Euthanasia, the practice of ending lives to relieve pain or suffering. This is what George claimed he did. Although, there are many points in the book that can prove otherwise. He had reasons to be killed, but who knows if that’s the reasons George had for killing Lennie. Mercy killing can never be justified because no one knows if there could have been a positive outcome, it is based off of one person's opinion, and no matter what, it is still murder.
They may never know if there could have been a positive outcome because they decided to kill Lennie. This applies to all mercy killing cases. People can’t predict the future, so how would they know if they made the right decision. In the case of the story Of Mice of Men, George and Lennie could have had many positive outcomes but George decided to take the easy way out. They had always talked about how they wanted to have a ranch, and they could have ran away and started one up. Again, coming back to the point that this could have been one of the many positive outcomes. Another outcome would be that they could have ran and found a new job just like they did from Weed. This would have allowed them to make money and keep surviving. Many people will say that they can’t run forever, but they got away from Weed so why couldn’t they do it again. Going along with positive outcomes they could have gone and found someone and had a family. This was always a big dream of George and Lennie’s, but now Lennie will never be able have this experience. Overall, no one can tell what the future may hold, so how can someone justify if they don’t know something bad would have happened.
Mercy killing is based off of one person's opinion or out of many people that are very biased towards it. In Of Mice and Men George took it upon himself to kill Lennie. He did this because he thought it was the right thing to do. Many people would have thought this was the wrong thing to do and could see the positive outcomes. In the book he repeatedly says how he would be better without Lennie there. He said he could take his money at the end of the money and go get drinks and go to a cat house instead of using it on Lennie and the ranch. He could have done this because he wanted the best for
But if the other outcome is worse, you're obligated/called to do the right/more humane outcome. Most people would agree with this statement in almost every other situation, but when you substitute it into context here it's no different. Many people who have read the book agrees George and Lennie had a special connection/best friends and many say friends don't kill each other. When you take a deeper look at this statement it justifies even more why George did the right thing, and shouldn't get punished. Since they had a special connection, George cared for him so much that he knew the right thing to do is to let him go and die happily, peacefully, with no struggle. Also by someone who cares for him, then someone who hates him, no matter how much it would hurt himself to do it.
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.
In Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, George was overall morally justified for shooting Lennie because he had good reasons to do so. George did take Lennie’s life but he did it to save Lennie from the pain of Curley’s wrath. If George did not kill Lennie, then he would have had to suffer through life in jail or an asylum or torture from Curley. Many people think that George was responsible for Lennie, so the murder was not justified. However, George was justified because Lennie had hurt others before and had strong potential to hurt again.
It has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt at this point, Lennie's innocence is not very accepted with the world because of his size, age, etc. He can’t really learn to change his ways due to his disabilities. Lennie can’t even understand why the bad things he has done are bad. Also, the fate he would meet at Curley's mutilated hands is enough to convince George that his only real option is to make Lennie's death as quick and painless as possible. Lennie would have died at the hands of Curly anyways, which would have been a much more painful and dehumanizing death for Lennie. He couldn't be taken to a mental hospital and in the depression, these were basically non-existent and spending a life in jail would be even more torture for a mentally ill person than death itself. George did what was right because he prevented Lennie from doing anything this terrible again, he stopped Lennie from a more painful death, and he really didn't have any other responsible
George killing Lennie is very immoral because Lennie does not know any better. Lennie is not killing people and animals on purpose he just underestimates his strength and does not realize that he is doing wrong. Lennie is innocent and does not deserve
If you had the choice of doing what is in your best friend’s interest, would you consider it? What if the friend’s death was a factor? In the story of Mice and Men, George may have taken Lennie's life, but he made the decision for the better interest of his friend. He knew that Curley and his men would kill Lennie, he would suffer and/or be placed in jail. George made the justified decision of killing Lennie because it was the better choice of Lennie’s foreseen future. Therefore, George was morally justified for shooting Lennie for merciful reasons.
Terri Schiavo didn’t have to die by euthanasia, so why should others. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, George, the main character travels with Lennie, another main character. In the book towards the end George is left with a terrible decision, after Lennie does something bad and runs away. The rest of the men find out he has accidentally killed the boss’ daughter- in-law. Curley is ready to kill him. But George makes the decision to mercy kill Lennie, to stop him from getting brutally killed by Curley. The novel makes it seem like George did the right thing, but this is not true because mercy killing is a way in which no one should die.
Some argue that no one, no matter the circumstances, is justified in taking the life of another. They state that George had no right to take Lennie’s life because it was morally wrong. They say George executed Lennie because he is not an officer or a member of the court. Some
Is killing someone right or wrong? In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck readers are conflicted with this question all around the world. George killed Lennie after Lennie accidentally killed Curley’s wife.George and Lennie had known eachother for a long time they even traveled together. George helped Lennie out of multiple situations and killing him was the best way he could think of in the instance of Lennie killing Curley’s wife.Even though Lennie and George were friends, George was justified in killing Lennie because Lennie was undisciplined and unsafe.
The way in which Lennie died is considered to be euthanasia. George mercifully puts the ignorant fool to sleep while he and Lennie, for the last time, fantasize about the soon-to-come dream. George is encouraging to Lennie and reassures him that they are ?gonna do it soon? (106). What George means by this is that Lennie can escape and reach the dream through death. Lennie visualizes himself reaching the American dream and there is no pain or suffering in his death as he ?jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering? (106). George selflessly experiences pain and agony from the execution of his only companion as he knows Lennie is now in a better place.
Would you want your best friend or family member go through pain and suffering. I know George did not want his best friend Lennine to go through pain and suffering so he decided to euthanize him. George's decision to euthanize Lennie was so he did not have to go through more pain and suffering that faced him. In Of Mice of Men George's decision to euthanize Lennie was appropriate. It was appropriate because Lennie would not have been able to live a normal life for many reasons.
Then some other people think that it is a good thing if the person is slowly dieing from a disease. ”There are people who say killing people is wrong, but it kept him from things that would happen to him if he was caught (Preiss)” This quote to me says that if George did not kill Lennie he would have pretty much have been tourchored to death. Then Lenny got scared when Curley's wife started screaming for him to let her go. He would wind up accidentally breaking her neck and killing her.
The power of life and death, pain or peace, is given to George. George’s decision to kill Lennie was not only the correct choice, but it was an act of mercy. Curley’s aggressiveness towards big guys would have made Lennie’s capture, potentially even worse than death. When George turns
“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley. an’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, for promis’d joy!” These famous words from Robert Burns’ poem “To a Mouse” inspired John Steinbeck’s title for Of Mice and Men. Just as it is useless for a mouse to try and protect its home from the blade of a plow, so are the human efforts and dreams for the unattainable in the face of natural and economic calamities. In the midst of the Great Depression, a man like Lennie who is incapable of thinking logically for himself renders it nearly impossible to survive without causing any trouble. George knew of this and tried to prolong the inevitable, but eventually had to face the ultimate price of taking away the life of the only friend he’s ever known and had. Mercy is defined as compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. Although mercy is the ideal side to choose, some readers think that George chose to kill Lennie because Lennie because Lennie is constantly in trouble and George was sick of solving all of Lennie’ problem. From murdering Lennie out of selfishness and murdering Lennie out of mercy, the basis of the debate on the intent of
Mercy Killing, is a term given to an act of killing someone to stop suffering. A person should never resort to this, but should it be done. Imagine feeling immense pain and wanting it to just stop would you ask someone to take your life or would you just go through the pain. In Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, evidence from the text supports the fact that the death of Lennie was an act of mercy.