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The world that surrounds John Steinbeck's’ Of Mice and Men is cruel and unforgiving. From George Milton and Lennie Small having to walk ten miles to the ranch to the final scene, their existence is full of strife. The characters are living in the middle of the Great Depression, a period of time when much of the country was unemployed and migrants were looking for any work available. The entire setting for this story explains why George had to have killed Lennie in the end. All of the men were callous and harden, therefore they would have not offered Lennie mercy. Having George mercy kill Lennie was the best option available. It is possible that George could have gone with other options to help Lennie. George could have hid like they did in Weed, however they would have to go to the trouble of finding work cards and a new job again which would be difficult during the Great Depression. The backstory of how Lennie and George escaped Weed was foreshadowing the future events of the story. When telling Slim what happened George states, “Well, that girl rabbits in an’ tells the law she been raped. The guys in Weed start a party out to lynch Lennie. So we sit in …show more content…
They have no families or real homes to return to. This explains why they were exceedingly unremorseful to come to the conclusion to lynch Lennie after finding Curley’s wife’s broken corpse. The only person to not have wanted to kill Lennie was Slim, who was planning to own small farm with George and Lennie. The rest of the men did not know Lennie as Slim and George did, and in their minds he was a cold murder who snaps women’s necks. Upon finding his wife’s limp body, Curley angrily states, “I’m going to get my shotgun. I’ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I’ll shoot him in the guts.” (Steinbeck 96). Carlson then also declares, “I’ll get my Lugger,” (Steinbeck 96). There is no doubt that these men would have beaten and/or lynched Lennie upon finding
Of Mice and Men - George and Lennie seem to have a very close friendship
In fact, near the ending of the story, he unintentionally snapped Curley’s wife’s neck trying to quiet her (91). Failing to recognize his own strength, Lennie accidentally took her life, proving that he was perilous. By shooting Lennie, George prevented Lennie from accidentally injuring or killing anyone ever again. His verdict was correct in view of the fact that he sacrificed his friend’s life with the intention to protect the lives of others. Furthermore, George’s decision protected Lennie. As a punishment for his deeds, The workers wanted Lennie executed. George realized this and told candy, “Curley’s gon’ta wanta get ‘i'm lynched. Curley’ll get ‘im killed,” (94). In consequence of killing Curley’s wife, Lennie unknowingly put himself in harm's way. Curley’s motive for wanting to kill Lennie was spite and revenge. So, instead of allowing Lennie to be murdered alone and afraid, George took matters into his own hands and made sure his friend died knowing he was cared for and full of hope. Through it's ironic, George’s choice protected Lennie from the malice of others, thus keeping him unafraid and unharmed. However, others may believe
An Ethical Dilemma. People were terrified and disfranchised, John Steinbeck created Of Mice and Men, which set place during the dirty thirties (time of the Great Depression), a time where strength could not overcome aloneness and alienation. The child-like character Lennie was one of the most misunderstood characters, even with his best friend and caretaker George. In the beginning, they were uncanningly together in a society of loners during the time, having only each other, so close many assumed they were brothers. Throughout the story George had vowed to take care of Lennie, however under the circumstances he faced he chose to shoot his best friend.
George is helpless without Lennie, " Because… because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's why" (13). Them caring for each other makes their friendship stable. First, Lennie needs George to give him a dream to live for. Second, George needs Lennie because caring for Lennie makes him feel important and cared for. These two thing helps keep their friendship stable.
“In the end it all came down to companionship, to friendship, to sacrifice, to compromise” (Richard Russo). This is truly what it came down to in the final scene of John Steinbeck’s classic novel Of Mice and Men. Lennie and George, two migrant workers living in the Great Depression time period, experienced a great deal of trouble and happiness during their time at the ranch. Lennie is an immensely strong person, but has a mental age of a five-year-old giving him a diminutive amount of control over his strength, and he has a strange obsession of soft things, especially rabbits. George is a normal person who reluctantly promised Lennie’s Aunt Clara that he would take care of Lennie during their travels as migrant workers. Both men have a dream
John Steinbeck, in his novel, Of Mice and Men, implies that in times of dire need, taking the life of one whom is suffering is the only viable option. He develops his claim by illustrating Lennie’s mental illness throughout the various conflicts faced by the two men, George Milton and Lennie Small, while on their journey to reach the, “American Dream.” Steinbeck’s purpose is to rationalize the immortality of killing a loved one in order to sustain internal peace. The novel is intended for an audience that wishes to recognize the difficulties faced by those who lived during the time of the Great Depression.
In the story, “Of Mice and Men”by John Steinbeck, the characters Lennie, George and Crooks have many different character traits that make themselves unique and remarkable. These characters face many obstacles and conflicts all around the story, but overcome them in a particular way. Throughout the story, Lennie is shown to be childlike and friendly while George is forgiving and wise and Crooks being displayed as sharp-witted and lonely.
In the story “Of Mice and Men”, by John Steinbeck. Lennie and George were the two main characters. George has always taken care of Lennie.Lennie was the very simple minded character. George and Lennie were both migrant workers. They would have to move from place to place because Lennie always messes things up by getting into trouble. Lennie and George have a big brother relationship. Having an older brother can often leave you to rely on them. Lennie and George have a big brother relationship because George tells Lennie what to do, Lennie tries to be like George and George gets frustrated with Lennie but still puts up with him.
Every wolf needs a pack. A pack they hunt with, eat with and travel with. A pack that protects them and cares for them like a friend. Most men in the 1930s did not have a pack. They would bounce from ranch to ranch stalking their work and money their meal. Many lone wolves would go alone with no one else to talk to or rely on, but not George. He has a pack, a friend he can count on to protect him and care for him. In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck conveys how even the lone wolf benefits from the companionship of his pack.
Did you know that in 2011, 79 percent of murders reported to the FBI were committed by friends or loved ones? In this novel by John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, it is clear that the statistics ring true. At the end of the novel, we readers have been through a roller coaster ride with our two main characters, George and Lennie, and mentally handicapped, yet strong man. For the final loop in the roller coaster, we lose a main passenger. George makes a selfless decision for himself and Lennie, he must kill Lennie for his own sake. There are actually a lot of justifiable reasons for the slaying of his own lifelong best friend. In a lot of ways Lennie was dependant , and in that he made life hell for both of the men, in the end Lennie was doomed
Is there ever a good time to kill someone? George was put in a tight spot. Should he kill Lennie or should he not kill him? If someone’s in pain or asks to be killed is it alright to kill them? George killed Lennie did he have the right? Did George have a choice? Was it the right or wrong thing to do? These are the questions that will be answered in this paper.
“I killed my best friend,” was the exact thought that hovered in George as he watched his best friend, Lennie, recumbent, cold, and still, on the grass by the riverbanks. In the book of Mice and Men, George faced the dilemma of knowing that he had killed the one he loved the most. Though it was no accident, it was for the good of Lennie. If Lennie had been allowed to live, he would only face the worst of what life has to offer. So instead of having to watch his best friend in pain, George took the initiative to end all of the cruelty of the world and send Lennie to a better place. Therefore, George was justified in killing Lennie.
Lennie fled to the bush after realizing that he did something horrid. However, Lennie most likely couldn't be held guilty because he didn't intentionally break her neck. “George shivered and looked at the gun, then he threw it from him, back up on the bank, near a pile of old ashes” (Streinbeck 106). This evidence is important because it proves George has emotions and realizes that he just killed Lennie. With the death of Lennie, George was struck with the harshness of reality that he just killed his best friend. ‘Slim said, “You hadda, George. I swear you hadda. Come on with me.” (Steinbeck 107). The evidence within the statement proves that Slim is trying to prove to George that it was okay to kill Lennie when in reality George knows it was not. After going with Slim, George begins to feel worse and worse with what he has done. This proves that killing another human, friend or foe, is never justifiable and the actions one take to murder another could play back in their minds for
There are a variety of relationship of people can have with other people. In John Steinbeck's novels, relationships between characters can be difficult, but are always important. The central relationship in Of Mice and Men is between Lennie and George.
If you ask people that have read the book on what they say about the book this might be what they say that it wasn't right for George to kill Lennie. It wasn't right because George planed to kill Lennie. George wasn't the only one to kill someone or something in the story. George is only for himself. he protected Lennie, but at the end of the story he killed Lennie.