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Ethics Of Murder In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Ethics is a performer balancing on a rope swaying to moral or immoral depending on the step. In ethics something can be moral or immoral depending of the situation. In Steinbeck's novel “Of Mice and Men” Steinbeck plays with the ethics of murder when George kills his mentally handicapped friend, Lennie. Reality speaking, Lennie would’ve received a worse fate if George didn’t intervene, Lennie is too dangerous, and Lennie can’t live alone without George. George killing Lennie was an act of mercy. If not for George’s mercy, Lennie would suffer a painful and horrible fate. After Lennie kills Curley's wife, the men get in a group for the purpose of hurting or killing Lennie. “I’m gonna get him. I'm going for my shotgun. I'll kill the big …show more content…

That can lead him to do wrong things that can get him sick or he will starve without food. Steinbeck makes a reference that without George telling him to stop be would continue to drink large amount of that dirty water. "Don't really seem to be running, though. You never oughta drink water when it ain't running, Lennie,’ he said hopelessly. ‘You'd drink out of a gutter if you was thirsty." (Steinbeck 325). One of Lennie’s character traits is finding and eating dead mice and other animals that may carry diseases. If George didn't take the mice away, Lennie could’ve gotten sick. "Uh-uh. Jus' a dead mouse, George. I didn't kill it. Honest! I found it. I found it dead.’ ‘Give it here!’ said George. ‘Aw, leave me have it, George.’ ‘Give it here!" (Steinbeck 328-329). Without George taking the mice away from him Lennie could contract any diseases, “By their very nature and design, rodents make excellent “vehicles” for harboring and rapidly transporting diseases.” (Victor). All in all, Lennie can’t take care of himself. His lack of intelligence will cause him to …show more content…

Lennie was a good person and didn't need to die. Lennie’s life was taken without do process of law However, killing Lennie in this case is right choice. Lennie being free lets him to continue to go out and hurt innocent people. Lennie being a good person does not negate the fact he kills Curley's wife, so he should receive a punishment accordingly. “Don’t you go yellin',' he said, and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck.” (Steinbeck 472). Courts will send Lennie, and people like him to mental intuitions or insane asylums, where they are tortured in hope of a cure.
In conclusion, George made the right decision. The ethics on the rope swayed to morality and mercy. George did the right thing because Lennie will suffer by the hands of other men, Lennie can continue to hurt more people, and Lennie can’t live alone without George. What George did to Lennie is an act of mercy for a

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