To What Extent Is George Justified In Of Mice And Men

George's Actions are Justified

Imagine trying to achieve a goal but every time you settle into a good situation something bad follows. George and Lennie are constantly in this situation and when Lennie makes a mistake once again it forces George to make a tough decision. In John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, George’s actions of killing Lennie are justified because Lennie always gets in trouble, he didn’t want to regret not killing Lennie himself, and he wanted to be merciful to Lennie.

George and Lennie have been friends for a long time and every time Lennie gets in trouble George helps him get out of it. “‘So he reaches out to feel this red dress an’ the girl lets out a squawk, and that gets Lennie’s all mixed up, and he holds on ‘cause that’s the only thing he can think to do.’” When Lennie feels the girls red dress that once again creates a problem that results them in running away and trying to finding new work (Steinbeck 41). When they finally find a new job on the ranch, George tells Lennie to stay away from Curley’s wife because he knows she is trouble. ‘“Lennie said, “Well, I ain’t supposed to talk to you or nothing.”’ , “‘How’d you like not to talk to anybody?” Lennie said, “Well, I ain’t supposed to.

When Carlson kills Candy’s dog, Candy regrets not being the one that did it. “‘Candy said, “George.” “Huh?” “I oughtta of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.”’ (Steinbeck 61). When George finds out that Lennie killed Curley’s wife he then knew this would only end in either them running away again, finding a new job and Lennie makes another mistake, or Lennie dying. George then wants to be the one to kill Lennie, he does not want to regret not doing it. When George kills Lennie he does it as a way to say sorry and save