He thinks that Candy’s dog should be shot because it is old and smelly, he persistently argues to shoot the dog, an example is when he says “Well, I can’t stand him in here” and “and he stinks to bear hell. Tell you what. I’ll shoot him for you. Then it won’t be you that does it.” He suggests that Candy could have one of Slim’s puppies instead, but he does not recognise that Candy has an emotional attachment to his dog. After he shoots the dog, he does not apologise to Candy and he even cleans his gun in full view of everyone, this shows that he is an insensitive character.
In comparison, Slim was more thoughtful and wanted the dog dead for its own good because of its poor health: “He ain't no good to you, Candy. An' he ain't no good to himself. Why'n't you shoot him, Candy?” At the end of the novel when Lennie must die, similarly, Carlson is only interested in killing the weak (Lennie), so he says, “I’ll get my luger” not thinking about anyone else. The scene that includes the killing of the old dog foreshadows the death of Lennie too; one clue is that the dog is shot in the back of the head completely unaware and with no pain with the luger. Towards the end of the novel, Lennie is also secretly shot in the same place with the same weapon by George out of mercy so his friend doesn’t experience a cruel painful death.
I can’t shoot that well and you know it!’ ” (127) When Atticus is put in the spot to shoot the dog, it is a courageous act because if Atticus does not kill the dog he knows that it will turn around and attack him due to being rabid it will attack anyone and if Atticus shoots someone’s house he would end up in jail for murder. Another example of how Atticus is courageous was when he stands his ground against a drunk mob trying to kill Tom Robinson. Since Heck Tate is called off on duty, he had no support at all. “ ‘You know what we want’ another man said ‘Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch’ ‘You turn around and go home Walter,’ Atticus said pleasantly.” (202) Atticus risks his own life
The ways in which Candy’s dog and Lennie are treated in life and in death are the same. The continued existence of both has become offensive to the rest of the men. Lennie was to be lynched by Curley had George not done him a favour and done it the less way. Candy’s dog was killed because it discomforted others in the bunkhouse. Both were shot in the back of the head.
In effect, they have killed a mockingbird. Boo Radley is another example of a human “mockingbird”. He has spent his entire life as a prisoner of his own home because his father was overcautious in punishing him for a mistake he made as a child. Boo Radley observes the world around him, causing no harm to anyone; he then goes on to save Jem and Scout’s lives when Bob Ewell attacks them. The sheriff, Heck Tate, determines that Bob Ewell’s death will be ruled as an accident to avoid forcing Boo to go to trial, even though Boo killed him to protect the children.
Then, Kino kills three trackers who mistook Coyotito for a coyote and shot him. Eventually, Kino realises that the pearl would bring nothing but evil upon their family. As a result of this, he and Juana have the courage to throw it back into the sea so this would not happen to another person again. During the beginning of the novel, Steinbeck
When the unfeeling Carlson suggests that Candy's dog be put out of its misery, Candy abdicates the responsibility to Carlson. He tells George later that he should have shot his dog himself, foreshadowing George's decision to take responsibility for Lennie's death and "be his brother's keeper." Candy also plays a significant role in the dream, providing the money needed to make the down payment. Because of Candy, the dream almost becomes real. Candy's down payment causes George to believe that, perhaps, the dream can be realized.
This is an example of Irony, because Miss Giates is saying she doesn't like Hitler when she acts similar to him. Scout learns that not everyone can be as they seem. Another way that Scout learns that people don't appear to always be what they seem is when Atticus shoots the rabid dog that terrorizes the town. After Heck Tate hesitates to shoot the dog, Atticus takes over and shoots one shot and kills the rabid dog. At first Scout thought her dad (Atticus) was to old to do anything, until Atticus shoots the dog.
Steinbeck uses Candy to show the theme of loneliness. He initially becomes lonely once his dog is shot and killed. The dog was his closest companion. Candy told George, "You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn't no good to himself nor nobody else.
Lennie was very isolated also from the ranch workers because he wasn't normal and acted very childish, this mustn't of been nice for Lennie and that is how the ranch is unpleasent for him. Carlson made Candy's life on the ranch very hard because he depised Candy's smelly old dog, in the book Carlson kills the dog because it was old and it stank but he never cared about how Candy felt about the dog he just cared about himself. Carlson killed the dog eventhough he knew how much Candy loved it, when Carlson suggested killing the dog “Candy looked for help from face to face” but nobody helped him. The reason why Candy couldn't stop Carlson from killing his dog was because he was a very brittle old man and was mainly over powered by people stronger than him. This event was very unpleasent for Candy.