Of Mice And Men Lennie's Death Essay

A Guy Got to Sometimes Would you kill your best friend, even though it's for the benefit of both of you? In John Steinbeck’s novel “Of Mice and Men,” George and Lennie are two migrant workers who travel together searching for work during the Great Depression. Lennie is a big man with limited mental capacity and is dependent on George to provide protection and guidance like a big brother. As well, Lennie’s disability makes him a liability and a danger to himself and others. For example, Lennie has accidentally killed multiple small animals and has a history of unintentionally harming others. The novel ends with George shooting Lennie in the head, leaving the reader to ponder on why such a tragedy took place. The tragedy of Lennie’s death,

Firstly, there is the question of mercy, as Lennie’s death was ultimately the most humane option. However, George also had to consider the moral implications of taking his best friend's life, even if it was for the greater good. For Example, Candy’s dog was old, sickly, and suffering, and it was clear that the dog was better off being put down instead of prolonging its agony. Candy states after his dog is shot “I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.” Candy felt regret after not killing his dog and George did not want to make the same mistake. Similarly, Lennie’s death was viewed as a merciful act, as he would have faced a worse fate if he had been put on trial for killing Curley’s wife. “His calm eyes followed Lennie out of the door. “Jesus,” he said. “He’s jes like a kid, ain’t he.” “Sure, he's like a kid. There ain’t no more harm in him than a kid neither, except he’s so strong. While Slim was watching Lennie he recognized how innocent Lennie was like a child. This made George also recognize that Lennie was not made for this world and he would only continue to suffer as long as he

George knew that Lennie’s actions could be misconstrued as intentional, and he feared that Lennie’s actions would put him in trouble too. Ultimately, the decision to end someone’s life is never an easy one, and the complexities of the situation mean that there is no clear-cut answer. In George’s case, he had to weigh up the different options and consider the implications of each decision. After George shot Lennie, Slim came running up and said “Never you mind”, and George responded with “A guy got to sometimes.” George’s decision to kill Lennie was a difficult one, but in the end, he acted in the best interest of both himself and