How Is Lennie's Death Justified In Of Mice And Men

In what context would the killing of any one person be okay? In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie's killing was justified due to his extreme tendencies for violent outbursts and general inability to control himself. Although he may not have intended any harm, his strength alone posed an immense danger to those around him. Moreover, had Lennie remained alive, it would only have been a matter of time before he caused serious injury or death to someone else - hence the necessity of this grisly decision. This is evidenced by other examples in the book such as when Lennie accidentally killed Curley's wife during an altercation with her. For these reasons, some might argue that Lennie's execution was merciful, albeit gruesome; a tragic but

George and Lennie are a pair of boys who have spent a lot of time together and relying on each other. They’ve gone from town to town in search of a stable job to earn money for their dream. Lennie isn’t aware of his own strength which puts him in troublesome situations. After a particular incident, George Lennie would be better off if he was the one to put an end to his mishaps. If George had not killed Lennie, he would have been subject to a much worse fate. In this time, these men are accustomed to acting alone and taking care of things themselves. “But Candy said excitedly, ‘We oughtta let'im get away. You don't know that Curley. Curley gon'ta wanta get 'im lynched. Curley'll get 'im killed” (Steinbeck 94). This quote is important because it tells the reader that had George not killed Lennie, Curley would have likely taken drastic measures to make an example of Lennie. He may have had him thrown in jail or beaten severely, as he sought vengeance for the death of his beloved wife, whom he felt was wronged by Lennie's actions. “He worked himself into a fury. "I'm gonna get him. I'm going for my shotgun. I'll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I'll