Is Killing a loved one ever justified? How would it be decided when to kill them? Yes killing another person can be at times. Like when George thought about killing Lennie it was not in hate, it was in Lennie’s best interest. These questions are fought in John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men. George was justified in killing Lennie since the other men would have tortured Lennie, he also saved Lennie from himself, and George vowed he would take care of Lennie and George thought this was Lennie’s best option. First of all George saved Lennie from being tortured by the other men especially Curley. George was justified since he gave Lennie mercy and made his death instantaneous. He prevented Lennie from a long and painful death. For example …show more content…
Although some readers choose to believe that it was wrong and George was a selfish liar for killing Lennie. Even though George saved Lennie from torture and George gave Lennie a happy vision/thought right before he gave Lennie an instantaneous death. He also is not a liar though some readers would quote from the book that George said “I told his old lady I’d take care of him” (Steinbeck 22). They would say he broke his vow, but did he? He took care of Lennie through everything and killing him was the best option for everyone which justifies George’s killing of Lennie. While George’s moral was shaky in the ending of Of Mice and Men, he was able to face what he wanted and what he had to do. George killed Lennie because Curley planned on making Lennie’s death long and painful. Furthermore, Lennie was going insane, being eaten by his own guilt. Lastly, George vowed he would help Lennie till the end and that’s what he did. These events that happen in Steinbeck’s book give us a reminder that something like this could happen to us. So we would have to ask ourselves what George asked himself. Could I fight my moral battles inside to kill a loved one