Of Mice and Men: Candy's Dream Analysis

John Steinbeck's novella, Of Mice and Men, dives into the hopes and dreams of its characters, showing how tough realities can sometimes crush these dreams. One character, Candy, an old ranch worker who's disabled, has his dream crushed over and over again throughout the story. Let's take a look at how Candy's dream gets destroyed multiple times and what that means for the bigger themes in the novella.

'Of Mice and Men: Candy's Dream Analysis'

From the start of the book, Candy's dream pops up as this little spark of hope in the bleakness of the Great Depression. Candy wants to tag along with George and Lennie on their plan to own a piece of land. It's like he's searching for purpose and security. This dream feels like an escape from all the hard stuff they go through every day, offering them a shot at being independent.

But as you read on, it's pretty clear that Candy's dream is always hanging by a thread, leading to its eventual downfall. The first hint is when Candy overhears George and Lennie talking about their plans. He's super excited to join them and even offers up his savings to help buy the land. At that moment, it seems like they've found something real—a bit of camaraderie. But then Curley's wife comes in, all angry, belittling their dream, leaving Candy crushed and doubting if it's even possible.

It doesn't stop there. Candy’s dream takes another hit when reality sets in about his age and disability. Other ranch workers mock him because of his missing hand; they see him more as a burden than someone who matters. This mean treatment shows just how cruel things are for Candy, making it almost impossible for him to grab hold of his dream of owning some land.

Candy’s hopes crumble again when owning land turns out to be impossible. Curley’s wife's death—caused by Lennie's actions—makes their dreams fall apart completely. That once bright idea of having land and peace goes poof, leaving Candy feeling hopeless and defeated.

This breaking down of Candy’s dream is a strong statement about life during the Great Depression. Steinbeck uses Candy to show how folks back then were often swamped with hopelessness while just trying to get by. Candy’s aspirations stand for everyone’s need for stability and purpose but they end up crushed—symbolizing those dark times.

The collapse of Candy's dream also highlights loneliness and isolation in the book. He's portrayed as an outsider because he’s older and disabled; his dreams are his only comfort. When they're smashed, he feels more alone than ever—showing just how deeply busted dreams can hurt people.

Conclusion

The ongoing destruction of Candy's dream in Of Mice and Men gives us a deep dive into life's harsh truths during the Great Depression era. Through Candy's story, John Steinbeck spotlights this shared human wish for stability while also shedding light on how lonely and hopeless many felt back then. By looking at how Candy’s dreams get wrecked, we get a clearer sense of what themes run through the novella overall. Candy's tale reminds us just how fragile dreams really are—and how devastating their loss can be on someone's spirit.

Bibliography

• Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. Penguin Books, 1937.
• Benson, Jackson J., ed., The Short Novels of John Steinbeck: Critical Essays with a Checklist to Steinbeck Criticism. Duke University Press Books, 1990.
• Meyer, Michael J., ed., The Essential Criticism of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Scarecrow Press, 2009.
• Shillinglaw, Susan.A Journey Into Steinbeck's California. Roaring Forties Press; Revised edition (February 28, 2011).