Making decisions can be easy, however making beneficial decisions is difficult. In the novella, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, one of the leading characters, George Milton, faces series of decisions where life could change drastically based on his choices. His most difficult decision in the novel is killing his best friend, Lennie. Lennie Small, an ironically huge man with a disability that causes him to act and think like a child, ends up in a position where George can no longer stand up for him against the consequences of the “accident” towards the end of the novella.
He makes the decision to shoot Lennie in the back of his head for both of their benefits. George’s decision is ultimately justified because of the meaningful friendship between the two men, the suffering Lennie would have endured caused by the discrimination based on the social hierarchy, and the unintentional problems Lennie would cause in the future. Also, even though it could be considered “morally wrong” for someone to kill their best friend, George’s reason for his decision essentially outweighs the “immorality.
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The two men’s friendship reveals a special relationship that is uncommon amongst the stereotypical migrant workers of the Great Depression. At this time when men independently searched for jobs, Lennie and George depend on each other.Furthermore, their friendship is similar to the connection between Candy and his dog. In the middle of the novella, Candy is encouraged to kill his own dog, who created a stench in the bunkhouse, and he replies: “‘No,’ he said softly.
‘I could’ do that. I had ‘im too long’” (Steinbeck 45). Candy and his dog spent most of their lives together that they become part of each other. Lennie and George also spend the majority of time together, creating a bond that helped George make the decision to kill Lennie for his benefit. In comparison, just as Candy’s old dog is not the most beneficial d…
Of Mice And Men Argumentative Essay. (2019, Nov 27). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/paper-on-argumentative-essay-of-mice-and-men/