The novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck shows how someone can change their view of a person over time. Set in 1937, two men, named George and Lennie, travel around for work together. The novel focuses on one specific job on a ranch in Salinas Valley. George, the more mentally capable of the two, handles the social aspects of being a worker. Lennie, although he is strong, is very dependent on George and does not know how to control his actions. As the story progresses, George changes from compassionate to frustrated to accepting. This illustrates that in a situation where one person is burdened by another, that person may be compassionate, but will eventually become frustrated and ultimately accept that they need to move on. At the beginning of the story, George is compassionate even though Lenny …show more content…
After Lennie murders Curley’s wife, the men on the ranch are enraged and go to hunt him down. George gets to Lennie’s hiding spot first, where he comforts Lennie, but instead of helping Lennie escape, he pulls out his gun. The writer states “‘No, Lennie. I ain’t mad’… He pulled the trigger”(106). George isn’t “mad”, or frustrated, at Lennie as he was before. He accepts that Lennie will always burden him. George “pulled the trigger”, killing Lennie. Most would think this means that George is still mad at Lennie, but in reality, it means that George accepts that he needs to move on. He knows that he cannot leave Lennie to fend for himself because he will either die a painful death out in the world or he will be hunted down by the men on the ranch. To George, “pulling the trigger” was the most considerate thing to do because Lennie would die comforted. Even though George still cared about Lennie, he finally realizes that his life would be better without him. This shows that after being compassionate and frustrated, George accepts that he will never escape the burden Lennie puts on
George and Lennie were best friends for a long time, more like brothers. Lennie is about as bright as a 2 watt bulb, so George couldn’t really get mad at him when he accidently killed Curley’s wife while feeling the softness of her hair. “…’I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know’”. The two had planned a future together—a future in their own dream ranch, a ranch where no trouble would ever bother them. “’You…an’ me. Ever’body gonna be nice to you. Ain’t gonna be no more trouble. Nobody gonna hurt nobody nor steal from ‘em’”. Then after he tells him about the rabbits that Lennie is so fond of, he shoots him in the back of the head where he knows it will not hurt him, and Lennie will not know what hit him. This is the peaceful alternative to what Curley had in store for him. Curley's exact words were "shoot the bastard right in the guts." George's euthanizing of Lennie makes the mentally incompetent Lennie die with dignity. Had Curley gotten to Lennie first, Lennie would have suffered. This shows you how much George cares for Lennie, no matter what he does or the crimes he commits. He’d always be there to help Lennie get right back up to his feet, make him forget all his worries, and move on like nothing happened. I strongly believe George was the right person to kill Lennie, and made the right decision in doing so, rather than to let him suffer in the hands of Curley.
“The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again. Lennie jarred and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering.”( Steinbeck, 106). George made the right decision by killing Lennie because he would have been killed by Curley when he found out that Lennie killed Curley’s wife. George had to kill Lennie because he was stuck in such a position where had no other option. and he even killed Curley’s wife which made George to end up with a harsh decision.
Some may believe that George did not have to kill lennie. For those that believe that George did the wrong thing, he could have possibly shot the gun and say that Lennie ran off into the brush. Next, George could have tried to let him just go out on his own for a while until George was done working at the current ranch. Finally, George could have had the guys kill himself instead of killing Lennie.
"He had brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie's head". (Steinback 106) Curley wanted to kill Lennie himself, and make it hurt as much as possible. As Lennie saw it, he had no other option then to kill Lennie. Wanting to make it hurt as least as possible. George put the gun right up too Lennie's head, which would make him die instantly and not have to suffer in pain. Compared to the way Curley wanted to kill Lennie, by shooting him in the gut so he would stay alive, while suffering and bleeding out. Without a doubt this quote demonstrates how George felt obligated to kill Lennie in the least hurtful way possible. Also, after shooting Lennie George's body language after he had killed Lennie told the reader he did not want to kill Lennie to make him suffer. After George killed Lennie the author states "George shivered and looked at the gun, and then he threw it from him". (Steinbeck 106) Meaning only one thing, George really kept having second thoughts on killing Lennie. As he began too think about it and realized Lennie is going to suffer far less if he would shoot him at that moment. Because Curley would have hurt him horribly, and George would have to witness these fatal events taking place right in front of his eyes. George may have regretted killing Lennie, however deep down he knows he did the right things by flowing his obligation of not
Lennie was rough with Curley’s wife. For Example Lennie says, “ Don’t you go yellin’, he said. He shook her; and her body flopped like a fish and then she was still.. For Lennie had broken her neck” (Steinbeck 91). Lenne was inconsiderate of Curley’s wife's well being and killed her. He was put in a similar situation back in Weed. But, fortunately, the woman did not parish. So on, George says “ Now, look -- I’ll give him the work tickets, but you ain’t gonna say a word. You jus’ stand there and don't say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won’t get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk. We’re set.” In other words, George is meaning crazy as if Lennie was mentally ill. He is.. But he doesn’t want them to know, or find out what happened in there past because Lennie can end up dead, with the gun in someone else's hands instead of Georges. George chose to shoot him, because he loved him. Lennie was not going to good in the outside world, in Jail or someone else out to hurt him. George helped him with just one shot to the head. To end all of the
Throughout each and every day, we should always be looking to help someone who needs it. In the novella, Of Mice and Men,written by John Steinbeck, the reader sees an intelligent man, George, help out his vulnerable companion, Lennie. Although George is assisting his friend, he often regrets being his duo partner. As well as Lennie, many other characters were vulnerable because of political views of the time. In the novella, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck shows certain characters as vulnerable people like Lennie, Crooks, Candy, and Curley’s Wife.
John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men follows the journey of two men, George Milton and Lennie Small, who struggle through the navigation of working on a ranch in California and fulfilling their dreams together during a time of financial depression. The novel begins with George and Lennie traveling through the California wilderness to get to a new ranch just south of Soledad where they are going to begin new work. They had to leave their previous jobs in a town called Weed because Lennie had caused trouble with a girl by holding on to her red dress because he wanted to feel it, and this incident spiraled into rape allegations against Lennie. As George and Lennie make their way to the new ranch, Lennie; who is a large, but simple minded man; found a dead mouse and wanted to keep it to pet because he likes soft things. George, who is more serious and protects Lennie, takes the mouse away from him because even though it’s dead, he should not be messing with it. Lennie often does not realize his strength because of his mental incapabilities and as a result, he causes a lot of trouble and harm. George finds taking care of Lennie to be taxing, but he knows that their friendship is an important bond that he does not want to be without. In order to comfort Lennie in the wilderness, George tells the story of their shared dream to own their own ranch where they can follow their own rules and live as they please. When they finally arrive at the ranch the next day, George and Lennie
For instance as stated on page 91, “And she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck. ‘But George’ll be mad if you yell. I done a bad thing. I done another bad thing.’” This shows that if Lennie had not been shot, Lennie would go down a darker path and would lead a darker life. Lennie also feels bad for his actions so although he may have killed her, he knows what he has done wrong and feels guilty so Lennie was not a bad human. In addition, on page 94 it displays, “I guess we gotta get im an’ ‘lock im up.’ We can’t let im up. We can’t let im get away why the poor bastard starve.” This shows that Lennie would go to jail if George had not shot him. He would get punished for his actions which is a fate far worse than death. George was also thinking about Lennie and his future life and the miserable life he would be living. Lennie would be living a life in “the shadows.” Finally, as stated by Curley on page 96, “Im gonna get him. I'm going for my shotgun. Ill kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I'll shoot im in the guts.” This proves that Curley was furious with Lennie and would have shot him himself. However, Curley would make Lennie’s death painful and would show no mercy because he crushed his hand in the beginning and killed his wife. Lennie caused Curley a lot of trouble and would take out all of his anger on him so George decided to shoot him
John Steinbeck’s landmark novel Of Mice and Men is perhaps best known for its revolutionary telling of two characters that are very different, but have come to rely on each other to survive during the Great Depression. The two characters are men named George and Lenny. George is somewhat of an average fellow who has no real special skills or attributes. Lenny is large and abnormally strong, but unfortunately has the mind of a child. Lennie looks up to George as if he were a role model. This statement is best supported in the book; “Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them, looked over to George to see whether he had it just right. He pulled his hat down a little more over his eyes, the way George's hat was” (Steinbeck). Both characters help each other find work and save the money they earn to purchase a farm together. Their plans keep getting delayed due to Lenny’s habit of getting into serious trouble. George and Lenny are forced to flee the towns that Lenny has gotten in trouble in and continually move to other cities to find jobs. Of Mice and Men has been praised by readers everywhere and is hailed as a modern classic. Of Mice and Men’s success is usually said to be a result of the complex and emotional bond between the two main characters. Many readers forget about the supporting characters that help or hurt George and Lenny during their story. The minor characters in the story each have their own
One reason George had to kill Lennie is because his punishment could have been worse. For example, on page 96 curley said he was going to take a shot gun and shoot him in the guts. “I’m gonna get him. I’m going for my shotgun. I’ll kill the big ______________ myself. I’ll shoot ‘im in the guts. Come on guys.” (Steinbeck 96). This states that Curley and other fellow ranchers were going to do horrible things to Lennie. Since George didn’t want Lennie to suffer, George took
Picking up the book “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck holds a different feel then putting it down. Leaving the reader pondering the true theme of the story. A tale among two friends is the mindset most would assume before reading the book but digging deeper you start to realize the dark truth. The story starts with both Lenny who’s large and unaware of his own true strength and George who’s skinny and quick witted. The tale takes both characters and presents them with challenges. Lennie has a mild mental disability which often leads both of them into a lot of trouble. While George must take care of Lennie and always get him out of trouble. Two characters who travel together would be envisioned to be best pals but what awaits them is a rude awakening, George says “Lennie just come along with me out workin '. Got kinda used to each other after a little while” (Steinbeck 3.12).
In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie and George have both similarities and differences that are revealed throughout the storyline. These comparisons and contrasts are used to explain their unique friendship and dependency on one another. The story begins with the description of their physical and intellectual differences and establishes their roles of who is the dominant one. The story shares the obstacles that have stood in the way of them obtaining their “American Dream” to own land, even if they if they have different motivations. The story concludes with the difficult choice that George makes to end Lennie’s life himself, out of his love for his friend.
George and Lennie were best friends for a long time—more like brothers. Lennie isn’t the brightest bulb in the box, so George couldn’t really get mad at him when he accidentally killed Curley’s wife, due to the soft feel of her hair—which he truly adored too much that he killed her by accident. “…’I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know’”(101). The two had planned a future together—a future in their own dream ranch. A ranch where no trouble they’d cross or cross them. Right before George put him out from the back of the head with the Luger, he made Lennie think of their future home—their ranch and the rabbits Lennie would tend. “’You…an’ me. Ever’body gonna be nice to you. Ain’t gonna be no more trouble. Nobody gonna hurt nobody nor steal from ‘em’”(101). This shows you how much George cares for Lennie, no matter how big the crime is. He’d always be there to help Lennie get right back up to his feet, make him forget all his worries, and move on like nothing happened. I hereby state that I strongly believe George was the right person to kill Lennie, therefore made the right decision to, rather than to let him suffer in the hands of Curley.
A piece of text from the book Of Mice and Men says that, “Guys like us got no family. They make a little stake an’ then they blow it. They ain’t got nobody in the worl’ that gives a hoot in [heck] about ‘em” (Steinbeck 104). Therefore, George was pointing out to Lennie that they have what most guys in their time period don’t, they have each other and George is telling Lennie that that’s how he wants it to stay. George doesn’t want to kill Lennie, but he feels like has to. George is going to regret this in his future. A different quote I found is when George and Lennie are talking, “Lennie said ‘I thought you was mad at me, George.’ ‘No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s the thing I want ya to know’” (Steinbeck 106). Therefore, this quote tells us that George doesn’t want to kill Lennie, but he feels as if he needs to. Lennie was George’s only family and George wants Lennie to know that before he kills him. George cares about Lennie and George is not going to be happy after Lennie is gone for a little bit. The act of George killing Lennie is
The novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck is set in America in the 1930’s and it describes the lives of migrant farmers as they go from farm to farm looking for jobs. It also shows the loneliness of the characters and the hard work that they put in. The main characters of the book are Lennie, a man-child, and George, a small man but very powerful character that takes care of Lennie in their journey. Also when they get to the farm they meet the bosses wife who is very lonely and looks for company in the workers. Steinbeck uses characterization to bring his characters to life using various techniques.