

The bodies of Mr. Fuentes and Mr. Cabrera were recovered on Wednesday, the authorities said. But the families of the four men whose bodies have not been recovered have described being in a “purgatory of grief” because they can’t plan a funeral, Ms. Batkis said.

They have repeated two questions in recent days, Ms. Batkis said: “Where’s my loved one? And what’s next?”

“Waiting is a very hard space to be in,” she said. And the family members’ anxiety is compounded by the fact that many of them don’t speak fluent English, and some of them are not legal residents, according to Latino community leaders.

Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland and other top officials have voiced support and concern for the families of the men who were killed. On Wednesday, Tom Perez, a senior adviser to President Biden and a former Maryland labor secretary, met with families, Ms. Batkis said.

“Somos unidos,” Mr. Perez told the families, according to Ms. Batkis. “We are united.”

Over the last couple of days, relatives have consoled each other talking about the loved ones they lost.

Mr. Luna, of El Salvador, was married, had three children and had been living in Maryland for at least 19 years. Mr. Suazo, of Honduras, had immigrated to the United States more than 17 years ago, and he was married with two children. His brother, Carlos, said in a statement that Mr. Suazo was talented at repairing and operating all kinds of machinery, and that he had dreamed of starting his own small business.

As he grieves his brother, Jovani López, who emigrated from Guatemala about seven years ago, said he had mostly kept to himself.

At night, when he has trouble sleeping, he has tried to focus on the good memories: Jose López’s laugh; the hot, humid days back at their childhood home in Guatemala, near the eastern city of Chiquimula, where they played soccer; and the lives they had built in Baltimore.

But when daylight comes, he goes out to see the destroyed Key bridge. For hours on Wednesday night, as rain rippled across the Patapsco, he looked out toward the mangled mountain of steel miles away. He could see the ship. He could see the boats encircling it.

“All I could think was, Where is my brother?”

Miriam Jordan , Emiliano Rodríguez Mega and Jacey Fortin contributed reporting.

Eduardo Medina is a Times reporter covering the South. An Alabama native, he is now based in Durham, N.C. More about Eduardo Medina