So, George really did not have much choice with the situation at hand. What is clear is that we really don't blame George for his drastic action. However, the reader must always evaluate actions of a plot within the verisimilitude created by the author of the narrative, and not on his/her personal opinion. Essential Quotes by Character: Lennie Small. This resulted in George taking the life of his best friend out of love, safety, and friendship. I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my tail. © 2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. So George did not want lennie to suffer that way. 806 8067 22 Registered Office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE. • Lennie talks about getting the place they’ve always dreamed of, and getting it now. No because he was going to get shot anyways by the others. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. George also explains that he would have been better off without Lennie; George says he could have worked, got paid, and had a place of his own. Of Mice and Men - Should George go to prison for shooting Lennie? You can personalise what you see on TSR. He used the ranch as a microcosm to show society’s desensitisation to violence, the inhumane ways in which the marginalised were treated and the prevalent misogynistic attitudes. Because of his mental disability, Lennie has a tactile deficiency and likes to pet soft things to help calm...... ...is carried out without a trial. Yet it is not as simple as that. He then explains what he means by these definitions. George may have taken his friend’s life, but he did it for the greater good of Lennie. How would you handle a teacher's insults. Yes, whether it is instinctive or social the effect is still the same. The Student Room, Get Revising and Marked by Teachers are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. No, he should not because at 1930s in America disability was seen as a sign of weakness everyone looked down towards people with disability so that's George shouldn't be prisoned for killing Lennie. She said yes. However, they could not agree whose usage should be standard. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. So George did not want lennie to suffer that way. How Did Critics React to Of Mice and Men? Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. On February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California, John and Olive Steinbeck welcomed their third child and only son, John Ernst Steinbeck. Why does George kill Lennie in Of Mice and Men? George looks after Lennie because he feels responsible for him, and because, undoubtedly, he loves him. He wrote Philosophy of Rhetoric in 1776, and in it he defined English as reputable, national and present. Throughout the book, Lennie seems to be unaware of what is right and wrong, and this makes him a burden to George. With lennie suffering from a mental illness he is unable to make normal decisions like someone else would be able to. In addition, by killing Lennie, George made a decision to save the population from the careless but harmful acts of...... ...helping 130 terminally-ill patients commit suicide, had to decide whether or not he was justified in assisting the death of these patients. How Did Critics React to Of Mice and Men? Steinbeck focused on lives of itinerant farmworkers who constantly searched for work. George made sure he shot him right in the spine and the neck to make a instant death with no pain. In addition, George is aware that even if Lennie can avoid the vindicativeness and cruelty of Curley and Carlton, Lennie will not survive incarceration. starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Law and Politics, starTop subjects are Literature, Social Sciences, and History. However, his initial God-like descriptions deter us from seeing the wrong in his actions – but we consider that if he had not done this, the other puppies would have all starved. starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. At the beginning of the story, George says to Lennie. Even Slim with his "God-like eyes" has told George "you hadda." Also Slim had said that if for some reason they did find lennie and took him alive that it would be no good for him to be locked up in some room. What is a direct quote of George and Lennie discussing their dream farm for my essay. Sutures, Stethoscopes and Suffering - a year 13 GYG (2020-2021) , ℝ ' - , how to do well in first year of university. How to answer a 30 mark question on english literature? Any ideas? Lennie would certainly have been frightened and may even have hurt others in his attempt to get to George. GCSE controlled assessment on 'Of Mice and Men', Edexcel GCSE English Literature Unit 1: Understanding Prose (Higher Tier). Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Perhaps, Steinbeck prepares the reader for this mercy killing as he so often used animal imagery to describe the mentally-challenged Lennie. Curley said that he would shoot him, if he found him. The most painful thing to watch would be Lennie being tortured to death. The title of this movie is They Shoot Horses, Don't They? We are initially surprised when we learn that Slim ‘drowned four of [the puppies] right off’, as it would be seen as a form of murder. In Of Mice and Men, was George justified in shooting Lennie? Lennie’s dependent personality and mental state would make a mental institution a horrible place to spend the rest of his life. Anyone else here have no intention of paying back their student loans? In most ways, violence is a normal way for others to relieve the feeling of despair and limited possibilities that all go along with working on the ranch. Tell us a little about yourself to get started. I need quotes from Of Mice And Men about the American Dream of Lennie, George, Crooks, and Curley. He tries to tell Lennie George will leave him one day and this scared Lennie. starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Science. ...Lennie Small was a man of great strength and a childish mind. Thread, Mature Student- best degree for graduate scheme, Medicine 2021 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants, *MEGATHREAD* - The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Essential Quotes by Character: Lennie Small. So George did not want lennie to suffer that way. Through Slim justifying the doctrine of double effect, we realise how practicalities can take precedence over...... ...were more normal to destroy than to build. So George has always done what is best for Lennie, so he did it again. I have chosen that he should but I am struggling for ideas to write down. George provides justice for Curley’s wife and stopped it from ever happening again. Lennie does not mean to kill anyone but he is unaware of his strength. ESSAY FEEDBACK, AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1 8700/1 - 4 Jun 2019 [Exam Discussion]. Because justice is so subjective, Slim’s views provide an objective way of evaluating George’s latter decisions in the novel. By killing Lennie, George made a tough and thoughtful decision to prevent any more misfortunes to his friend. His...... ...sparked great political controversy, and greatly influenced the writings of his time. Second, George must understand that as much as he loves Lennie, Lennie is a threat to the people around him. George decides to shoot him solely out of love for his friend, but this killing initiates a debate in which the readers can take sides about his righteousness. Steinbeck resigned from the prestigious Stanford University in order to gain insight of the hardships faced by peripatetic workers. © 2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If Lennie was taken alive, he would be locked up like an animal and as Slim had said, "that ain't no good". Essential Quotes by Character: Lennie Small. Towards the end of the novel, Lennie enrages Curley by accidentally killing his wife, and George is left with the decision of whether or not to kill Lennie himself. Slim was referring to locking Lennie up in a mental hospital. Though Lennie committed a careless act of murder, Curley was not going to stop until he fulfilled his revenge for his wife’s murder. George killed lennie, because he did not want lennie to suffer at the hands of curley. he should go to the international court of terrorism for what he did. George's behavior after shooting Lennie also suggests that he is himself aware that his decision to kill Lennie was, if not morally wrong, then at least morally dubious. George does not make a wise decision in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. George takes on the painful responsibility for protecting the rest of the world from a person who, although he doesn't mean to be, is a genuine threat to others. It was his mother’s influence that led to his love of literature. GCSE AQA English Language Paper 1 and 2 - 4th/7th June 2019 [Exam Discussion], Tips on English Literature essay writing (A level), A2 Language Investigation Coursework Ideas, How to Write a Level 5 Poetry Essay (A-level English lit), How is the theme of supernatural presented in Macbeth? For example, Slim has an ‘authority so great that his word was taken on any subject’, whilst Curley ‘wore high-heeled boots’ to superficially show power. Why is George not justified in killing Lennie in Of Mice and Men? His motives were pure and understandable--life for Lennie would have been unbearable in whatever circumstances he would have found himself. If George had let Lennie live, Lennie would not have been able to look after himself properly. I was in Monterey for vacation and happened to go to the aquarium to buy a few books. In contrast, Curley is described as ‘alla time picking scraps with big guys’. But also it resulted in George to be a lonely man. When in fact, George truly cares for Lennie. George killed lennie, because he did not want lennie to suffer at the hands of curley. Describe Lennie and George's dream for the future. Steinbeck expresses the idea that when justice fails people take matters into their own hands through George’s decision to kill Lennie. It is out of his love for Lennie, not malice, that George shoots his friend. George thinks he is doing the right thing by killing Lennie, but really he is making a huge mistake. Like, what is it about I mean. How Did Critics React to Of Mice and Men? This comparison highlights Curley’s inner insecurity as we see he has to dress for respect whilst this comes to Slim naturally. Why does George kill Lennie in Of Mice and Men? why dont muslims not included with white people in school? Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. It may not be justifiable according to the law; however, we do justify it to ourselves. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. The novel is about Lennie Small, a huge, mentally impaired man, and George Milton, a friend that looks after Lennie, searching for work in California during the Great Depression. Why do George and Lennie run away from Weed in Of Mice and Men? starTop subjects are History, Literature, and Social Sciences. George killed Lennie because he felt he had no other choice. Slim was referring to locking Lennie up in a mental hospital. OF MICE AND MEN. PENGUIN BOOKS, 2017. Even George does not know how to stop him because in the end Lennie kills Curley’s wife. He understands that Curley wants Lennie to suffer as much as possible. He made sure that Lennie had no pain, he told lennie to think of the land and the rabbit. He chose to do the deed himself because he loved Lennie. By all accounts, Steinbeck enjoyed a happy childhood. Please tell me the answer. Also Slim had said that if for some reason they did find lennie and took him alive that it would be no good for him to be locked up in some room. Curley “stiffened” and “went into a slight crouch” making Lennie “squirm” and “shift his feet nervously”. Also Slim had said that if for some reason they did find lennie and took him alive that it would be no good for him to be locked up in some room. Whether or not it was justified may be open to debate. With all these events in mind, we can paint a pretty clear picture of how violence was an everyday thing for the ranchers. How Is Arthur Birling Presented In Act One? What are some indirect and direct quotes about Curley's wife that describe her traits?John... What quotes show that Crooks is lonely in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck? And in a way George helps Lennie by killing him because if he didn't than someone else might have killed him. George realizes that Curley is assembling what is essentially a lynch mob. (He is bear-like and paws at the water in the first section.) With notable works such as The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, he expressed his dissatisfaction with capitalism and his sympathy for the struggle of the common worker in a way that captured the world’s attention – which resulted in some of his work even being banned. tested positive for covid but no symptoms, The Official "Which Dental School Should I Apply To?" The economic crisis led to high unemployment rates and fierce competition for jobs. A reason can include the fact that if Geroge didnt killl elnnie then Lennie could have been treated very bad if his matter was to go infornt of the law just because in that time period people with mental illnesses were not treated as people but rather as monsters so Geroge was just trying to help a 'friend' that had done alot for him and he just never wanted to see him suffer more. However, George is also aware, as indicated by this quotation, that his life would in many respects be much easier if he didn't have to care for Lennie. George killed lennie, because he did not want lennie to suffer at the hands of curley. starTop subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. We know that Curley is a bully who was already angry at Lennie before Lennie accidentally killed his wife. George chooses to kill Lennie because of Lennie’s uncontrollable killing. John Ernst Steinbeck, Sr. was a county treasurer and Olive Hamilton Steinbeck was a schoolteacher. Sohrab - Son of Hassan and Farzana. Widely considered his masterpiece, however, is The Grapes of Wrath which depicts the struggle of a family of Oklahoman farmers who are forced into a migratory existence due to the drought and dust storms following the Great Depression. No one could control Lennie from doing all the “bad things” he does. Carlson insists on shooting the Candy’s dog because he claims it is too old and ill to be of... ...descriptions such as ‘God-like eyes’ he is quickly established as a character with an excellent moral conduct. He based most of his characters on people he met; Lennie’s character was based on a man who killed a ranch foreman and stabbed his boss in the stomach with a pitchfork. If George let him live then he would have suffered when being killed by the others, or he would have continued to struggle through life constantly getting himself endangered . I came across Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and I asked my mom if I could buy it. Why do George and Lennie run away from Weed in Of Mice and Men? Really struggling on of mice and men have a controlled assessment coming up - help!!! English Language (9-1) Creative Writing Examples! This tendency; however is watched over by George, who is supposed to make sure that he is safe and doesn’t get himself into trouble, but at the same time George is physically violent towards lennie because of his mental handicap. Curley, who is the husband of the only woman that lives on the ranch, tends to be very violent toward anyone that he sees as a threat to himself or his power, most of his rage however, is directed to Lennie because of his size. In Of Mice and Men, why was George forced to kill Lennie? Immediately after shooting Lennie, George "shiver(s)" and throws the gun away from... (The entire section contains 2 answers and 819 words.). He doesn't know his own strength, and he doesn't know when to stop once he touches a person. Therefore, he is forced to be under the protection of George, who was asked to look out for him and make sure he doesn’t get himself into trouble. With this in mind, one might argue that George's decision to kill Lennie was motivated at least in part by selfishness and was thus, in a moral sense, the wrong decision. Lennie; however, has a problem with touching things... ...John Steinbeck’s novella “Of Mice and Men” was written the 1930s, during the great American Depression. What is Curley's wife's dream in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Therefore, within the context of the narrative, George's action is justified, for George knows that Curley and Carlton will injure, if not torture and kill, him before the authorities can take him. In Of Mice and Men, was George justified in shooting Lennie? I don't think it would have been right for George to let Lennie get arrested. I recently bought this novel because I thought it was interesting. Like 3 years later, I am looking for the same question you had. In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck explores the pervasive theme of loneliness and illustrates the fallacy of the American Dream. Lennie couldn’t look after a puppy – let alone himself. Lennie was bound to hurt someone after the Weeds incident. That wouldn't have been right since Lennie didn't really do anything morally wrong. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Interestingly, there was a film made about the poverty and desperation of people during the Depression who entered dance contests for prizes. When Curley is introduced in chapter two, he “glanced coldly” at George, his arms “gradually bent at the elbows” and his hands “closed into fists”. Applying to uni for 2021? George killed Lennie because it was the most reasonable thing to doo if they had ran away like in weed something like this could/ would happen again. George's actions are consistent with his characterization; so, since Steinbeck does not depart from the verisimilitude of his narrative, George's actions are justified and follow the context of the plot that depicts the desperate and alienated lives of the itinerant worker in the 1930's Great Depression. Why does George kill Lennie in Of Mice and Men? eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Second, George must understand that as much as he loves Lennie, Lennie is a threat to the people around him. Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Therefore, shooting Lennie in the back of the head while talking to him about their dream farm is a merciful alternative to what otherwise would be a needlessly cruel death. Some people believe that George is justified in killing Lennie and should have done it, while others would argue that George should not have done it and should be held accountable for murder. No laws are taken into consideration, but instead an angry mob of men with guns is present. All the time leading up to this, we as readers have probably already arrived to this opinion, but by an authoritive figure like Slim repeating it we can be sure of the innocence of Lennie’s actions.