Do you pay attention to the people who are humble or quite but surprising? In Of Mice and Man, which is a novel about George and Lennie working on a ranch, John Steinbeck describes a weak and old swamper who has lost his right hand and is often followed by an old dog. Candy is an important supporting character who introduces many figures before they appear in the novel, and the death of his dog hints the same tragedy which will happen to Lennie. His appearance and status are very humble; however, if you study his words and behaviors, you will be surprised. Even though he is apparently cautious and cowardly, Candy is an intelligent person whose words and behavior are appropriate and deliberate; moreover, he is good at negotiation.
There is much evidence to show that Candy is cautious. To begin with, when candy goes to the bunk house where George and Lennie are talking inside, the first words he says are that “I wasn’t listenin” (p. 27). Why is he anxious to clarify that he didn’t listen? In order that he won’t get in trouble because of a misunderstanding by the two young men, he explains as immediately as he comes in. Candy’s words show how cautious he is. Then; after he complains about Curley’s aggressive flaws saying “Never did seem right to me” (p. 29), Candy asks George for a promise to make sure he will not get reprisals from Curley (p. 32), which presents his caution again. Lastly, when Carlson proposes shooting his dog, even though Candy is reluctant at first because “The old man squirmed uncomfortably”(p. 50), he explains his dog’s important meaning to him rather than obviously objecting, which proves he is cautious to express himself in case of enraging the other people. In addition, it shows Candy’s cowardice to allow Carlson to shoot his dog rather than shooting by himself. It is pitiful for the dog ending up in the hand of a person who hates it rather than loves it because Carlson shooting the dog isn’t for compassion; but for his violence and hate sniffing the dog’s smell. Candy should have asked Slim, who does really pity the dog’ s suffering, to shoot the dog, if he can’t bear to shoot his dog by himself, but he doesn’t do that because he worries about offending the strong and violent Carlson. He just thinks about how to protect himself from troubles rather than to give his dog a decent death. From his words in his social life, Candy so cares about other people’s feeling that he is always cautious even a little cowardly.
Although he is cautious and cowardly, Candy is actually very intelligent. In Of Mice and Man, Candy rather than other workers selected by the writer introduces many important figures before they appear in the novel, such as Curley’s father, Curley’s wife and Carlson. Comparing with other workers , Candy has the insight to view a person appropriately, so his words are persuasive. For example, he says that “I think Curley’s married … a tart” (p. 31). It is an appropriate comment on Curley’s wife, who is the only female at the ranch; also, it is a consensus in the bunk house because Whit, another fellow living in the same bunkhouse, describes her as “She got the eye goin’ all the time on everybody” (p. 57), when he first talks about Curley’s wife with George. Furthermore, when George and Lennie arrive at the ranch, it is Candy rather than any other workers waiting for and meeting them because helping the new people to know about the ranch is a good chance to get their appreciation, and they may get along with each other more easily in the future. Actually, George doesn’t mind Candy’s presence any more when Lennie asks him to describe the place of their plan in the bunk house (p. 63). Candy’s first words to the two new guys are “the boss was expectin’ you” (p. 20) which makes the two men feel they are desirable and welcome; rather than introducing himself. How smart he is. Additionally, Candy’s responses to the discussion of shooting his dog are appropriate and deliberate. In the situation that the other persons see eye to eye to shoot his dog, Candy doesn’t refuse immediately, but he “looked for help from face to face” (p. 51). His behavior is an indirect disagreement. Although he won’t accept their advice at the beginning of the discussion, Candy sees that it is impossible to reverse the situation, which is his conclusion from observing people from face to face, so he accepts their arrangement to shoot his dog rather than offending so many people obtrusively. How appropriate and deliberate he is.
Not only he deliberate, but also Candy is good at negotiation, which is further evidence of his intelligence. When he has to agree with shooting his old dog, Candy mentions putting it off to tomorrow, even though his clever advice is refused by Carlson, who can’t wait a minute to shoot the dog to satisfy his cruel interest. His advice is a delaying tactic used in negotiation to delay a decision’s effectiveness temporarily. How does Candy know it? Nobody knows. Candy’s intelligence is surprising. Also, the agreement between Candy and George shows he is good at negotiation again. When George and Lennie talk about their plan to run a ranch, Candy starts with location and price of a place which interests them to take part in their discussion (p. 66). He talks eight times about money to emphasize that he has money which can’t be refused by George, whose purpose to stay at the ranch is making money(p. 36), so the three persons arrive at an agreement quickly. Even at the end of their discussion, Candy claims “I’ll have thirty dollars more comin, time you guys is ready to quit.” (p. 68). He doesn’t tell George his total amount of money simply; he bids 350 dollars to join their group the first time and asks for their savings. When he knows they only have 10 dollars and he has to wait one month for them to earn more money, Candy mentions adding another 30 dollars as soon as George and Lennie quit soon. That is his strategy to use money step by step to let George do something he wants. From this discussion, it can be inferred that Candy is not a simple man, but one who is good at exploring other people’s bottom line and doesn’t expose his own.
Even though his old and disabled situation makes him pitiful and humble, his cautious attitude makes him be ignored; Candy is actually intelligent, even as wise as a business man. He uses a cautious and humble manner to avoid conflicts; he uses intelligent tips to get along with the young men with different personalities. Therefore, he can survive at a ranch which prefers young men for hard work. Still waters run deep.
References
Steinbeck, J. (2006). Of Mice and Men. Landon: Penguin Books Ltd.
