The Issue Of Killing In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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The killing of innocent people is always wrong but, what about the killing of the guilty? Society thinks killing is never right while the government does. Killing is right but only when the person has done something to which they need to be punished for like the murdering of innocent people. While some readers think George needs to be punished others do not. Also, some readers believe that killing is never justified. Killing is justified in certain situations like George’s because George killed Lennie out of kindness, he realized Lennie would never get better and their dream would never come true, and because Lennie did not do anything wrong.

“I think I knowed from the very first. I think I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about …show more content…
George is already upset and blaming himself enough for having to kill Lennie. He is giving himself a hard time about having to kill Lennie despite not wanting to.

Steinbeck shows us that George knew what he had to do and he was upset about it by saying “An’ when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks an go to a… rat house…” He stopped again. “George raised the gun and his hand shook and he dropped his hand

to the ground again” (Steinbeck 104-105). George was nervous the whole time, he could barely finish his sentences and he had to stop when he picked up the gun. George in no way wanted to kill Lennie but he knew he had to so that later Lennie would not suffer from what was going to happen is Curley and Carlson found him first. Although George killing Lennie is justified in some point of view it could be wrong. George could be punished because he didn't have to take matters into his own hands. Killing is justified in certain situations like George’s because George killed Lennie out of kindness, he realized Lennie would never get better and their dream would never come true, and because Lennie did not do anything
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