To answer questions about
Of Mice and Men,
please sign up.
Sonia
This answer contains spoilers�
(view spoiler)
Patchlamb
It is a parallel to Candy's old dog. Candy had a stranger put down his dog because his dog was "no good to himself" and was "miserable." Lennie was miserable; he would never get the things he so desired, whether or not he hurt somebody it would not happen. When he killed Curley's wife, George did not want Curley to kill him in a torturous way, and knew it would be cruel to have Lennie committed where it would be mentally torturous for him.
So, as an act of mercy, George killed Lennie in a way that was quick and painless so he would not have to suffer through the even more miserable future that would come to him after the woman's death. An insane asylum (in the 30s no less) would have been a fate worse than death. He did it, because the book had Candy express that he should have been the one to put down his own dog, because it was his. Lennie was his friend, his responsibility, he could not let somebody else do it, let alone someone who may have done it cruelly like Curley.
So, as an act of mercy, George killed Lennie in a way that was quick and painless so he would not have to suffer through the even more miserable future that would come to him after the woman's death. An insane asylum (in the 30s no less) would have been a fate worse than death. He did it, because the book had Candy express that he should have been the one to put down his own dog, because it was his. Lennie was his friend, his responsibility, he could not let somebody else do it, let alone someone who may have done it cruelly like Curley.
Aketzia
It´s a hard world with no place for someone like Lenny. He would be misunderstood and marginalized his whole life and nothing but a burden to George.
AriaahRome
This answer contains spoilers�
(view spoiler)
Kimberly
This answer contains spoilers�
(view spoiler)
About Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.