The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a novella set in California, America, during The Great Depression. The novella explores two itinerants, George Milton and Lennie Small, going after their dream of owning their own piece of land. Throughout the dramatic novella, we discover that sometimes it is necessary to be cruel to be kind. The killing of Candy's old dog, George and Lennie not speaking to Curley's wife, and the final decision George makes to shoot Lennie are all examples of showing some 'tough love'.

When difficult choices are to be made, the solution may not always be what we desire. When Candy's “ancient dog” starts to bother the men in the bunkhouse, Carlson suggests to Candy that the dog should be shot. Candy, strongly …show more content…
After Lennie accidentally snaps Curley's wife's neck instantly killing her, Curley tells us that, “[he's] gonna get [Lennie]”, meaning shoot him. George, however, cannot let Lennie die in agony, and therefore makes the incredibly heroic decision of shooting Lennie himself. This is an unbelievable act of courage from George, as he had to make the irreversible decision of killing his best friend. Even during Lennie's last moments, George reassures Lennie that he is not angry with him, telling 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.” George knew that if he did not kill Lennie himself, he would be placing Lennie at the mercy of the wicked Curley. Even though the decision was an immensely difficult one, George knew that it was one out of love. Sometimes the toughest decisions we make are the ones done when you really care for …show more content…
Although some difficult decisions had to be made, the choices of these decisions proved to be worthwhile. The killing of Candy's old dog, George and Lennie not speaking to Curley's wife, as well as the final decision George makes to shoot Lennie were all actions that might seem cruel to the naked-eye, but delving a little deeper will prove that they were all acts of genuine kindness. These actions prove that at times, the decisions that we do not want to make are often the ones that are done for the benefit of others. And in the wise words of Bobby W. Miller: “Tough love is real love. Why? Because it's never easy. It hurts the giver far more than the