Examples Of Euthanasia In Of Mice And Men

Andre Chevrier

Ryan McGuirk

English II Honors

14 March 2023

(Im)moral Killing: Was Lennie’s death morally right? Non-voluntary euthanasia is identified by the BBC as situations in which the person being killed by the euthanization cannot make a decision/make their wishes known to those around them (Source A). Examples of this situation involve the patient being in a coma, being especially young, being senile/not in a stable state of mind, being mentally disturbed such that they require protection from themselves, and having heavy brain damage. In the case of the book, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, George is Lennie’s primary caretaker. Lennie requires a caretaker because he’s “jes' like a kid” (Steinbeck 44). After Lennie unintentionally

In circumstances of involuntary euthanasia such as that of the novel, in which there are two characters (the perpetrator and the victim), one person imparts their feelings on the other to argue for their death. But when considering killing another without knowledge of their true thoughts, the true ambitions of the executioner must be called into question. The “Doctrine of Double Effect'' states that “it is permissible to cause such a harm as a side effect (or ‘double effect’) of bringing about a good result even though it would not be permissible to cause such a harm as a means to bringing about the same good end” (Source D). This is essentially saying that euthanasia may be acceptable if it is done with the leading intention of pain management and a side effect of death, instead of the inverse. George thinks to himself in Section 1 of the novel, “God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble” (Steinbeck 12). George is clearly fed up with the frustrations of life with Lennie, and has no trouble expressing this out loud. This sentiment is not simply a one-time thing, as George can be seen saying the same thing in Section 3: “‘S’pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing.”’ Old Candy nodded in appreciation of the idea. “‘We’d just go to her,”’ George said” (Steinbeck 26). The continuation of George’s desire for independence hints to the reader his hope to be rid of Lennie. Given that he wants to live an easier life away from Lennie, it is obvious to suspect his desire is to kill Lennie, and as a side effect end Lennie’s suffering. George most likely desires to be rid of Lennie, and is using the circumstances to trick himself into thinking that his murder is a mercy