Chezem 1
Ross Chezem
Matich
English Honors 2A
1/11/11
Act of Cruelty or Love?
Was George’s decision to kill Lennie in the end a merciful necessity or a malicious act of
cruelty? George’s decision in the end of the book can be interpreted either way depending on
how you look at the way George acts towards and treats Lennie throughout the book.
George’s choice to kill Lennie could be a malicious act of cruelty for several reasons.
Throughout the book George seems to be saying how life would be much easier if he didn’t have
to keep Lennie out of trouble all the time. An example of this is when George says: “God you’re
a lot of trouble….. I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail”
(Steinbeck 7). George says this something similar later in the book as well: “If I was alone I
could live so easy…. and I could take my fifty buck an’ go to a cat house” (Steinbeck 103- 104).
Clearly from theses two quotes you could see how George could have just taken the chance to
kill Lennie because he wanted to get rid of Lennie.
George’s choice to kill Lennie could also be a merciful necessity for several reasons.
George and Lennie’s relationship is like that of two brothers, with George being the older
brother, because no one messes with Lennie except for George. An example of this in the book
is when George says: “I ain’t gonna let them hurt Lennie” (Steinbeck 95). George made sure
before he killed Lennie that Lennie knew that George was not mad at him for what he did.
Chezem 2
George tells Lennie he is not mad at him: “No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t
now. That’s a thing I want ya to know” (Steinbeck 106). George also knew he had to kill
Lennie because he knew it would be worse to put Lennie in a prison or to watch Curley kill
Lennie. George actually likes Lennie’s company even though Lennie got on his nerves at times.
Both are viable arguments with several good points and reasons. Based on the evidence
above I think I would go with George killing Lennie as a merciful necessity. I think George kills
Lennie to “set him free” rather than letting Curley kill him to “condemn” him.