The Role Of Euthanasia In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

III. Euthanasia

Euthanasia, the euphemism of mercy killing, a procedure often in the center of major ethical controversy as it revolves around ending a suffering individual's life. The process is often done to end the lives of terminally ill individuals in agonizing pain. Moreover, in the novella “Of Mice and Men” George ends the life of his friend Lennie, justifiably providing him with a path to elude from suffering w. Lennie entangles himself in situation where he is being hunted, and is on a path to a vicious and merciless death. Curly, the man targeting Lennie, is persistent to “shoot [ Lennie] in the guts”, a specific shot to increase pain exponentially. The shot will elongate Lennie’s agony, encasing his pain for an extended rather than an immediate death. His companion George perceives the dilemma and recognizes Lennie’s future holding no desirable outcome; only a less oppressive one. In relation to euthanasia, the predicament of a lack of fortunate possibilities is the reasoning for assisted suicide. Additionally, during the period of

time when an individual is pain their perception of time is extended, where time slows down as the each spur of pain is felt. George’s execution of Lennie not only saves of him feeling frozen in pain, but also having his death at the hands of an individual who bears love for him. The reasoning for George to end Lennie’s life is just because of the objective to save Lennie from anguish.

IV. American Dream

Curley’s wife holds on to big dreams in her life, clinging to the possibility of becoming a motion picture superstar. She paints herself in a world of glamour, and luxury, however, her pursuit of such a dream lacks effort. While her dream is relevant to the concept of an american dream, a dream of great happiness and opportunity acquired through hard work, she demonstrates no significant work into achieving the dream. She boasts her morals of not wanting to “stay no place where [she cannot] get nowhere” in life” In contradiction to her own statement, she marries Curley to escape her mother yet moves to a farm which is not a land of great opportunity for women. Moreover Curley’s wife does not illustrate any progressive action in working towards becoming an actress such as attempting to attain work in plays or theatre. Her unwillingness to put forth work contributes to the unfortunate outcome of her magnificent dream.

Lennie’s dream of attaining the dream farm with animals and vegetations demonstrates the ability of individuals to come near or to fully achieve their dream despite the enormity of the dream. Lennie seeks out a dream where George and him are owners of a piece of farmland which they can live off, and domesticate rabbits of which Lennie is dearly fond. However, Lennie is an intellectually challenged individual, with the brain of a child, therefore the completion of his dream is undermined. In spite of the burden of financial instability, Lennie and George develop a path to purchasing their dream farm, believing they “can swing her” and achieve the dream. The goal to obtain a piece of land is one set by numerous migrant workers, however, Lennie is not the brightest individual yet he puts effort into his work. Subsequently, the distance to accomplishing his dream is proximal. Despite the fact that the dream farm does not become reality, the near achievement is significant in illustrating the ability of individuals to hope, and the possibility of making dreams achievable.

3.

Crooks, the stable buck, dreams of a different American Dream, one more relative to Martin Luther King Jr where African Americans have equal rights. Crooks’ dream is not heavily expressed in the novel, however, the dream highlights the challenges of minority groups in society. Crooks’ movement in change is undeniably subtle because of his limited options specifically in a white-majority environment, and any revolting actions result in punishment. During attempts to assert himself despite his color, his pursuits are halted with threats such as the time when Curley's wife threatened to have Crooks “strung up on a tree.” Crooks’ ego is immediately blistered, and he understands his place in society. However, deep within his conscience is the dream to seek equality among caucasian individuals who are deemed superior to colored folks. The dream of Crooks depicts the adversity of racial division in society with great

lucidity.