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Explore the character of george in of mice and men
Steinbecks description of george
Steinbecks description of george
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I think that killing, in very rare cases can be justified, some call it a mercy killing, or euthanasia, some people use those terms just to justify what they did, others actually believe it was the right thing to do. I mean, if you have a friend or a relative who's dying a painful drawn out death, wouldn't you want to end their suffering? Maybe not you yourself do it, but you would want them to die happy, a painless death. Others would argue that death itself is painful, although that might be true, there are some cases where someone dies and they don't feel anything at all, they feel no pain, they don't suffer, they could die happy, it all depends on the situation, but when it comes to having to decide, its hard. Not everyone will agree with your decision, but deep down you know what you need to …show more content…
Not everyone will understand how it will affect you if you do decide to take the task at hands and do it yourself, but there is one person who will understand. His name is George, if you don't know him, he's from John Steinbeck's of mice and men. You see, he too had to make a difficult decision, and when the time came to make that choice, to let his friend suffer or give him mercy, he chose mercy, even though he knew he would never get to see him again, never hear his laugh, see his smile, the way he talks would slowly fade from his memory, over time George would eventually forget what he looks like. This brings up another good question, if you do choose to do what George did and end someone's life in order to give them peace, should you be punished? The answer is no, you shouldn't be punished because what you did is punishment enough, what you did will always stay with you, you won't be able to forgive yourself, you will live on knowing that you took someone's life away from them, that burden alone is enough
Despite euthanasia being depicted as unjust in terms of Kings definition I believe that ending a patient’s life in order to relieve pain and suffering is ‘just’ only if the patient has made the decision and doctors have done all they could. Besides, a happy death sounds a lot better than a painful death.
James Rachels tells us in his article, “Active and Passive Euthanasia,” about two cases that involve in killing and letting die. He believes that there is no morally difference between killing and letting them die. I openly agree with the reasons James Rachels provided in his article. He gives us two different situations where one is involved in killing and another letting them die. Smith and Jones were planning on getting a decent amount of money from the death of their nephew, so they wanted the child dead.
The thought of death is a scary one. However the scarier thought is “living” a life in pain and suffering from an incurable and terminal disease such as cancer or Alzheimer’s. Imagine your grandparent has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung cancer. Now the doctor will list off all the possible treatments and in your heart you want your grandparent to try everything to fight for their life. After hearing the doctor give the terrible news, your grandparent ask the doctor about some options but also mentions assisted death. Your mind floods with memories and arguments against it. Your grandparent explains how they have lived a full life, doesn’t want to put the family in debt from the medical bills along with the inevitable cost of a funeral and have
In the words of Jack Kevorkian “In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do harm instead by prolonging and even magnifying patients’ dis-ease.”. His excellent quote shows one that mercy killing can help a person stop suffering with a prolonged death.In Stienbecks novella Of Mice And Men Lennie falls victim to his impulses and makes himself suffer and George suffer the concequences. George reveals how mercy killing is necessary in some cases because it stops suffering, prevents worse from happening, and may help society continue working.
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.
In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck explores human relationships through characters who are barely fleshed out beyond the boundary of a stereotype. Many of the minor characters even have names which reflect their status as a symbol of their position rather than thinking, feeling people. Crooks, the African American stable buck, represents the "crooked" thinking of the majority toward other races during the time period while Curley's wife represents only that- the wife of a man. Her character serves to show the place of women in a man's society. Likewise, the two main characters, George and Lennie, each serve as a symbol of psychological and physical traits which complement each other to show how important human relationships are, regardless of the traits a person may possess. All human beings develop relationships with others because those relationships fill particular needs. Those needs may be physical, economic, psychological, or social.
Euthanasia is debated globally about whether or not it should be illegal or become legalized. Some will say that it is wrong, that it is taking the life of a human being; however, others will say that it is just taking the life of a human who is already terminally ill, and suffering. Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Columbia, and Luxemburg. Assisted suicide; which is another form of euthanasia is legal in Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Canada, and in some parts of the U.S: Washington, Oregon, Vermont, Montana, and California. Despite many beliefs of euthanasia being morally wrong, it provides terminally ill patients an alternative to the painful suffering they are to experience before their death.
Only the patient wouldn’t have to suffer as long. On the other hand, physical pain is not the only form of suffering. One must take into consideration the patient’s mental health. When the patient knows they are going to die and they understand more pain and suffering are to come, the more humane way would be to let the patient choose to die peacefully. Also, a patient that is psychologically suffering could decide to end their lives in a non-peaceful manner.
Our values, opinions and beliefs depend on what culture, religion and the society we come from. People who are against view euthanasia as murder and that we must respect the value of life. Those who are in favor of euthanasia believe that doing such act eliminates the patient’s pain and suffering. Also, the right to die allows the person to die with dignity. Euthanasia may involve taking a human’s life, but not all forms of killing are wrong nor consider as murder. It depends on the underlying reasons and intentions. If you value a person’s life and the cause of death is for the patient’s benefit and not one’s personal interest, then euthanasia is permissible.
Everybody faces death eventually. While some people abhor the impending experience, others may await it excitedly. Regardless of one's expectations, most people do not wish for a painful end. If a situation arises where one must make a decision concerning approaching death or the death of loved ones, most people would hope for the least possible suffering. While a decision like this is extremely difficult to make, many people choose death as opposed to living in agony. However, others think that euthanasia is reprehensible no matter what the circumstances are. Author Cheryl Eckstein believes, "Killing in the name of compassion and mercy is wrong" ("Can there ever", par. 9). Homicide and suicide are generally not considered fair or sensible, but sometimes, however, they are carried out as acts of kindness and love. Thus, in certain situations, euthanasia may not be morally wrong.
A person that is suffering from a terminal illness decides that life is not worth living because there is too much pain involved and ends his own life, would that be wrong of him? That is the question that is at hand. Many supporters of the “right to die movement” can justify euthanasia. First, because terminal illness causes pain that is unbearable for that individual. That is the main reason why people seek self-induced death.
According Richard Gula, active euthanasia is legally considered homicide (5). Another intervention and approach to euthanasia could be through the use of analgesic means. The use of morphine or other anesthetic medication could be used to allow the patient to die or hasten their dying process. I consider the latter procedure to be more humane than that of the other because it is morally wrong to kill a person, rather it's humane for someone to die naturally. Before I discuss the rights and wrongs of euthanasia, I will define death or a person, when is it safe to say...
...he same time, it is ending the person's life that is the most valuable thing a person may ever hope to own. The decision to end one's life at the time of suffering should then be let laid into the hands of the sufferer and let it be upon his/her own conscience to decide whether he/she wants to end their lives. And yet it is a life that they are ending, life that is only given once and can never be replaced by anything else.
Every human who suffers from such diseases should have the right to leave this world peacefully and to die with dignity. Prisoners even have a right for their last wish, so it is our duty to fulfill the last wish of sick patients. Besides, if the patient’s will is rejected, he or she might try to commit the suicide.So many times they are enticed to do such a great harm to themselves . Very often this is the only way to relieve the pain away from patients. Euthanasia not only helps the terminally ill patients, but also their loved ones.“Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide will shorten the period of pre-mortem suffering and eliminate fear about how and when death will occur. The patient will have a measure of control over the process of dying” (Singer,
The world is full of people, some of which are suffering every day from pain. Even with the advancements that have been made with medicine, it’s not enough to cure many diseases or to heal a person’s pain. Euthanasia is commonly referred to as a “mercy killing”. It is the intentional act of putting a person to death quietly and painlessly who has an incurable or painful disease, it is intended to be an act of mercy. According to (ANA, 2013), Euthanasia is the act of putting to death someone suffering from a painful and prolonged illness or injury.