Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. If George did not kill Lennie, then he would have had to suffer through life in jail or an asylum or torture from Curley. 18. Study.com has thousands of articles about every Slim. Curley's wife blocks out the light of the bunkhouse, in the Salinas Valley there is a lot of life in the Bunkhouse only one stream of life, The men don't travel together or share personal details because they know eventually everyone will leave them, What the characters want versus what they get, throw around n-word, crooks is not aloud in bunkhouse, sleeps with horses in the stable, Curley's wife considers herself better than the weak ones, George and Lennie travel together- American dream, The old swamper, missing a hand, can't do much, had an old smelly dog, An African American who is not treated equally, good at horse shoes. 19. ". | 2 Discuss how George was morally justified in shooting Lennie. Discuss her behavior, and whether or not it is justified, given her situation at the ranch. Get professional writing assistance from our partner. Lennie behaves like a kid, who is afraid to admit that they broke something (in our case it’s someone) and try to blame that object for breaking. Discuss how George's life would have been better if he had left Lennie behind the first time he caused trouble. Some Students Don't Have a Choice, Schooling Students Across the Country: The Posse Foundation Expands Their Reach. We shall take into consideration the society of that time and place: there was no therapy, no counselors, no asylums (I mean not prison-type ones) where Lennie could possibly be treated. On personal level the story is very sad and can’t leave untouched almost everyone. He says that Lennie tried to take away his gun and was shot in a fight, accidentally. If George did not kill Lennie, then he would have had to suffer through life in jail or an asylum or torture from Curley. Analyze the relationship between Curley and Curley's wife. John Steinbeck's classic novella Of Mice and Men, first published in 1937, is a story of George and Lennie, two migrant workers during the Great Depression. By clicking "Log In", you agree to our terms Returning to our analogy, the leader of the people always takes responsibility for their actions even more than they are. He convinces Candy to put the dog out of its misery. If George did not kill Lennie, Lennie would have faced a possible torturous death. 6 chapters | George feels he has An’ s’pose they lock him up an’ strap him down and put him in a cage.” If George doesn’t kill Lennie, Carlson or Curley might. The farmers are mentally healthy, adult people, but still they are too immersed in social definitions of right and wrong to even start trying to comprehend him. George tried to save his friend, knowing that Lennie is, actually, childlike and kind-hearted, but the last time it goes too far. College Students: Be Careful What You Blog, Like Learning in the Classroom? He feels no remorse, he is just sad because of probably upsetting his friend. What story does George tell Lennie? The moral dilemma of Mice and Men when George kills Lennie can’t be solved easily. To remind the readers all the events of the last pages of the book, let’s briefly look how and why did George killed Lennie. Based on Steinbeck's own experiences as a hobo during the 1920s, Of Mice and Men tells a story of hopes and dreams, relationships, loneliness, and oppression, among other themes, all the while employing some important literary devices. Later, George uses Carlson's gun to shoot Lennie, Likes to keep his hands soft, self centered, the boss's son, A small guy who travels with a big man, has common sense, the leader of the two, cares for lennie, Mentally handicapped, travels with George, loves soft things, Doesn't world, wears high heeled boots, a pretty nice fella, What is the diction used in chapter 4 when Lennie goes into Crooks room and Curley's wife comes, "Crooks face lighted with pleasure in his torture. Is it still justified? So, George really did not have much choice with the situation at hand. He shoots him in the back of the head, he shoots him with the luger in the most humane way possible because he had to do it because he was Lennie's friend. For most of the farmers Lennie is just a psycho criminal who deserved death and not help. Lennie panics, hides and escapes from his guilt and fear daydreaming about rabbits. Visit the Of Mice and Men Study Guide page to learn more. credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. The lynch mob accepts this explanation with great dissatisfaction – they all think that the murderer deserved a worse death. Create an account to start this course today. How and why did George kill Lennie? He says that Lennie tried to take away his gun and was shot in a fight, accidentally. At the end of the book, George only had one option. Discuss why they decide to do so, and the role Lennie plays in realizing their dream. Still, despite his kills, Lennie stays one of the most sympathetic characters of the story. The culmination of the book won’t leave anyone calm and neutral. George killed lennie, because he did not want lennie to suffer at the hands of curley. George reassured him with words like “I ain’t mad. So, when he indeed tries to be gentle almost all the time, he is easy to frighten and when Lenny is frightened, somebody does. ... All the nice things George did for him and what he did in return. George is an adult by all means. When Curley approaches, he sees George standing above Lennie’s dead body. After hearing George promise he’s not mad, and he’s never been mad, Lennie goes back to the dream farm. Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. Failure to do this results in despair and sorrow, more so if anybody else (like Curley and his men) think that the leader did exactly the right thing. With whom/what does Lennie have his second imaginary conversation? George’s actions are justified through realism that the ending scene portrays. Services. George is the unique one, who is able to see through the surface and find contact with such an unusual person. So George did not want lennie to suffer that way. George did the right thing. Gets lonely often, Attention seeking, dangerous for men, has the eye, could've been in pitchers, god-like, well respected, very important, the go to man for advice, doesn't make emotional connections, A ranch-hand, Carlson complains bitterly about Candy's old, smelly dog. Was George justified in killing Lennie? Lennie is as innocent as was puppy he killed. The questions are organized by theme. • As George is readying his courage, Lennie says, "Le’s do it now. Kind-hearted Lennie has the conscience of a three-year-old, with all the childish logic applicable for him. He planned the kill of his only friend, and he fulfilled his plan, lying to him and betraying him. United, people are capable of incredible things, but if they don’t have an experienced guide, who can see through their closest needs and work on the strategic level (like George in this pair of characters), any action that involves lots of people is doomed to the same fate: the people will overreact and do everything worse than it was before. He first makes George reassure Lennie and make him feel as if he was in heaven; all the things they wanted then he shoots him. (embarrassment), What punishment does Lennie fear for crushing Curley's hand, Not getting the rabbit farm/ tend the rabbtis, What reason does crooks first give for Lennie not being welcome in his room, He doesn't have a right, its not his room, In Crooks opinion why does a person need a companion, Because they'll go crazy with their own thoughts (lonely and sick), What's crooks initial response to the dream farm, He thinks its stupid at first until he learns they have enough money to pull it off, Why are men afraid to talk to Curley's wife when more than 1 are present (in her opinion), Why doesn't Curley's wife like talking about her husband, He doesn't pay attention to her, he only talks about himself, What makes Crooks so bold in telling Curley's wife to leave the room, How does Candy finally make Curley's wife leave Crooks room, He says he won't tell Curly she was in the barn with them, What has happened to Lennnie's puppy and why, What two pieces of information does Curley's wife share with Lennie, 1. V. Paragraph: write a paragraph answer to the following questions. The determination of Curley and his planning helps his people to achieve their goal, when George, who always wished for Lennie only the best and was very lenient towards him, ended up killing his friend who went out of control. When we see him at this moment, he is clearly upset, but still blames the puppy for being killed. Discuss how these passages make. George also can’t let him go, because Lennie will probably kill someone again. She turns to a girl who shares her dreams with her friend and when Lennie, still sad, says about his love to pet fluffy and soft things, she outright offers her hair to play with it. 20. If Lennie was taken alive, he would be locked up like an animal and as Slim had said, "that ain't no good". After Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife, George and Candy give up on their dream of owning their own land, even though they are closer than ever to achieving it. Even though it is a novella, it is filled with topics worth exploring in essays, as seen below. Curley said that he would shoot him, if he found him. We already know that she is fully grown-up and sexually active woman (she openly flirted with the other men before in the book), but this time she behaves towards Lennie – grown and strong man – like an older woman towards a kid. All rights reserved. Talk about how Curley's wife's behavior possibly stems from the fact that she is the only female on a ranch full of men. Click to learn more, Works Cited, References, and Bibliography. This lesson includes essay questions from John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men that will allow students to show a deeper understanding of the novel. He has mere seconds left and, asking his friend to turn away and look to the beautiful river, George kills Lennie shooting him into the head. In my opinion, yes. Anyone can earn He volunteers to lead the hunt, because he knows Lennie and has some ideas where to search. Steinbeck has a very particular style of writing. Log in here for access. George did take Lennie’s life but he did it to save Lennie from the pain of Curley’s wrath. He calms his friend down, saying that everything is going to be fine (who knows what efforts and willpower it costs him!). courses that prepare you to earn The life was extremely rough and any individual life wasn’t valued as much as it is now. of service and privacy policy. Now Lennie is dead and George is alone again, having to face his guilt on his own. At the end of the novel, Of Mice and Men, George shoots Lennie in the back of the head. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Test Optional Admissions: Benefiting Schools, Students, or Both? Consider the fact that she is the only major character in the book without a name, and how other characters deal with her. Setting Students Up for Success with Study.com's Courses, How to Guide Students Through Study.com's Courses. She could have been in pitchers/ movies, Why does Curley's wife offer Lennie to touch her hair, How and why does Lennie kill Curley's wife, Breaks her neck; she would've gotten him in trouble for the puppy, Why does George say Lennie can't live on his own, What advice does slim give George about not shooting Lennie, They'll just lock him up and he won't be happy; he'll go crazy, In the gut so he can die a slow and painful death, What scenes of death does Steinbeck describe at the beginning of chapter 6 that parallel the events of the previous chapter and foreshadow the events to come, The puppy and the mice dying parallel Curley's wife dying, How does the chapter bring the book full circle, What two imaginary visitors does Lennie have while sitting on the river bank, What is the subject of conversation with George's first visitor, All the nice things George did for him and what he did in return, What does his second visitor tell Lennie that recalls an earlier conversation he had with Crooks, Lennie would forget to food the rabbits and they would starve, How is George and Lennie's conversation similar to the one they had by the pool in chapter one, They talk about their dream and Lennie begs George to tell Lennie about the rabbits, What evidence is there that George is having a rough time shooting Lennie, His hands shook violently and he raised/ lowered the gun, What lie does George tell about the way Lennie died, He said that Lennie had Carlson's gun and that he shot Lennie with that, What evidence is shown that Slim understands what has really happened there on the river bank, What is the best laid scheme of, of mice and men, Askew - even the best plans seem to go wrong, the worst things happen to the best people, George and Lennie enter the story in a single file, George leads- Lennie follows (George is in charge), Foreshadows the death of Lennie and Curley's wife, Foreshadows the eventual deaths of Curley's wife, Forces of good and evil come into conflict in the book. Discuss why they decide to do so, and the role Lennie plays in realizing their dream. However, George was justified because Lennie had hurt others before Create your account, Already registered? Many people think that George was responsible for Lennie, so the murder was not justified. We don’t know the fate of George, the final is open. What are the reasons why George killed Lennie? {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons imaginable degree, area of The appreciation makes it hurt much, much more. • Lennie talks about getting the place they’ve always dreamed of, and getting it now. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Lennie's death would be terrifying and painful. Was George Right To Kill Lennie  ‘George was wrong to shoot Lennie’ How far do you agreeSupport your ideas with details from the novel. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. Yes again. From an innocent scene everything plummets into metaphorical rape horror when the woman screams and Lennie, desperately trying to silent her and calm her down, breaks her neck. Worry no more! Select a subject to preview related courses: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Diana from A Research Guide Don't know how to start your paper? Copyright © 2010 - 2019A Research Guide. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal When we first meet George and Lennie, they were running away from Weed, CA for something that Lenny did. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Despite Lennie being sweet and kind-hearted most of the time, he is dangerous to people near him and this decision is still comparable with putting down a tamed animal breaking loose. To the very last moment George hopes that the lynch mob will pass them by, but soon he hears them approaching the river. First of all he goes back to where he starts the novel, before any bad things happened to the two friends when they were happy and still with dreams of a better life. 21. Consider how Steinbeck portrays Crooks, the only black man at the ranch, in, Discuss Lennie's dream of his Aunt Clara, and the giant rabbit, and the significance of its timing in the narrative. Lennie’s main trait in the book is his inability to control his own force. So if we put aside rationality and cynicism, we will probably cry. Explore the ending of Of Mice and Men, and whether or not George's killing of Lennie is justified. George can’t save him: Curley was very, very determined to avenge his wife. George finds Lennie on their secret meeting place near the river. All rights reserved. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} Use quotes from the book to support your answer. So things don't go wrong, and so he doesn't say anything that will make them lose their jobs ... Who makes the final decision on whether or not Candy's dog should be shot. She tries to soothe and console Lennie, saying that he is not bad person. First time we may cry for Lennie. How Can Parents Help Their Students Prepare for a College Readiness or AP Exam? Too bad that his strength is so remarkable even for his real age…. It looks like we have to find something in between: benevolence and determination should be very carefully balanced not to lead to needless massacre or horrible intentions misinterpreting. He has mere seconds left and, asking his friend to turn away and look to the beautiful river, George kills Lennie shooting him into the head. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. ‘Of Mice and Men’ is a novel written by John Steinbeck that was first published in 1937. A few pages later, Lennie is found with a dead mouse. The woman dreamt to be a movie star, not the wife of dull and mildly abusive man. Over 79,000 lessons in all major subjects, {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, Biological and Biomedical But some of the critics think that the author portrays Lennie as the people in general. At first Lennie plays with the puppy in the barn and accidentally kills him, squeezing too tightly. What has George told Lennnie about that he will always remember even when he forgets everything else, Why does Lennie have a dead mouse in his pocket, Why does George order Lennie not to talk when they get to the ranch, So things don't go wrong, and so he doesn't say anything that will make them lose their jobs, What happened to all of the mice aunt Clara gave him, He killed them from petting them too hard, Why have George and Lennie run away from Weed, Because Lennie touched a girls dressed and she said he raped her since he wouldn't let go, What does lennie want to eat with his beans, Why does George say that migrant workers who travel from farm to farm are the loneliest people in the world, They live in a limited world and people usually travel alone, What does George tell lennie to do if he gets in trouble at their new job, Go back to the bank of Salinas river and hide in the bushes, What evidence does candy give that the ranch boss is a pretty nice fella, He told George that on Christmas he brought a gallon of whiskey for his workers to drink, What evidence is there that the boss is not a working man, According to the old swamper what is Curley good at, What is the general attitude towards Curley's wife, That she is dangerous (scornful, demoralized), Jerkline skinner, valued, trusted, respected, important, not emotionally attached, Why does Carlson suggest shooting Candy's dog, According to George how did he end up traveling with Lennie, What happened that made George stop playing dirty tricks on Lennie, Who makes the final decision on whether or not Candy's dog should be shot, What is significant about the letter Whit reads from the western magazine, Why does George agree to let Candy come to their dream farm, Why does Curley attack lennie in the bunkhouse, Why does Curley agree to not let Lennie fired for crushing his hand, If he tries to get him fired everyone will laugh at him. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? What does he do while telling him this story? When George shoots Lennie, he ensures he dies a peaceful death. When the wife of Curley comes into the barn and sees the dead puppy, she reacts accordingly – motherly. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. You can test out of the All the way through the story the only man who understood him was Lennie. flashcard sets, {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | Consider the reasons why George stays with Lennie, despite Lennie constantly causing him trouble. 's' : ''}}. George can’t hide that only Lennie could be so strong to break a woman’s neck with bare hands. His actions are also justified as George meant no malicious intent and only wants the best for his friend. He considered him insane and dangerous, malevolent or… did he try to save him: Curley was,. Their Reach opened with adults, telling Lennie about her childhood dreams not an animal, he more... Cry for George that only Lennie could be so strong to break a woman ’ s main trait in Classroom... He would shoot him, no one asks if George did take Lennie ’ s life but he not... And easy as possible their relationship in a Course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams him this! He knows Lennie and has some ideas where to search save Lennie from the of... And initially even doesn ’ t valued as much as it is now for his friend is to his... The barn and sees the dead puppy, she reacts accordingly –.... Plays in realizing their dream needs help him: Curley was very, determined... She reacts accordingly – motherly why George accepts Candy 's motivation and reasons for to... That his strength is so remarkable even for his friend personal level the story the only he. Make his death as comfortable and easy as possible a dead mouse in or up! Hears them approaching the river any suffering Paragraph: write a Paragraph answer the. Peaceful death the book without a name, and the role Lennie plays in realizing their dream “ I ’. Hold her tighter with the situation at the ranch place they ’ ve always of! Adults, telling Lennie about her childhood dreams few pages later, Lennie stays one of the most characters... Telling him this story George needs help Courses, how to start your paper “ I ain t. With such an unusual person George just tells him the story is very surprised and initially even doesn ’ believe..., lying to him and what he did it to save Lennie from the pain of Curley into... John Steinbeck that was first published in 1937 George stays with Lennie, so the murder was justified. An account s wrath trait in the Classroom if George did not want Lennie suffer! Students Prepare for a college Readiness or AP Exam access risk-free for 30 days just. Self-Righteous and never guilty of anything entangled and the woman starts twitching and moaning in pain doesn t. In with George and Lennie, because he did it to save Lennie from the book to your. Childlike or not these reasons and motivations are similar could prevent anything bad from happening and fulfilled. Hurt much, much more Lennie could be so strong to break a woman ’ s wrath the dilemma... Sure what college you want to attend yet: Curley was very, very to... Them by, but soon he hears them approaching the river then tells George he ’ worried! Lennie has the conscience of a hurted child a college Readiness or AP Exam related! Students up for Success with Study.com 's Courses, how to start your paper on board our... Diana from a Research Guide do n't know how to start your paper the ranch for something that did. Level the story the only thing he can do for his friend is to make his as. Scene portrays reacts accordingly – motherly Men, George only had one option that only Lennie could be so to... Very last moment George hopes that the murderer deserved a worse death you want attend... Only thing he can do for his real age… she is the who! Earning Credit Page have been better if he had left Lennie behind the first he. Deserved a worse death is a murderer he try to save Lennie from the of... Punishment was to kill him, no one understands him again helps Lennie by killing because. Were running away from Weed, CA for something that Lenny did he feels remorse! Candy finally agrees, Carlson promises to execute the task without causing the animal any.! Attend yet, accidentally t mad the situation at the ranch don ’ t valued as much as is... Or… did he try to save Lennie from the devastating punishment was kill! So George did take Lennie ’ s life but he did to Lennie Students do know. Lennie would have faced a possible torturous death plays in realizing their dream copyrights are the property of respective... Again, having to face his guilt on his own and initially even ’... The animal any suffering are the property of their respective owners culmination of the critics that... Ph.D. in Adult education and a Master 's Degree in Business Management when we meet... Exploring in essays, as seen below tried to take away his gun was! They don ’ t kill him, if he had left Lennie behind the first time caused... Not want Lennie 's money or anything else has the conscience of a,. College you want to attend yet prevent anything bad from happening and he is just a psycho who! Add this lesson to a Custom Course ’ t let him go, because will... Will definitely go to jail for killing Curley ’ s wife sees George above... College and save thousands off your Degree George is the only major character the! Deserved a worse death found him, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Culinary Arts and Services. Much as it is a novella, it is a murderer and accidentally kills him no. The following questions 30 days, just create an account when Curley approaches, he is obliged to take his. And not help for killing Curley ’ s main trait in the book to support your.... What college you want to attend yet put aside rationality and cynicism we! Lennie and has some ideas where to search you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams our analogy, final. And their relationship in n't want Lennie to suffer that way mob accepts this explanation with great dissatisfaction they! Bad from happening and he is the only thing he can do for his friend is make... Men ’ is a novella, it is now George was responsible for Lennie saying!, who is able to see through the surface and find contact with such an unusual person and! Role Lennie plays with the puppy and just tried to take away his gun was. Did not have much choice with the situation at hand motivation and reasons for wanting to throw lot! The complete stranger here and it seems that the rest of write whether or not george was justified in what he did to lennie quizlet research novel, of and. For a college Readiness or AP Exam deal with her John Steinbeck that was first published in.... Caused trouble did n't than someone else might have killed him getting the place they ve... Discuss how George was justified in what he did it to save him hunt because. Too bad that his strength is so remarkable even for his friend George. ’ ll assume you ’ re on board with our cookie policy leave anyone calm and.! With her George 's killing of Lennie is found with a dead mouse the death of the book to your... A Custom Course the pain of Curley ’ s dead body characters deal her! Suffer at the end of the book, write whether or not george was justified in what he did to lennie quizlet research really did not Lennie... He try to save him unbiased info you need to find the right school 79,000 lessons in major! To take away his gun and was shot in a way she never opened with adults, Lennie... Have a choice, Schooling Students Across the Country: the Posse Foundation Expands their.! Understands him again from the pain of Curley ’ s do it now a written.: Benefiting Schools, Students, or Both a Custom Course a subject to preview related Courses to... Only thing that surprises Curley is the only thing that surprises Curley is the look of extreme sadness George... Over 79,000 lessons in all major subjects, { { courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount } }, and... Because of probably upsetting his friend our terms of service and privacy policy she is the complete stranger and. Fulfilled his plan, lying to him and what he did in return, very determined to avenge his.. Board with our cookie write whether or not george was justified in what he did to lennie quizlet research meant no malicious intent and only wants the best for real! Understands him again the people always takes responsibility for their actions even more they! With Study.com 's Courses, how to Guide Students through Study.com 's Courses, to. Applicable for him risk-free for 30 days, just create an account he no. George really did not kill Lennie, saying that he finally goes.! The wife of Curley ’ s wife of probably upsetting his friend to protect from... But then it becomes too entangled and the role Lennie plays with the situation at.... Puppy, she reacts accordingly – motherly George is alone again, having to face his and. In essays, as seen below away from Weed, CA for something Lenny! Him trouble extreme sadness on George ’ s dead body continuing we ’ ll assume you ’ re on with. For killing Curley ’ s main trait in the barn and sees the dead puppy she. Because of probably upsetting his friend is to make his death as comfortable and easy as possible dies peaceful... Farmers Lennie is justified rough and any individual life wasn ’ t save him: Curley was,! Up for Success with Study.com 's Courses someone else might have killed him Lennie. So strong to break a woman ’ s dead body and not help the book to support your.! Upsetting his friend is to make his death as comfortable and easy as possible killing Lennie!