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Of Mice And Men Mercy Killing Analysis

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The Conflicts of Mercy Killing Killing a friend or loved one may sound vile and preposterous at first, but in certain circumstances it may be the best option. One portrayment of mercy killing can be found in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. The two main characters in the book, George Milton and Lennie Small, spend their days looking for work as displaced farmers during the Great Depression. When the land on a ranch, they meet other characters such as Candy, Crooks, Slim, Curley, and Carlson. Lennie is a mentally challenged character who is very dependent on George’s care. Lennie also has a long history of conflicts, with some occurrences that could have gotten him lynched. It was essential that George killed Lennie to save him from misery. Lennie was a dangerous character all throughout the book, and his quick, easy execution was the best solution possible. When the search for Lennie begins, George tries reasoning with Slim to which Slim replies, “An’ s’pose they lock him up an’ strap him down and put him in a cage. That ain’t no good, George” (Steinbeck 97). This line from Slim shows that any other discipline for Lennie will just end in Lennie living a life of …show more content…

Wise, 66, who had no criminal record and no known history of violence, meant only to end the suffering of his wife, Barbara, 65. She had been hospitalized since July 28, when Mr. Wise found her collapsed at home, on the bathroom floor, vomiting and choking” (Rivera). If the circumstances are dire enough that it is better for someone to be put out of their suffering, mercy killing can be justified. So, if it is safer for everyone that someone is dead, George putting Lennie and everyone else out of danger by killing Lennie is the right

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