It is evident that in Steinbeck's book, Of Mice and Men, the concept of death is greatly symbolized. Candy's dog is used as a symbol because it represents Candy and what will happen to him eventually. Lennie's attraction to soft things leads to him killing every living thing that he touches. When Steinbeck uses these examples he's portraying that nothing good lasts forever.
The representation of Candy's dog is foreshadowing what will happen to Candy in the future. Candy and his dog represent the elderly and the disabled. Carlson and everyone else on the ranch resemble society, therefore, just like Candy and his dog, certain people are not wanted in society. For example, Candy's dog is no longer wanted by the other men, "He ain't no good to you, Candy. An' he ain't no good to himself This ol' dog jus' suffers hisself all the time." (Steinbeck 44,45). This is significant because it shows that society thinks the elderly and the disabled are unimportant and are unable to match up to society's standards. Furthermore, just like Candy's dog, Candy is not accepted in society because of his age as well as his disability. This is why Candy's only companion is his dog. When Carlson shoots his dog, Candy says to George, "I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog." (61). This quote not only shows how sad Candy is about his dog. This also shows that because the dog was his responsibility, he should have been the one to put it down. The quote also is significant in a way that foreshadows Lennie's death. .
Lennie's love for soft things leads to not only the death of the soft things he touches and it also leads to his own death in the end. Lennie means no harm to the soft things he touches, everything is out of his control. When he is in the barn house talking to Curley's wife, "He shook her then, and he was angry with her. 'Don't you go yellin',' he said, and then shook her; and her body flopped like a fish.