John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men. Who is Candy?

Candy is the elderly ranch hand, who is referred to in the narrative as a “swamper”. He is the first person George and Lennie meet at their new job. Candy, who has only one hand (the other one having been lost in a way the narrative never specifies) is nearing the end of his life and his usefulness, and fears being discarded like a useless animal. His fears are eased somewhat when he finds himself absorbed into George’s dream of an independent farm, and is crushed when, as the result of Lennie’s killing Curley’s wife, those dreams are rendered empty and useless.