He’s the aging swamper, burdened by his lost hand and the loss of his old companion, clinging desperately to one last chance at belonging.
Candy, in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, embodies the pervasive fear of becoming useless in a world that values strength and productivity.
Initially resigned to his fate, Candy’s hope is ignited by George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own farm. His life savings represent the tangible possibility of achieving this shared sanctuary where he won’t be “canned” when he can no longer work.
Explore the hopes and fears of this poignant character through 20 key quotes.
Witness his devotion to his dog, his terror of obsolescence, his eager investment in the dream, his keen observations of ranch life, and his despair, all with analysis and page numbers.
The Old Swamper and His Dog: Loyalty and Loss
Candy’s relationship with his ancient, ailing dog mirrors his fears and defines his initial state of passive resignation before its tragic end forces a painful reckoning.
“Yeah. Nice fella too. Got a crooked back where. a horse kicked him. The boss gives him hell when he’s mad. But the stable buck don’t give a damn about that. He reads a lot. Got books in his room.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, describing Crooks, Theme: Observation, Ranch Dynamics, Respect for Resilience, Chapter 2, Page 20)
Even early on, Candy demonstrates a capacity for observing and respecting others who endure hardship, like Crooks in his isolated existence.
“Well – hell! I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him.” He said proudly, “You wouldn’t think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, defending his dog, Theme: Loyalty, Memory, Past Usefulness, Companionship, Chapter 3, Page 45)
Candy’s defense rests on their long history and the dog’s past contributions, highlighting his deep attachment and foreshadowing his fears about being judged solely on present ability.
“Maybe it’d hurt him,” he suggested. “I don’t mind takin’ care of him.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, pleading for his dog, Theme: Compassion, Resistance, Loyalty, Chapter 3, Page 45)
“Awright – take ‘im.” He did not look down at the dog at all. He lay back on his bunk and crossed his arms behind his head and stared at the ceiling.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, conceding his dog’s fate, Theme: Powerlessness, Grief, Resignation, Loss, Chapter 3, Pages 47, 48)
Unable to sway Slim’s quiet authority or resist Carlson’s blunt pragmatism, Candy gives in, his silent withdrawal signifying profound grief.
“I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Regret, Responsibility, Guilt, Powerlessness, Chapter 3, Page 61)
Candy’s deepest regret is not the dog’s death, but his failure to perform the final act of loyalty and responsibility, allowing it to be done by an indifferent stranger.
The loss of his dog crystallizes Candy’s deepest fear: being deemed old, useless, and disposable in the harsh ranch environment.
A Future Cast Aside: Fear of Uselessness
Candy acutely feels his vulnerability due to his age and lost hand, fearing the day he can no longer work and will be cast aside, with nowhere to go.
“I ain’t much good with on’y one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That’s why they give me a job swampin’.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Disability, Reduced Capability, Dependence, Chapter 3, Page 59)
“You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn’t no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me. But they won’t do nothing like that. I won’t have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no more jobs.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Fear of Aging, Uselessness, Identification with Dog, Despair, Chapter 3, Page 60)
Candy explicitly connects his dog’s fate to his own, voicing his terror of being discarded by the ranch and society when he’s no longer deemed useful.
George and Lennie’s dream offers Candy an unexpected lifeline, a chance to invest his savings and secure a place where he belongs and contributes.
Clutching the Dream: A Glimmer of Hope
The possibility of joining George and Lennie’s farm ignites a desperate hope in Candy, representing security, belonging, and a future beyond the ranch.
“You know where’s a place like that?”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, overhearing George and Lennie, Theme: Hope Ignited, Curiosity, Seeking Possibility, Chapter 3, Pages 58, 59)
“S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hunderd an’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some. How’d that be?”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Hope, Investment in Dream, Offering Value, Seeking Belonging, Chapter 3, Page 59)
Candy eagerly offers his life savings and proposes ways he can still contribute, seeing the dream as his only path to a secure future.
“Everybody wants a little bit of land, not much. Jus’ som’thin’ that was his. Som’thin’ he could live on and there couldn’t nobody throw him off of it.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, defending the dream to Crooks, Theme: Universality of the Dream, Security, Independence, Belonging, Chapter 4, Page 76)
Candy articulates the dream’s appeal, emphasizing the universal desire for security and a place of one’s own.
“We know what we got, and we don’t care whether you know it or not.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Defiance, Shared Belief, Hope, Chapter 4, Page 79)
As a longtime resident, Candy often provides context and commentary on the ranch dynamics and the other inhabitants.
Observer of the Bunkhouse
Candy’s age and position grant him perspective, and he often shares insights or warnings about the other characters.
“A guy on a ranch don’t never listen nor he don’t ast no questions.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Ranch Culture, Isolation, Lack of Curiosity, Chapter 2, Page 24)
“Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys…”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Observation, Character Analysis, Insight into Curley, Chapter 2, Page 26)
“Seems like Curley ain’t givin’ nobody a chance.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Observation, Fairness, Judgment of Curley, Chapter 2, Pages 27)
“This’s the first time I ever been in his room.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, about Crooks’ room, Theme: Segregation, Ranch Norms, Observation, Chapter 4, Page 75)
“Glove fulla vaseline,” he said disgustedly.”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, joining attack on Curley, Theme: Gossip, Judgment, Taking Sides, Chapter 3, Page 62)
The tragic death of Curley’s wife instantly shatters the dream Candy had so eagerly embraced, leaving him heartbroken and facing the bleak future he feared.
The Dream Destroyed: Utter Despair
Upon discovering Curley’s wife, Candy immediately understands the implications for Lennie and their shared dream, reacting with anguish and bitterness.
“Candy asked, “What we gonna do now, George? What we gonna do now?””
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Despair, Lost Hope, Dependence on George, Chapter 5, Page 93)
“You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George? Can’t we?” Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew.
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Desperate Hope, Denial, Realization, Lost Dream, Chapter 5, Page 94)
Candy makes one last, desperate plea for the dream, even as he understands its impossibility following the tragedy.
“Then – it’s all off?” Candy asked sulkily.
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Confirmation of Loss, Despair, Bitterness, Chapter 5, Page 95)
“Old Candy watched him go. He looked helplessly back at Curley’s wife, and gradually his sorrow and his anger grew into words. ‘You God damn tramp,’ be said viciously. ‘You done it, di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.'”
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, (Character: Candy, Theme: Grief, Anger, Misplaced Blame, Misogyny, Chapter 5, Page 95)
Overwhelmed by grief and the loss of his future, Candy cruelly directs his anger and despair towards the victim, Curley’s wife.
Conclusion: The Swamper’s Lament
Candy represents the quiet desperation of the aging and vulnerable in a society that prizes youth and strength. His bond with his old dog mirrors his fear of obsolescence, a fear temporarily assuaged by the shared dream of a farm with George and Lennie’s contrasting innocence.
Candy’s eventual investment in this dream highlights the profound human need for belonging and security. His poignant quotes reveal not only his anxieties and regrets but also serve as commentary on the harsh realities faced by many during the Depression.
Candy’s story is a heartbreaking testament to lost hope and the crushing weight of a future deemed useless.
A Note on Page Numbers & Edition (Handle With Care!):
We hauled these quotes from the Penguin Books Mass Market Paperback edition (September 1, 1993), ISBN-13: 978-0140177398.
Please be aware that page numbers, like Candy’s old dog, can vary greatly depending on the edition’s circumstances! Always double-check against your copy for essays or citations – you want your points to be clear and firmly rooted.
Jeremy Mortis, founder of Ageless Investing, applies a rigorous analytical approach (the AAM framework) to distill timeless wisdom and contextualized quotes from classic literature, saving you time while deepening understanding. Learn more about Jeremy’s unique background and methodology on his author bio page.