Of Mice and Men Reflection

January 28, 2008

“Of Mice and Men” Essay

In John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”, George was justified to kill Lennie because he only had in mind to do what was best for Lennie. Since the beginning of the story, the reader is introduced to Lennie and George; but most importantly the reader was introduced to their relationship. Lennie and George’s relationship could be compared to Candy and his dog’s relationship. The relationship that they share is a needy relationship. Candy cannot imagine himself not having to take care of his dog the same way that George cannot imagine himself not having to take care of Lennie. In return, Lennie cannot imagine himself without having George there. With this in mind, the reader has a better understanding as to why George killing Lennie was justified because he had best intentions in mind for Lennie.

Once Candy and George discovered Curley’s wife’s dead body, they already knew that Lennie must have been the person that killed Curley’s wife. Candy and George began to talk, there in the barn, about what they were going to do. George said, “Guess… we gotta tell the… guys. I guess we gotta get ‘im ‘an lock ‘im up. We can’t let ‘im get away. Why, the poor bastard’d starve,” (91). Candy responds that Curley would get Lennie lynched or killed so it’d be best if they’d let Lennie go. Finally George tells Candy to go and tell the guys so they don’t think that he has anything to do with the murder of Curley’s wife. George comes back from the bunkhouse and the guys were at the barn looking at Curley’s wife. Everyone’s instinct reaction was to think that Lennie did it. Carlson comes running in after them screaming that Lennie had stolen his gun. Then Curley proves Candy right when he said, “Don’t shoot ‘im? He’s got Carlson’s Lugger. ‘Course we’ll shoot ‘im,” (95). So the hunt for Lennie begins and the guys want George with them; but George stray’s away and gets to Lennie first. Then George tells Lennie that he’s not mad and he tells him the story that he loves to her about how they are going to live off of the fat of the land. But the men start getting close and before George finishes, he shoots Lennie in the back of the head.

What George did was an act of love. It is not seen by many. If George would have let the guys get to Lennie Lord knows the amount of things they could have done to torture him. While George would just have to sit back and watch because there is not much someone his size could do. So George did what Candy regretted that he did not do; which was to do the job himself out of respect and love for the other.