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Write about the character of george in of mice and men
Write about the character of george in of mice and men
Write about the character of george in of mice and men
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Death is something that happens to everyone eventually, but depending on the way they go, death can be tranquil, or it can be dire. George Milton and Lennie Small are two characters in the book Of Mice and Men. Two character that, with respect, have a profound friendship that ostracizes them from other migrant workers seen during the Great Depression. Whilst traveling across the country for different job opportunities, it has been revealed that Lennie has a mental impairment that often sets him apart from others and has caused George to surrender different opportunities that could better his life in numerous ways. After finding a job as migrant workers on a ranch in California, Lennie makes a decision that causes the death of Curley’s wife …show more content…
and puts his own life in jeopardy. As these conflicts arise, there has to be a decision made: will Lennie die a painful death at the hands of Carlson or Curley, or will he go peaceful at the hands of George? Concluding the story, George is the one who ends up taking Lennie’s life away from him. Regardless of the emotional toll it might have took on him, George’s decision to end his best friend’s life was ultimately the best thing to do. Innocent mistakes should never be punished without any thought towards them.
George not only allowed Lennie to perish peacefully, but he also put in an immense amount of thought into his actions. It has been foreshadowed by Candy that this altercation was going to come up in the near future, even stating, “I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t oughtta let no stranger shoot my dog” (Steinbeck 61). From having prior wisdom from Candy, the thought George put into his decision allowed Lennie to die in a safe environment, unlike Curley’s dog who died without love, and also created depth in his character. George knew that Lennie could never possibly understand the true horror of his actions, but the other migrant workers on the ranch did not. In modern days, many mercy killings have occurred, and even now they are with the same reasoning as George. Notorious Gigi Jordan, charged with murdering her autistic son Jude, claimed that the reasoning behind her actions were, “...to spare him from abuse from the hands of almost half a dozen people” (Rosenberg). This could be related back to George and Lennie in ways more than one. The abuse that the little boy was facing would be just as unbearable as the torture that Lennie would face from the two men. If Curley was going to kill him, he was not going to do it in an pleasant way. It would be torturous for the mentally impaired man, so allowing him to leave in a tranquil way was the best favor George could give him at that time. Thinking throughout this entire process is what made Lennie’s death justified, opposed to what would have happened if Curley and Carlson reached him first. In addition, before pulling the trigger, George states, “I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know” (Steinbeck 106). This displays the amount of speculation that he put into the death of his best friend due to his attempts to calm the male down. The last thing George knew he had to do was ensure that, if
Lennie was going to go now, it had to be in way that he was not shameful or upset with his actions. George Milton put a great deal of thought into the killing of his best friend, even going as far to lessen the amount of guilt that the man felt, which is why, without a doubt, his actions are justified. It could be argued that George’s decision to kill Lennie was unjustifiable. A question comes to reader’s minds: what if Curley and Carlson did not end up killing him? What if he had the opportunity to live and go to jail? One cannot deny that this IS a possibility when it comes to Lennie’s outcome, but would it really be the best thing for him to rot in a cell for the rest of his life? Lennie was internally a child. The harsh conditions that jail would bring him, especially with his mental impairment, would be too intense for his mind to comprehend. His disability was the thing setting him back from other men in the 1930s. Secondly, it is clear to see that Curley’s sole intention was to bring Lennie to his death, stating “He got Carlson’s Luger. ‘Course we’ll shoot ‘im” (Steinbeck 98). There was absolutely zero chance that he was going to spare Lennie’s life and allow him to serve behind bars. Curley is a very impulsive character, and with the actions that have been seen from the start, the trouble he has with Lennie is extreme. Even if he were to spare his life, he would inflict such severe damage that it would be better off if Lennie was dead. Next, Lennie was tormented by the thought that he let George down. A real life example of someone killing their loved one who was in pain is John Wise. After killing his wife, it has been stated that, “Mr. Wise quietly slipped into Room 3201 of the intensive care unit...He put a gun to her left temple and pulled the trigger” (Rivera). This is similar to Lennie and George. John Wise knew that his wife was in pain, just as George knew that Lennie was in pain mentally because of his hallucinations, even if he could not fully process the monstrosity behind his actions. This is why, without a doubt, there was NOTHING better George could have done for Lennie than allow him to die at his hands.
George shoots Lennie because he sees what the other people on the ranch would do to Lennie. After asking Curley if he could not shoot Lennie, Curley tells George that, "'I’m gonna shoot the guts outa that big bastard myself, even if I only got one hand. I’m gonna get ‘im'" (50). This shows that the others on the ranch weren't going to consider that Lennie was disabled, and Curley would try to make his death very painful. This gives George a motivation to kill Lennie: so he could make his death as painless as possible. This makes the reader have sympathy towards George. Additionally, the result of George killed Lennie, who would be the closest person to George to die at his hands, leaves George devastated that he had to do something like that to his best friend. Even though it is the best option and if I were in that scenario, the thing I would do, it understandably still makes his feel heart-broken. Ultimately, the whole book has made me feel sympathy towards George, but the ending makes me feel so much
To begin with, George Milton planned Lennie Small’s death at the end of the book Of Mice and Men. As soon as George found out of what Lennie did to Curley’s wife, he soon had the motive to end Lennie’s life. Lennie was a special kind of person, he did not
That ain’t no good, George.’”(Steinbeck 97). Because Lennie killed Curley’s wife, he committed a felony. George wanted Lennie to be thrown in jail at first. He wanted Lennie to be arrested because he thought it was the best thing for Lennie but then Slim told him it would not be good for Lennie. It would be bad for Lennie because Lennie would not understand his rights because he’s mentally challenged and locking him up in a cage would just hurt Lennie. George then realized he needed to kill Lennie so nobody would mistreat him. George is protecting others from Lennie.”’Lennie-if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before…’”(Steinbeck 15). George has been with Lennie for many years and he knows how Lennie will never learn and he will keep committing bad stuff. George knew something was going to happen at the ranch because Lennie has always done something wrong. George tried to prevent something from going wrong but he couldn’t. As a result he had to put down Lennie so he would not hurt anyone ever again. George felt the hard choice of killing Lennie was the right decision for George because Curley wanted to get his revenge, Lennie would be mistreated in prison and he was
This shows throughout the book with the many different mistakes Lennie makes. Lennie starts off by killing mice, then he kills a puppy and finally a woman! After Lennie kills Curley’s wife George responds by saying “I should of knew… I guess maybe way back of my head I did.”(Steinbeck 94). George knew it was gonna come to this and he probably also had a feeling Lennie was going to continue to kill more people or animals. Plus, when the character in the book; Candy asks who did it, George says “Ain’t you got anr idea?”(Steinbeck 94). That shows that George knew he was gonna have to do something about Lennie. George was going to have to do something about Lennie sometime, and after George killed a woman he knew there would be no other choice that to kill Lennie through non voluntary
For several years you have been taking care of your grandma, who has been suffering in the hospital. You pray that she gets better. But day after day, you see the hurt in her eyes even though she tries to fight through it. You know that she won’t get better until you put her out of her misery and end her life. But once you know she is gone you will miss her deeply but it will be better for her and all her pain will go away. In the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, one of the important characters, George, faces a similar struggling situation with his best friend Lennie. Lennie murders the wife of another important character, Curley. George has to make an important decision that will affect the rest of both
After Lennie makes his mistake of killing Curley's wife the other characters want to brutally kill him being led by Curley but George who realises that this is a cruel way for Lennie to die and that he can’t save Lennie he decides that Lennie must have a merciful death. The reader infers when Curley says “ ‘I know who done it,[...][It was lennie].I know he done it. [...] I’m gonna get him. I’m going for my shotgun[...]I’ll shoot him in the guts’ ” ( 96). In this quote we understand that Curley plans on killing Lennie but in a more painful way than Lennie deserves. Thus George realizes that Lennie is about to be killed in a horrific way so he intervenes and kills Lennie in a peaceful way. This shows that mercy killing is to be done over the horrific way that Curley wants to take out Lenie. Because Lennie would have a much worse death than needed and Lennie could have put up a fight, George completes a mercy killing as the safest
George kills Lennie because he did not want to witness Lennie being hurt or killed carelessly, run off by in his own and not being able to take care for himself, and Lennie’s mental disorder will never change how Lennie reacts to certain situations. Many believe taking the life of another without consent is unacceptable but in certain situations like George’s, he has to decide due to Lennie’s mental disorder that was leading him into unpleasant situations. George is an admirable character who choose to protect and do justice to his distressed friend,
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
If someone’s actions are truly innocent, why must someone kill him? Lennie has never done something to inflict pain everything has been unintentional. Lennie was a strong young man, but with a mental illness. Lennie made multiple mistakes, he was murdered and it affected a lot of people including the killer.
Lennie’s unintentional mistakes resulted in the sudden end for him, but was done in the best way possible. As Lennie would’ve been subjected to a life of loss, running and suffering, George correctly made the decision in euthanizing him. While contemplating whether or not to euthanize him, George knew he very well could but it wasn’t the easiest decision to make on his part. If George wouldn’t of made the decision he did, Lennie would’ve had to run for the rest of his life with no account of what happened or what to do due to his mental illness. He would’ve been seen as a criminal and hunted down like animal which is inhumane and cruel. Although his mishaps weren’t meant to be as extreme as they were, the consequences were foreshadowed throughout
George did not ask Lennie if he wanted to be killed. Mercy killings are usually a patient requesting the action, so it’s usually not done without consent like the situation in this book. Also, there were many other options for Lennie like him living in the mountains as he mentions. “‘George gonna wish he was alone an’ not have me botherin’ him.’ He turned his head and looked at the bright mountaintops. ‘I can go right off there an' find a cave,’ he said. And he continued sadly, '--an' never have no ketchup--but I won't care. If George don't want me...I'll go away. I'll go away'"(Steinbeck 100). The evidence proves that there were other options than killing Lennie. He could have lived in the mountains with or without George. They could have hidden in the brush somewhere far away from Curley, and none of these actions would’ve been necessary.
I disagree and believe George’s heroic journey instead led him to the mercy killing of Lennie. George Milton and Lennie Small are both introduced in the novel at the same time as being close companions. George kills Lennie without malice, but with compassion, and therefore the death of Lennie is a mercy killing and not a murder. George is faced with the ultimate obstacle of his life, which is killing his longtime friend, so that the men from the ranch cannot torture him, kill him, or throw him into jail.
George also knew that Lennie had dug a hole for himself and could never get out. He knew they were looking for Lennie and wouldn’t stop until they killed him. He decided to do it himself in the kindest way he could. It’s like when Candy said about his dog, “I should of shot that dog myself.'; meaning it would have been kinder to the dog. Lennie was lying down, facing away from George and didn’t know he was going to be shot. He didn’t know what was going to happen, just like Candy’s dog.
After Lennie gets into the debacle with Curley’s wife, he runs to the oasis described at the beginning of the book. George fears the men will tear Lennie apart and murder him. He also knew he would be institutionalized, or “caged” if he survived the attack. He had the moral clarity that let him see that killing Lennie was the best thing for him. When George kills Lennie, it’s a kind of mercy killing.
The novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is about two ranch hands, George and Lennie. George is a small, smart-witted man, while Lennie is a large, mentally- handicapped man. They are trying to raise enough money to buy their own ranch, by working as ranch hands. During the setting of the story, they are at a ranch whose owner’s name is Curley. It is in this setting that the novel reveals that the main theme is death and loss.