How Does Steinbeck Present Death In Of Mice And Men

The Gift of Death Usually, the word “death” is used with a negative connotation, but with the right justification, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Throughout the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the character George is shown to have his strengths in wit and intelligence. He is forced to make difficult decisions throughout the book and calls upon these strengths to choose the best decision for himself. His final and toughest decision is to shoot his less-intelligent friend and companion, Lennie. George’s decision to shoot Lennie shows strength in his character. This is because George knows that he will regret it if he doesn’t shoot Lennie, George lets Lennie die peacefully, and George knows that he and Lennie can’t reach their dream

In the novel, Candy lets Carlson shoot his dog. This is one of George’s choices: to leave the murder to others and keep Lennie’s blood off his hands. Later in the story, Lennie hurts Curley’s hand in self defense. This is another one of George’s choices to fight back. He can use his luger and Lennie’s strength to fight and try to secure their future together, with the risk of painful death for both of them. He decides not to follow through with these options, though, and makes a third for the greater good. After Candy allows Carlson to shoot his dog, he admits to George, “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to let no stranger shoot my dog” (Steinbeck 61). Candy didn’t want his dog dead at the hands of someone else. He regrets not doing it himself. When George decides to kill Lennie, he pulls from these experiences in his brief time at the ranch to make the emotionally strong decision of shooting Lennie himself. George lets Lennie die in a way that will make his final moments happy. George knows that he can give Lennie a better ending than whoever he could end up with. George uses his experiences to give Lennie the most comfortable

In the novel, Carlson insists on shooting Candy’s dog, saying, “The way I’d shoot him, he wouldn’t feel anything. I’d put the gun right there. Right back of the head. He wouldn’t even quiver” (Steinbeck 45). Carlson is insisting on shooting Candy’s dog by telling him that it wouldn’t hurt. Later, George pointed his gun to the exact same spot on Lennie’s head. George knows that he can make Lennie happier in his final moments than anyone else as his friend, and he is strong enough to seize the opportunity, even though it causes him the heartbreaking loss of a friend. George knows that he and Lennie can’t ever really reach their dream together. Lennie and George are stuck in an infinite loop. They get a job at a ranch, Lennie messes it up, and they have nothing. Throughout the novel, George mentions that he and Lennie were kicked out of their old ranch in Weed because Lennie got in trouble for touching a girl’s dress. Lennie and George ran away, and ended up in a new ranch, where George says, “God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easily. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble” (Steinbeck