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First-Degree Murder In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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In most states, first-degree murder is defined as an unlawful killing that is both willful and premeditated, meaning that it was committed after planning or "lying in wait" for the victim. In addition, most states also adhere to a legal concept known as the "felony murder rule," under which a person commits first-degree murder if any death (even an accidental one) results from the commission of certain violent felonies. State laws categorizing murders into first, second and possibly third degrees generally require that the first-degree murders include three basic elements, such as: willfulness; deliberation; and premeditation. As to Mr. George Milton, in terms of willfulness, he had a specific intent to end a human life. Yet, whether he acted …show more content…

Milton killed Mr. Small on purpose, consciously and intentionally. As mentioned in the book, Of Mice and Men, it states, “George looked down at the gun.” Meaning he was aware of what he was doing, second guessing his action. Yet, he pulled the trigger as mentioned in the book, “George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger… Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering.” Furthermore, George said woodenly, "If I was alone I could live so easy." His voice was monotonous, had no emphasis. "I could get a job an ' not have no mess." He stopped. As proved, Mr. Milton had the intent, the determination, to shoot Mr. Small before either the authorities or the ranch men …show more content…

In conclusion, Mr. George Milton is clearly guilty of first degree murder of Mr. Lennie Small over killing him consciously, planning his death, and the method/timing of the execution. For example, he second guessed his action when he was at the brush. Had the chance to do right from wrong. Yet, he still carried out his plan. A little before the execution, he stole a ranch man’s gun and knew exactly where to shoot Lennie for not even a single cry of hell can burst out of him. In a hope to wipe him out with a dead silence. Once at the brush, he told Lennie to picture the “Dream” being right where he was looking. Without a sigh, Lennie fell straight forward, and the sound of thunder rolled through the hills. Overall, though Mr. George Milton killed with an act of mercy, he acquired the three elements needed for first degree

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Lennie small was murdered near a creek outside of Soledad many days ago. He was killed by one gunshot wound to the back. The accused, George Milton is being charged with his murder. He is being charged with voluntary manslaughter because he killed Lennie while in a time of passion and out of sympathy for him.

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Many readers who have read, “Of Mice and Men,” have opposing opinions on if George did the right thing by killing Lennie. George thinks that it is best to kill Lennie himself instead of letting the mob get him. He takes Carlson’s gun and goes to Lennie to put him into his happy place, George then shoots him straight in the head. This scene has been very controversial on whether or not George had the right to kill him.

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He [George] pulled the trigger…”’ (Steinbeck 106). This is the part in Of Mice and Men when George kills Lennie peacefully. In John Steinbeck's, Of Mice and Men there are two men named George and Lennie. Lennie is a tall, large, strong, mentally disabled man, while George is a small, smart man.

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Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, we are here for the trial of George Milton. George Milton is on trial for first degree murder of Lennie Small. Lennie Small was a strong young man that seemed to have trouble with memorizing and comprehending. George Milton shot Lennie Small. Lennie Small had murdered a co-workers wife, by breaking her neck.

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However, George could have stood up for Lennie instead of killing him. There is other options other than immediately killing. Lennie was not very smart and George knew that, George was not thinking of Lennie he was thinking of himself. In the passage, Of Mice and Men, George says “He’s dumb as hell, but he ain’t crazy.” This shows that George knows that he is not stupid.

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The Killer Companion Best friends are supposed to be with you perpetually, not betray you when things get desperate. Today, George Milton is being prosecuted with the charge of first-degree murder. George Milton approached his supposed best friend, Lennie Small, and shot him in the back of the head.

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Therese Pivarunas November 1, 2017 Literature 2 Honors Period 4 Banned Book Essay A deep friendship between two people has always been valued in society. The novella Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, should not be banned from libraries and schools, rather, it should be taught to students and remain accessible to the public. This book takes place in the middle of the Great Depression, and follows the journey of two workers looking for jobs in California. Lennie and George, the two workers, support each other through their companionship and hope to make enough money to start a new life. This story contains relatable characters who try to achieve their goals in life, a compelling story of hardship, and features a strong bond between two

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On Chapter 3 ; Pg 40 George claims that he should have let him drown in the river that one time when George Milton told Lennie Small to jump into first. Later on down the road George says “that it would damn good if you were hit in the head by a horse” which could mean that he wished he was kicked in the head so that Lennie small would have died in the impact of the kick. Therefore leading me into my next point of how George Milton Executes Lennie Small with a lugger. Legally George Milton is guilty, It was clearly premeditated and there's no way it was an act of self-defense.

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The main reason George killed Lennie is because Lennie would have killed somebody again. And the evidence is clearly there, the pet mice that he killed, the poor puppy that he accidently hit to hard, and especially Curley’s wife. He almost killed the girl in weed if he had gone any further. The sad thing is is that he doesn't know how strong he really is, nor does he know what he’s done wrong in the first place.

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Hello, today I’m here to prove to you the guilt of George Milton for the first degree murder of Lennie Smalls. There is sufficient evidence that George Milton went into that brush with the intent of murdering Lennie Smalls and that there was previous malice lying under the surface of their recent interactions. The proceedings begin on that calm Sunday, until there was a body found in the stable of the Tyler Ranch in Salinas Valley California. The body was found by a man who goes by the name of Candy, and Candy assuming that Lennie Smalls had been the culprit had warned George Milton of this situation. George, without waiting for the proper authorities to investigate or apprehend Lennie Smalls, stole the gun of one of the other workers most

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After all the anger that George has shown towards Lennie, he utters these words now so Lennie can die with a sense of peace. George does not want to pull the trigger, but he knows that the further consequences of Lennie’s actions will only worsen. To save Lennie from Curley’s wrath, possible imprisonment, and perhaps years of suffering, George takes Lennie’s

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For this crime to be considered euthanasia, Lennie Small would have been terribly ill with no chances of survival. For it to be mercy-killing, Lennie Small would have physically given George the right to kill him. For it to be murder George must have killed Lennie with the intention of death. A reasonable man would not exculpate himself of criminal charge for that conduct. It is your duty, as the jury, to pronounce only appropriate punishments and that I hope you return with the right

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695 Words | 3 Pages

He said to George, “‘I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog’”(61). This is just like the situation with George and Lennie, because George takes care of Lennie, and George doesn’t want anyone else to kill Lennie. George knows that if Lennie must be shot, then he should be the one to do it. George also knew that he could kill Lennie painlessly, because as Carlson said, if someone was shot in the back of the head they “‘wouldn’t even quiver’”(45).

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443 Words | 2 Pages

That George got rid of the burden that Lennie was to him. On the other hand, George also knows what Lennie is capable of and knows what Lennie has done in the past. For example, the thing that happened in weed, “So he reaches out to feel this red dress an’ the girl lets out a squawk, and that gets Lennie all mixed up, and he holds on ‘cause that’s the only thing he can think to do” (Steinbeck 41). Lennie panics too much and just freaks people out, so George put Lennie out of his confusion. In the end, George murdering his friend was well justified.

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839 Words | 4 Pages

In the novella, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, George’s decision to kill Lennie at the end of the novel was justified. George and Lennie were best friends, and have been since they were little. They got ran out of Weed(the old farm they used to work at) for harassing a girl and not letting her go. He was just scared from her screaming and kicking. He didn’t mean to harm, or scare her.

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