Preview

Why Did George Kill Lennie Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
495 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Did George Kill Lennie Essay
Did George have a good reason for killing Lennie? The reason for George to kill Lennie varies, and different people have different reasons or opinions of the situation. Well the reason was simply for protection, and all out of love. It was nothing personal, George just knew that it was the best thing to do for Lennie’s safety.
George had been Lennie’s caregiver for a long time, he knew that Lennie wasn’t in his right mind, and that he didn’t know what he was doing. When Lennie accidentally killed Curley’s wife no one had believed that it was an accident, but he just got tangled in her hair and panicked. Curley was chasing after Lennie, and Curley was going to torture him, kill him painfully or lock him up somewhere. And Lennie was not able
…show more content…
They had been friends for a very long time, they cared and looked out for each other. Even though George was usually the one looking out for Lennie, he still didn’t want Lennie to go through all that torture and mistreatment. It would’ve been bad for Lennie to spend the last minutes of his life scared and mistreated by Curley, which was someone that he didn’t really like.
So George did have a good reason to kill Lennie. He was just looking out for him and making sure he gets the best like he always have. Lennie would have gone through a terrible and horrifying death if Curley had found him and killed him. George will always have to live with the fact that he killed his best friend, but he will also be comfortable in doing it because he was only saving him.
The reasoning for George to kill Lennie still varies and will probably continue to vary, but now you see George’s point of view of doing it. The reason was protective, and safety for Lennie because he knew Lennie couldn’t defend himself so he had to do it. When George pulled that trigger, he knew it was all out of love and nothing in doing it was personal. So by reading the passage, you should know that killing Lennie was the best thing to do. But even though George took lennie’s life, he also saved his

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    George loved Lennie and Promised Aunt Clara that he would look after him. Lennie had previously got in trouble. Curley would have got Lennie lynch anyway and he would have done it in a gruesome manner and inflicted pain on him. George wouldn’t have been able to stand there and just watch, he took the decision to kill Lennie himself, this not being an easy task itself. What he thinks what has happened is that he has underestimated Lennies strength and due to this previous occasion and Lennie mental state he could kill again easily. The jury wouldn’t understand as it was every man for himself at this time, Lennie and George where very close.…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I believe george was justified in shooting lennie, george realized he would not want anyone killing lennie for something he did not mean to do. But also george knew if anything was to happen to him lennie would not be able to live on his own.…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    George made the correct decision by killing Lennie. Lennie’s death was unavoidable by Curley, due to the fact that he killed Curley’s wife. George knew that if Curley ever made contact with Lennie, he would make his death slow and terrifying, so George decided to shoot him while Lennie was thinking about his dream.…

    • 90 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    “ I’m gonna shoot the guts outta that big bastard myself, even if I only got one hand,” (Steinbeck pg. 98). Obviously, Curley was ready to kill Lennie with a torturous death. Furthermore, George did choose the wise decision. Lennie had the mind of a child in a adult’s body. He was not…

    • 320 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the first place, when Lennie killed Curley’s wife, Curley was hell-bent on getting his revenge. Lennie was scared because he knew what was going to happen. Letting Curley get this satisfaction would’ve disappointed George. Here’s a quote that shows that Curley wanted to make sure Lennie suffered. “I’m going for my shotgun. I’ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself.” (Steinbeck…

    • 335 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    George has Lennie's back in every situation no matter what. George only wants what's best for Lennie. If George didn't care for Lennie he probably would've been dead sooner. When they were in Weeds George helped Lennie escape from the mob that had been sent to kill him, he also took Lennie's work card so he wouldn't lose it. George killed Lennie because he was looking out for him.”I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog”(61). Candys words came to mind to George and realized that he was the only one Lennie had. He was the only one who got frustrated with him but cared oh so much about him. Lennie had more than just a gunshot coming to him but George instead shortened his suffering by pulling the trigger…

    • 401 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout chapter one George and Lennie discuss the incident that happened in weed, and we begin to see George lose control when he says to Lennie, “Oh, so ya forgot that too, did ya? Well, I ain’t gonna remind ya, fear ya do it again” (Steinbeck 7). When George says this it shows how much he’s concerned with something like it, or something worse happening again. By the end of the book Lennie has killed multiple mice, a puppy, and a woman, George knows Lennie will never overcome his disability which will result in him killing again. Therefore, George had to end Lennie’s life to protect himself, and other people from his destructive…

    • 632 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first reason that George's decision was justified is because no one wants to see their best friend killed in front of their own eyes. George knew that if the mob got to Lennie before he did, then he would be dead no doubt. So he ran as fast as he could to the spot where George said if Lennie ever got in trouble to go to. George took the gun from where Curley put it and went off to their spot. Even Slim thought that George needed to kill him “Never you mind,’ said Slim. ‘A guy got to sometimes.” Obviously, George did not want Lennie to die but he realizes it is him or them.…

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    First, George was right to kill Lennie because Lennie had hurt people in the past and would continue to hurt people in the future, not on purpose, but because he does not understand his own strength. Before they came to Salinas they worked up in Weed, where Lennie got into trouble. When Slim asked George what happened in Weed George explained, “Well that girl rabbits in an’…

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    First of all, George is right to kill Lennie because George wants to protect Lennie from suffering a painful death. If Lennie is caught…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    George kills Lennie also because he doesn't want to be on the run like he has most of the time been. So Lennie is stressing on George's life but George feels to guilty to have him run, because he couldn't live on his own. So George has to kill Lennie because he has no other choice for Lennie's future. This was the best choice for Lennie in George's mind. He also thinks this world is too cruel for…

    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Even though Lennie doesn't always obey George, he is willing to give up what he wants to do in order for George and him to stay together. Lennie does this because he truly cares about George.…

    • 1034 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When Lennie and George were younger, George had no knowledge of Lennie’s condition and it almost caused Lennie’s death. Lennie’s problem is mostly not because of his condition, but because people misunderstand his condition and therefore, misjudge him. George had watched over Lennie for an unknown time but still was unsure on how to deal with his condition. This leads to the death of Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife talks to Lennie after he kills the puppy and lets Lennie touch her hair. She sternly tells Lennie to stop, which makes him nervous. Not wanting to get in trouble, Lennie covers her mouth to prevent her from yelling and eventually breaks her neck. While this is going on Lennie says “ Please don’t do that.” referring to her yells, “George’ll be mad.” (page 91) This shows that George made Lennie think that if he misbehaved again he would get into trouble. This upset Lennie and is the reason he panicked when he realized he had displeased Curley’s wife. Therefore, George’s misjudgment lead to the emotional problem Lennie encountered after Curley’s wife’s death, and eventually, Lennie’s…

    • 779 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Plus, George couldn't let them hurt his friend. He knew Lennie didn't mean to do the things he did and that Lennie had an illness. He couldn't help the things he did neither did he try to do them on purpose. But they however don't know Lennie like he did and didn't share the bond George and Lennie did. So, they didn't care how bad they would hurt him. They just wanted him to die because of him causing death upon a woman. George knew they wanted Lennie to suffer and George knew he couldn't live with that happening. So he took it upon him self and did his friend a favor. This killing happened because of ones mental illness and the euthanasia one had for another. On the other hand George could have just fled with Lennie instead of killing him but, it got to be to much for him so he ended it.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In order to live a happy life , there are many sacrifices that you're going to have to take.George shooting Lennie was a sacrifice that George had to take in order to be happy and content with his life.So George definitely have the right to shoot Lennie. Lennie was causing so much mischief on the ranch such as killing Curley's wife and killing a puppy. George also kills Lennie in a more humane approach. George killing Lennie was out of pity and also out of love and care.In the book the character Candy ends up having his dog get killed by a fellow collegue by the name of Carlson. Candy regretted not being able to shoot his own dog because it would’ve been more merciful for him to do it than a stranger. The situation of Candy’s dog foreshadows that Lennie is going to die. The situation also teaches George a lesson causing George to be the person to shoot Lennie. George killing Lennie was the most merciful thing that he could do for Lennie.George not only wanted to end Lennie’s suffering but to also end the trouble that Lennie was causing on the ranch.…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays