This document includes an essay plan on the character, Candy in 'Of Mice and Men', this and other essays I wrote formed the basis of my GCSE study notes that helped me to achieve an A* in English Literature. The document includes detailed essay plan including quotes and analysis, as well as a sampl...
Candy is portrayed, by Steinbeck, as a pitiable character.
Intro:
Discuss themes such as loneliness and shattered dreams
Accentuated through the setting of the Great Depression when many
ranch workers such as Candy were burdened by the loss of their jobs,
poverty and with no place to call home.
Use of imagery and a cyclical structure allows Steinbeck to paint a picture
of an unfulfilled and futile life.
Counter-argument - theme of friendship and several glimmers of hope
indicate that Candy’s life is not entirely overwhelmed with unhappiness
Agree Disagree
Lack of identity- insignificance shown Candy is given a sense of
through repetition of “old man” and “old identity through the dream-
swamper.” Discuss the effect of this adjective. “his eyes were wide open.”
Character is one of the “weak ones.”- pity
Power imbalance- passive nature- Power gained from new sense
“No...listen to us” and “I didn’t hear of fraternity, with the dream,
nothing...nor did he ast no questions”- use of shown by emotive language-
ellipsis. “But a change came over old
His defencelessness build sympathy for him Candy...You ain’t wanted here.”
Cyclical structure- futile way of life. Death Dream gave Candy confidence
of dog-“stared at the ceiling.” Hope of dream- and sense of purpose, shown by
“overwhelmed with his picture.” Death of use of adverbs such as
dream- “covered his eyes with his arm.” “excitedly” and “eagerly.”
Weakness shown through physical stature- -
juxtaposition of “thick-bodied” Carlson to
Candy- “old man” with “stick-like wrists” and
“white-stubble whiskers.” Highlights theme of
strength vs. weakness.
Victim- death of dog- “softly” and attempts After the death of dog Candy is
to procrastinate, “Maybe tomarra. Le’s wait till finally able to open up to the
tomarra.” Shown through personification idea of the dream-
“darkness invaded the room.” Use of “S’pose...How’d that be?”
adverbs, “hopelessly” and “unhappily.”
The dog is a metaphor for Candy- “God-
damn old” and “useless” compared to “white-
stubble whiskers.” Connotes with Candy’s
belief that once “he can’t swamp out no
bunkhouses” he will be “put on the county”
Pathetic fallacy through light and dark Death of dog replaced with new
motif- Candy introduced “it was almost dark dream which also dies- thus
outside” and “darkness invaded the room.” reinforcing the idea of Candy’s
Later Candy is overcome with grief “At last... pitiable nature.
stared at the ceiling.” All light replaced with a
“tin-shaded electric light” which made the
room “brilliant with light” and “left the corners
of the bunkhouse in darkness”- foreshadows
the death of dream.
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