Examples Of Euthanasia In Of Mice And Men

Mr. Fish

Mr. Irby

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Of Mercy and Murder

Every year, between three million and 4 million animals are euthanized in the United States, due to the animal no longer being able to live happily or healthily, but the question is whether euthanasia is only for animals? Death is a natural part of life and while death by unnatural causes, such as by the hands of another, is not natural that does that make it wrong. Many people believe that in the book Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, the ending was sudden. Lennie’s life ending brutally at the hands of George. However, what truly happened was that Lennie experienced a peaceful, sudden and almost happy death from a gunshot to the back of his head at the hands of a friend

Consent is one very important thing, and the fact of the matter is Lennie ultimately didn’t consent to being shot but that is why it could be considered euthanasia and justified. By Lennie being blissfully unaware and ignorant to his death it was painless and peaceful. When Candy’s dog was shot Candy was just lying in his bed waiting for the sound of gunfire. Afterwards he just turned to the side and laid in more silence. It can only be imagined the thoughts going through Candy’s head at that moment. The feelings of guilt and sadness are clear to be present as Candy lays in his bed staring at the ceiling. Lennie’s death however was the complete opposite, it was so unexpected that Lennie had no time to worry or think, all that was going through his brain was tending to the rabbits on his own little asylum: the farm. In addition, murder is usually committed out of a feeling of anger, regret, or spite. George had none of these emotions which allowed Lennie’s death to be happy. Lennie dies thinking of the farm which allowed him to die with his last thoughts being those of enjoyment. In most murder cases the victim does not die in a peaceful state of mind and definitely not in a happy one. Lennie could not be counted as

George takes Lenny’s life and while it could be said it was murder in the end the decision George made was out of kindness. Of course, George never wanted Lennie to die but that is exactly what made George's decision so great and just. George knew that Lennie would suffer at the hands of Curley, and even if the two escaped together Lennie would just suffer further. George put away his own emotions to make the best decision he could think of and that was to let Lennie go. It was George’s humanity that made the act of killing Lennie justifiable. In the end, Lennie wasn’t murdered, that’s too harsh of a term but instead euthanized by his very best and only friend in the world. This topic is important because euthanasia of a person should be legal. If someone was dying and there was no saving them and they were in pain, being kept alive by machines, then they should be put out of misery. If they’re one true wish was death, then it isn't right to keep them alive. We do it for pets, it should be done for humans too because that's what humanity