Sterilization In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Niccolo Machiavelli once stated, “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.” During the 1900’s and even before then, the disabled were mistreated and sterilized. The process of sterilization was known as eugenics. Many people supported the cause and thought all people with disabilities should be sterilized because of their lack of contribution to society. There were people who supported the disabled, but there was also the common man who believed whichever opinion was popular was correct. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is an allegory to the situation of the disabled people during that time. Each character represented

Lennie had already killed two things that day: Curley’s wife and the puppy. Even though George was clever man, he couldn’t hide Lennie’s mental disabilities forever. “He unburied his puppy and inspected it, and he stroked it from head to tail. He went on sorrowfully, ‘But he’ll know. George always knows. He’ll say, ‘You’ve done it. Don’t try to put nothing over me,’” (85). Lennie realizes that George may be angry at him for killing the innocent puppy. In spite of George asking Lennie to stay out of trouble, Lennie got in trouble without knowing. Eventually, George wouldn’t be able to cover for Lennie’s mistakes. If George just kept on moving with Lennie, sooner or later someone could have found Lennie’s well hidden disability. People knowing about Lennie’s disability could create more pain for Lennie because they may have sterilized or killed him for being unuseful to society. Some may say that George made mistakes too. Yes, George made mistakes such as telling Lennie to hit Curley, but none of his mistakes caused deaths. Furthermore, he didn’t have a disability. Lennie’s disabilities and innocence was what differed the effect of their mistakes. George made an excellent decision by killing Lennie. If he hadn’t killed Lennie, the future consequences could have been greater. Killing Lennie was a way to hide his disability, while preventing torture for both of

One may say that George was being selfish and risking his most valuable friendship. True, Lennie was innocent and it was a mistake, but how many mistakes can he make before everything collapses? Furthermore, George cared for Lennie because he was like a little brother. George gave Lennie maximum protection and support. “George still stared at Curley’s wife. ‘Lennie never done it in meanness,’ he said. ‘All the time he done bad things, but he never done one of ‘em mean.’ He straightened up and looked back at Candy. ‘Now listen. We gotta tell the guys. They got to bring him in, I guess...I ain’t gonna let ‘em hurt Lennie,’” (95). George isn’t going to let anyone harm Lennie, so he formed a brilliant plan. George formed the plan for a reason, to make sure that the only person who killed Lennie was George. George was the balance, he needed to make sure no mistakes were committed for their American dream to be achieved. Lennie was a barrier to their American dream and their happiness. If Lennie had died from Curley’s hands, it would be a violent death and full of misery. When George executed Lennie, he prevented the further possible mistakes, agony, and the feeling of being terrified. George was not selfish, but caring to make sure that Lennie deserved a better death. Although George was snapping his closest bond,