Part 3: Candy's dog

In part 3 of Of Mice and Men Candy's dog is shot, and the conversation leading up to that is intriguing. In the beginning of the conversation Carlson suggests shooting the dog, because of his old age and because he smelled. I think that there might have been a reason beyond the smell to why he wanted to shoot the dog, for example I think that he may not have liked Candy and wanted to get back at him. Also, he could have been being selfish and was only thinking about how he did not like the dog. Furthermore, the dog itself and the shooting of the dog could have symbolized Candy's hope, since he held onto the dog for so long. In the end when Candy finally agrees to have the dog shot, I think it was because although he truly loved the dog, it was suffering. "[The dog] can't eat, can't see, can't even walk without hurtin'" (47). So, I believe that Candy was just wanting to put his ancient dog out of misery.