“This is not a matter of life versus death, but about the timing and manner of an inevitable death” (Marcia Angell). Euthanasia has been both acknowledged and debated for thousands of years in medical practice. It is the painless killing of someone who is suffering. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck follows the story of two migrant workers in California, Lennie and George. The year is 1937, deep into the Great Depression, and Lennie and George find themselves bouncing between ranches for work. While most men do not travel together, George finds himself both attached to and obligated to Lennie, due to their history and Lennie’s intellectual disability. In the novel, the justification of euthanasia is shown with Candy’s dog and Lennie when they …show more content…
This becomes disheartening to Candy as he has to come to terms with the dog he has raised since he was a pup dying. As candy walks into the bunkhouse with his dog, Carlson brings up, “‘God awmighty, that dog stinks. Get him outa here, Candy! I don’t know nothing that stinks as bad as an old dog. You gotta get him out’” (Steinbeck 44). Candy’s dog is burdening the workers with the stench he gives off. Even when he leaves the room, it hangs in the air causing an upset in their living space. Carlson continues talking about the dog, “‘Got no teeth,’ he said. ‘He’s all stiff with rheumatism. He aint no good to himself’” (44) and, “‘This ol’ dog jus’ suffers hisself all the time’” (45). The dog is a burden to himself because of how low his quality of life has gotten. He cannot eat much, he is partially blind and deaf, and his old body makes it painful to move. He is also a burden for Candy because Candy is the one who has to take care of him and watch him suffer. He has had him for so long that his guilt clouds his judgement. Candy’s dog is coming very close to the end of his life and at this point it is only dragging on unnecessarily. Due to the disintegration of his health, it is most humane to euthanize …show more content…
As he is talking to Slim, he explains, “‘’Course Lennie’s a God damn nuisance most of the time,’ George said. ‘But you get used to goin’ around with a guy an’ you can’t get rid of him’. . .‘’Course he ain’t mean. But he gets in trouble alla time because he’s so God damn dumb’” (41). Lennie can be difficult for George to handle because of his intellectual disability. He does not always understand what is okay and what is not okay. He also has a hard time understanding social cues. During this period of time, there was not the research to understand and the resources to help. Because of this and knowing him for so long, George feels responsible for Lennie. He knows if he does not stay with him, Lennie could end up in serious trouble and get locked up or lynched. Up until now, George has been able to get himself and Lennie out of the consequences that come with Lennie’s behavior. However, Lennie hits a point where the consequences are only going to get worse. “‘I don’t want ta hurt you,’ he said. ‘But George’ll be mad if you yell’. When she didn’t answer nor move he bent closely over her. He lifted her arm and let it drop. For a moment he seemed bewildered. And then he whispered in fright, ‘I done a bad thing. I done another bad thing’” (91). Lennie has burdened himself by becoming a danger to himself and others. He is