Lennie's Murder In Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck

“You don’t have to give birth to someone to have a family.” These true words, by renowned actress Sandra Bullock, can be heard loud and clear in John Steinbeck’s acclaimed novel, Of Mice and Men, through the brotherhood between George and Lennie, childhood friends who are as close as brothers. But then, Bang! George’s contentious decision to murder Lennie was a loving necessity as he gave jubilant Lennie, a painless death and prevented further trouble and possibly worse situations. For some background information, Lennie had killed Curley’s wife on accident and Curley, seeking revenge, organized a lynch to hunt Lennie. Lennie fled to the pond, the designated rendezvous point, but the party was on his heels. George had decided to go ahead of the party and talked with Lennie. Unfortunately, as the Curley and the men closed in, George decided to pull out his gun and shot Lennie.

Consequently, Lennie would have been killed either way. George, realizing Lennie’s fate was sealed, chose to be a good friend and give Lennie a painless death, while he was joyous. If he had let Curley and the party get to Lennie, Curley would likely want a painful death or possibly an arrest. Either way would be horrible as Lennie would be terrified in jail, without George. The shooting of Candy’s dog by Carlson also influenced George as Candy later explained, “I oughta shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t oughtta let no stranger shoot my dog.”(pg.61) Candy had raised the dog since it was a pup so their relationship reflects George and Lennie’s friendship as they too were childhood friends. Candy later regretted not being with his dog until the end. If George had not shot Lennie himself, he would be burdened with the fact that he had tolerated a random stranger to kill his best