Mercy Killing In Of Mice And Men

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Mercy killing is the act of taking someone’s life painlessly. Victims of mercy killing “include persons who are in a vegetative state or those who suffer from an incurable and painful disease or condition.” People argue and refute mercy killing whether it is acceptable or not. It is neither acceptable nor wrong, arguably it is required to be a necessity when dealing with cases when there are no other options than surviving in the world in misery. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck’s character, Lennie, mentally ill, has committed a treacherous act of murder by mere accident because he was panicked. He is mercy killed by his close friend and sort of master, George, so that he will no longer be in misery and suffering. Mercy killing is a …show more content…

This is the reason what George did in Of Mice and Men is acceptable even if not liked. After the killing of Curley’s wife, Curley was mad and was obligated in his own mind to find moral retribution that would never be settled until Lennie was suffering and, after suffering, dead. This is a astonishing example of when George was obligated as primary carer and close friend to Lennie to help him pass as quickly and painlessly as possible. In a situation where someone is suffering, like Lennie, from some condition, we are obligated to help the person pass as painlessly as possible. This is why George has necessity to help Lennie pass and why mercy killing is justifiably acceptable. Mercy killing, the act of taking someone who is undertaking immense pain or suffering, is required in situations such as Lennie’s, where someone is in the utmost danger of a slow, painful, and torturous death. George and Lennie’s situation offers a prime example of a mercy kill in ethical circumstance which the assisted death of another should be excused as morally justifiable. Therefore, mercy killing should not only be allowed, but we are obligated to act in a situation where someone is suffering as much as

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