An Analysis Of Lennie's 'Act Of Kindness'
An Act Of Kindness
Can you imagine a situation in which you have to murder someone? What if that person was your best friend? Of Mice and Men is a book written by John Steinbeck during the Great Depression. It describes Lennie, a huge man with large pale eyes, wide sloping shoulders, and mental disability. Lennie is also very strong and can’t control his strength. His friend, George, small and quick is responsible for taking care of him. They have been best friends for a long time. George killed Lennie as an act of kindness because George saves lives by killing Lennie and if he didn’t die, Lennie would be tortured by Curley, the boss’s son. George needed to prevent Lennie from killing more innocent lives. “He shook her then, and he was angry with her. ‘‘‘Don’t you go yellin’’’, he said, and he shook her, and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was …show more content…
still, for Lennie had broken her neck.”(Steinbeck 91) Lennie killed Curley’s wife by accident because he didn’t want her to get him in trouble. He was scared that if she screamed, George would not let him tend to the rabbits because he had caused trouble again. Lennie couldn’t control his strength, it was the first time he had killed a person. George was worried that this accident would happen again, so this was why he had to kill Lennie. Who could make sure that Lennie wouldn’t do it again? Either Lennie got killed by George’s hand or Curley’s. Killing Lennie was the only way to stop Lennie from killing others accidentally.
Steinbeck showed us that Lennie and George’s friendship made them more than brothers. But at the end of the book, George killed Lennie as an act of kindness. We all know that murder is wrong, but that was the most merciful choice. When the other men found the body of Curley’s wife, they were going to shoot Lennie for revenge.
‘‘Curley came suddenly to life.
‘“I know who done it,”’ he cried. ‘“That big son-of -a-bitch done it. I know he done it. Why-ever’ body else was out there play-in’ horseshoes.”’ He worked himself to a fury. ‘“I’m gonna get him. I’m going for my shotgun. I’ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I’ll shoot ‘im in the guts. Come on, you guys.”’ He ran furiously out of the barn. Carlson said, ‘“I’ll get my Luger,”’ And he ran out too.’’(Steinbeck 96)
Curley was going to torture Lennie, George had no choice but to kill Lennie in order to let him die while he was happy.
‘“From the darkness Lennie called, ‘“George-you asleep?”’ ‘“No. Whatta you want?”’ ‘“Let’s have different color rabbits, George.”’ ‘“Sure we will,”’ George said sleepily. ‘“Red and blue and green rabbits, Lennie. Millions of ‘em.”’ ‘“Furry ones, George, like I seen in the fair in Sacramento.”’ ‘“Sure, furry ones.”’(Steinbeck 16)
Lennie was only happy when he thought of tending to the rabbits.
Lennie stayed at where George told him to go when there was trouble. ‘“Hide in the brush till I come for you. Can you remember that?”’ (Steinbeck
15)
“‘And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger. 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)
Lennie died happily and in a merciful way.
It is an act of kindness to kill Lennie because George needed to prevent Lennie from making more mistakes such as hurting people. Can you imagine what Curley would have done to kill him? It was the first time Lennie killed a person by accident, and people will blame him. George had no choice, his only option was to kill Lennie. It is an act of kindness to kill Lennie because it saved lives for others, and it prevented Lennie from getting tortured by Curley. When you look at the situation from this angle is murder really wrong?
Work Cited
Steinbeck, John. Of Mice And Men City: New York Published by the Penguin Group. 1993
Can you imagine a situation in which you have to murder someone? What if that person was your best friend? Of Mice and Men is a book written by John Steinbeck during the Great Depression. It describes Lennie, a huge man with large pale eyes, wide sloping shoulders, and mental disability. Lennie is also very strong and can’t control his strength. His friend, George, small and quick is responsible for taking care of him. They have been best friends for a long time. George killed Lennie as an act of kindness because George saves lives by killing Lennie and if he didn’t die, Lennie would be tortured by Curley, the boss’s son. George needed to prevent Lennie from killing more innocent lives. “He shook her then, and he was angry with her. ‘‘‘Don’t you go yellin’’’, he said, and he shook her, and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was …show more content…
still, for Lennie had broken her neck.”(Steinbeck 91) Lennie killed Curley’s wife by accident because he didn’t want her to get him in trouble. He was scared that if she screamed, George would not let him tend to the rabbits because he had caused trouble again. Lennie couldn’t control his strength, it was the first time he had killed a person. George was worried that this accident would happen again, so this was why he had to kill Lennie. Who could make sure that Lennie wouldn’t do it again? Either Lennie got killed by George’s hand or Curley’s. Killing Lennie was the only way to stop Lennie from killing others accidentally.
Steinbeck showed us that Lennie and George’s friendship made them more than brothers. But at the end of the book, George killed Lennie as an act of kindness. We all know that murder is wrong, but that was the most merciful choice. When the other men found the body of Curley’s wife, they were going to shoot Lennie for revenge.
‘‘Curley came suddenly to life.
‘“I know who done it,”’ he cried. ‘“That big son-of -a-bitch done it. I know he done it. Why-ever’ body else was out there play-in’ horseshoes.”’ He worked himself to a fury. ‘“I’m gonna get him. I’m going for my shotgun. I’ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I’ll shoot ‘im in the guts. Come on, you guys.”’ He ran furiously out of the barn. Carlson said, ‘“I’ll get my Luger,”’ And he ran out too.’’(Steinbeck 96)
Curley was going to torture Lennie, George had no choice but to kill Lennie in order to let him die while he was happy.
‘“From the darkness Lennie called, ‘“George-you asleep?”’ ‘“No. Whatta you want?”’ ‘“Let’s have different color rabbits, George.”’ ‘“Sure we will,”’ George said sleepily. ‘“Red and blue and green rabbits, Lennie. Millions of ‘em.”’ ‘“Furry ones, George, like I seen in the fair in Sacramento.”’ ‘“Sure, furry ones.”’(Steinbeck 16)
Lennie was only happy when he thought of tending to the rabbits.
Lennie stayed at where George told him to go when there was trouble. ‘“Hide in the brush till I come for you. Can you remember that?”’ (Steinbeck
15)
“‘And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger. 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)
Lennie died happily and in a merciful way.
It is an act of kindness to kill Lennie because George needed to prevent Lennie from making more mistakes such as hurting people. Can you imagine what Curley would have done to kill him? It was the first time Lennie killed a person by accident, and people will blame him. George had no choice, his only option was to kill Lennie. It is an act of kindness to kill Lennie because it saved lives for others, and it prevented Lennie from getting tortured by Curley. When you look at the situation from this angle is murder really wrong?
Work Cited
Steinbeck, John. Of Mice And Men City: New York Published by the Penguin Group. 1993