Lennie In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

In 1937, John Steinbeck published a book that would retain prominence for decades in American literature. It is titled “Of Mice and Men.” The story revolve around two lifelong best friends named George and Lennie in 1930s America. The two have nothing in common, excluding their brotherly love and loyalty for one another. Unbeknownst to characters in the book, Lennie most likely deals with autism, which affects his social behavior. However, characters do not understand his behavior and deem him “a cuckoo” (39), “a God damn nuisance” (41), “like a kid” (43), and “a dum-dum” (78). The general misconceptions that are derived from Lennie’s actions prompt George to protect his friend at all costs, while also doing what is best for everyone around

The dog, Marley, manages to be incorrigibly misbehaved, despite attempts by professionals to conduct him. His owners, Jenny and John Grogan, take to calling him “The World’s Worst Dog.” They love him deeply, nonetheless. In one of the later scenes, the family sits together moments before Marley undergoes a surgery. After a solemn silence, John remarks, "It's like Of Mice and Men,” referring to Marley being oblivious to the events that would unfold. Though John said this in response to a non-fatal surgery, it could have served for when Marley was later put to sleep, unaware of what was happening. In Of Mice and Men, a dog is shot as those around it deem its existence painful to others, as well as itself. This event in the book foreshadows future events, and the dog stands to symbolize Lennie. The allusion in Marley & Me calls back to the moments where George stands behind Lennie with a gun in his hand, or when the character Carlson walks the dog out to kill him. The two events are essentially interchangeable when discussing both of their meanings. Like Lennie, like the dog in the book, Marley is unaware of what will happen to him. Additionally, all three of their deaths are planned by those they love. John, Candy (the owner of the killed dog in the book), and George all decide themselves what is best for someone close to their heart; they believe

There is debate as to whether or not it was right to hold someone else’s life in their hands. However, all of George’s actions were done for Lennie’s sake. Love motivated him to kill his best friend because he did not want to see his best friend die painfully at the hands of a stranger. Were Of Mice and Men set in today’s world, then Lennie’s death could have been avoided and he could have been admitted to a place where his disability was understood and tended. Unfortunately, complete knowledge of autism would not come for years. Had Lennie not been shot, he would have been terribly mistreated by others. John in Marley & Me experiences a great dilemma, as he desperately wishes not to put Marley to sleep. However, he sees that keeping his dog around meant only pain for Marley, and thus those who cared for him. John decided to put Marley to sleep as that solution was the one that ultimately brought the most happiness, ironically. Marley would have died on his own, anyways, but the road to the end would have been painful. John’s decision was selfless and made from love. George is similar. Though he repeatedly goes on tirades throughout the book on how the absence of Lennie would make his life easier, complaining,”If I was alone I could live so easy” (11), he does not kill Lennie for his own benefit. The death was moral and exhibited self-sacrifice and selflessness on George’s part, as he chooses the option that will forever wound himself but