Are George's Actions Towards Lennie Cruel

116 Words1 Pages
George’s actions towards Lennie are seemingly cruel; therefore, it is understandable why one would be unwilling to condone his actions. However, despite the immutable cruelty of taking someone’s life, George does this to Lennie out of love and care for him. This is demonstrated by George’s understanding of the lack of alternate options. When Steinbeck’s character, Slim, says to George, “S’pose they lock him up an’ strap him down and put him in a cage” (97), to George, Steinbeck is assuring the reader that George is aware of every other possible outcome of the situation. With this knowledge, George ultimately decides that taking Lennie’s life is unequivocally the most merciful way to remedy the egregious situation.