I enjoyed part three of OMAM. I thought that it was interesting that Carlson wanted to kill Candy's dog and kept suggesting it. I think that he did this because he knew that the old dog was suffering and was hurting inside. I think that he thought that it would also be useless to keep him alive because he couldn't see or eat, and also he smelled terrible. I could be wrong though, and maybe he likes to kill, but I don't think that that is the case. He seemed very anxious to get it over with, as shown on page 47. "'If you want me to, I'll put the old devil out of his misery right now and get it over with.'" Finally, Candy agreed to kill his dog after no one would "take his side." I think that shooting the dog might represent helping others because Carlson was trying to help the dog by putting an end to his pain. I think that Carlson wasn't trying to be mean, because in the story, he leads the dog out with kindness, saying "'Come boy. Come on boy.'" (this was found on page 48) If I were Carlson, I would be debating what to do because on the one hand I wouldn't want the dog to suffer but on the other I wouldn't want to kill it.
I think that the dog symbolizes life, even though he is dead. He symbolizes life to me because he had lived a full and happy life with Candy, and now he doesn't live in pain.
What would you do in Carlson's place? What do you think the dog represents? What would you do in Candy's place?
While I think that you make a good point Lily, I actually had a different perspective on how the symbolism with Candy's dog was used. I actually thought the dog was more symbolized on Lennie than life. I thought that an analogy would be good for symbolism in this case, Lennie: Candy's dog:: George: Candy. I think that when Candy said, "I been around him so much I never notice how he stinks" it sort of relates to Lennie and George's relationship. Lennie obviously has a disorder, but since George has been with him for such a long time, George is used to all of his reactions to daily life. I feel that after such a long time with that pestering dog, the guys just could not handle and support the dog anymore. I think that since the guys are so irascible, sooner or later they won't support Lennie and his actions and make him leave. Do you think the guys will make George make Lennie leave?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Lily, that I think Carlson was not trying to be mean by killing Candy's dog. I believe that Carlson has never experienced loving something or someone and being attached to it so he could not possibly imagine why Candy would be attached to a stinky, old dog. I think that Carlson thought he was doing Candy and the other men a favor or simply doing something that had to be done, like just another job on the ranch.
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