How Is George's Decision To Kill Lennie Justified

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Is killing ever justified? Is it ever okay? These are questions that were encouraged and well thought on, after the death of Lennie. Some people may think killing is never justified, no matter the situation. Besides self -defense, is it? George was only trying to prevent Lennie from any pain and suffering. George killed Lennie to protect him from a painful death. George would have had to keep on running until Lennie got caught. George killing Lennie was practically an act of kindness. Therefore, George’s decision to kill Lennie is justified because George was protecting Lennie from Curley, he gave him a merciful death, and lennie wasn't going to get better and kept killing things.

George was protecting Lennie from what Curley and his gang would have done to him. “You don't know that Curley. Curley gon’ta wants get’im lynched. Curley’ll get’im killed” said Candy in John Steinbecks “Of Mice and Men.” Curley would have wanted revenge for killing his wife and breaking his hand in their fight. George killed Lennie out of respect. Curley wanted to make Lennie suffer, hinting he wanted him to have a painful death.

It was a merciful killing and he did not want him to suffer. “ certain ways of dying are better than others” says a quote from the “Encyclopedia of Death and Dying.”When George killed Lennie, he shot him where he …show more content…
He wanted no harm to be done to Lennie and saved him from a painful death. George was Lennie’s caretaker and has been for a long time, resulting in a good friendship. The act of killing Lennie was out of respect for him. Knowing how much trouble Lennie has caused it was also a lot for George to deal with too. You can also tell that George killed Lennie out of respect because he gave him a merciful death. He knew that killing him would protect him, and he would not have the guilt of not doing it himself. Lennie had bad habits, whether or not they could be fixed it was already too
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