You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George? Can’t we?
Chapter 5 · Candy
Context
Standing over the body of Curley's wife, Candy desperately asks George to confirm that the dream of the little farm is still possible. The two had been planning to pool their money to purchase it.
Analysis
The triple interrogative 'can't we...can't we...Can't we?' is the chapter's most desperate use of anaphora, with the final capitalized 'Can't' (after the ellipsis of the question's content) breaking down into pure rhythm of plea. The negative interrogative form ('can't we' rather than 'can we') presupposes the affirmative answer it cannot secure, exposing Candy's recognition that the dream requires denial to survive. Each repetition diminishes the question's referential content while increasing its emotional volume.
How to Use in Essay
Support a thesis that the dream of the farm functions in the novella primarily as a communal speech act rather than a plan of action—Candy's plea recognizes that the dream dies when no one will affirm it aloud.