Murder In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Is someone a terrible person if they do something wrong to protect another? Would people still feel the same way if they found out that terrible thing was murder? John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” demonstrates a plot where George Milton has to shoot the person that has been by his side most of his life. When his best friend Lennie was always getting into trouble, George never failed to get them out of it. His whole life, he had to watch over Lennie and care for the both of them. George was most protective towards Lennie when he would not let him leave his side and when he shot him himself so that Curley could not. George’s action of taking in Lennie when his Aunt Clara dies shows how much he cares about his companion. George does not have

To most people, the thought of killing your best friend is unbearable, but George’s decision was a fair and carefully thought out one. He felt that it was his only option to kill his best friend himself. It was the best thing for Lennie and George, as well. He did not want to see someone else brutally shoot his partner. George may have related this to when Candy says, “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.”(Steinbeck 61). This shows that he wanted Lennie to be killed by someone he has been with for a long time, rather than have Curley or Carlson shoot him. George also wanted a death that would be quick and as painless as possible. A gunshot in the back of the head is almost an instant death. People even say it is peaceful, especially if the victim does not know it is coming because they cannot be scared about it. Additionally, George talked to Lennie about their dream before he pulled the trigger. He wanted him to die peacefully, so Lennie gushed about their dream of owning a ranch together right before he died. Therefore, Lennie died happy. On the other hand, George killing his best friend helps him, too. He does not want to see Lennie dying in agonizing pain while he just has to watch it and have the strangers around him