A crushed ego

PLOT DETAILS REVEALED BELOW.

Old Candy's dog, after much reluctance, has been taken outside by Carlson. After a couple moments of silence, a gunshot is heard and silence follows. What the author, John Steinbeck, makes me feel lots of sympathy for Candy. I had my own dog before who had to be put down because he got into a car crash with fatal injuries. The author emphasized how Candy just sat on his bunk staring at the wall by mentioning it multiple times. As Carlson came back and started cleaning and oiling his pistol, Candy glanced at it for awhile and turned back to the wall. I feel that the tension between many characters at this point of the book is incredibly thick and heavy.

Suddenly, Curley barges in and apparently his wife is missing again. Slim had gone to care for his mules at the barn when Carlson shot the dog, so Curley immediately suspected him of being with his wife. Predicting a fight, almost everyone goes with Curley to find Slim, leaving the bunkhouse with Old Candy, George and Lennie. During this course of time, George reminds Lennie of what they will do after they earn their "stake." George drops his usually suspicious-of-everyone guard and draws wonderful pictures of a life on their own farm in Lennie's mind. Old Candy listens carefully and offers to pay part of the cost of the farm in return for a spot for him in the farm. I felt much more connected to the protagonists George and Lennie because their ambitions and dreams were revealed.

The work hands come back to the bunkhouse, with Curley's accusation having failed. Knowing he cannot possibly touch Slim, the prince of the ranch, he desperately looks to vent his anger out on someone else. As expected, Curley goes for Lennie, punching his face to a bloody mess. George commands Lennie to fight back, and Lennie crushes Curley's right hand without effort. Tensions around are now at a level never before seen, as Curley builds up more and more thoughts of vengeance and anger.