Saturday, January 19, 2013

In the book Of Mice and Men what is a trait and a quote of the character Candy the old swamper? A quote and a trait

Candy, the old swamper who has lost his hand in an
accident, is a rather tragic character as he fears that soon, like his old dog, he will
outlive his usefulness.  When George Milton and Lennie Small first arrive on the ranch
and are taken to the bunkhouse, Candy--like his dog would be--is cautious as he talks to
the two new men.  He eludes the questions that George asks about the small yellow can
that contains lice poison: 


readability="6">

I don't know....Tell you what--last guy that had
thiss bed was a blacksmith--hell of a nice fella and as clean a guy as you want to
meet.  Used to wash his hands even after he
ate.



Candy does not want the
men to leave for fear that the boss will attribute their departure to something he may
have said.


Later in Steinbeck's Of Mice and
Men
, warmed and strengthened by the friendship of Lennie and George, and
hopeful of joining them in the purchase of some land on which he can live out his life,
Candy becomes emboldened.  He is quick to insult Curley's wife as he tries to repel her;
he knows she is trouble and wants to keep her from endangering Lennie's and George's
positions on the ranch.


When Curley's wife, "heavily made
up," comes to the barn where Lennie and Candy are with
Crooks,


readability="6">

'Curley aint been here,' Candy said
sourly.



After she refuses to
leave, Candy becomes angered.  As he rubs the stump of his wrist on his
knee,



he said
accusingly, ' You gotta husband'.  You got no call foolin' aroun' with other guys,
causin' trouble.'



When she
asks the men what has happened to Curley's hand, it is Candy who seeks again to protect
his new friends.  He says, in a much more polite
tone,


readability="6">

'Why...Curley...he got his han' caught in a
machine, ma'am.  Bust his
han'.'



After she laughs,
Candy repeats his statement "sullenly" this
time.


Interestingly, Candy's behavior is much like that of
a stray dog.  He is lonely and wants to be accepted; at first, he is very cautious, then
when shown love, he becomes loyal and protective.  But, faced with a formidable adversay
such as Curley's wife, he backs down some and is submissive, saying "ma'am."  However,
he will only lie down on his back for so long.  His second reply is sullen, much like
the dog who gets up by walks away from his adversary.

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