Of Mice And Men(Symbols)

English
Of Mice and Men
Symbols

Currently in my English class I am reading a book called Of Mice and Men. At first I was skeptical about the book because of the name of it. But now I know I should never judge a book by its cover. This book not only tells a story but also has a symbolic meaning, which I will be explaining in this essay. I will be writing how an old dog in this story has a bigger meaning symbolically.
In this story there is an old man named Candy. Pretty old looks to be in his early to mid 60’s. On the farm he is useless because he only has one arm. Instead of working on the farm like most of the men on the farm he stays at the bunks and sweeps the floor all day. Even in the circumstance he is in he seems to stay happy and in a good mood most of the time. That is because he has a dog that he has had for half the years he was on this earth. He had that dog since it was a little puppy.
The dog in the story was a symbol. It basically represented what was left of his earlier life and his dreams. The dog didn’t only represent his dreams, but it was the closest thing he had to a family. Without the dog by his side he would be all alone.
The dog had grown old right along with Candy. His fur was no longer soft as he was in his younger years. He no longer barked and walked slow with rumatism running throughout his body. He grew so old he began to stink and the workers began to notice it. The men in his bunker decided the best thing to do with the dog was to take out in the back and shoot it. Candy denied the decision but was not going to go against the guys decision. When he heard the gun shot from the distance he slowly lay down and faced the wall and cried.
This story seems like a regular story. But many small things that are unnoticed have a greater meaning. There are symbols left and right in this book. You just have to look closely to find them.