In some circumstances mercy killings can be justified. This is clearly shown in the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. In this novel the two main characters, George and Lennie work on ranches. However, they are set apart from the “typical ranch hands” because they travel together. George is like a father figure to Lennie because Lennie has a mental illness which causes him to act like a young child. Lennie does not realize his strength which causes him to accidentally kill the wife of the ranch owner’s son, Curley. George is left with no other choice but to kill Lennie. He has to end Lennie’s life because if he did not Curley will and will be vicious. George is realizing that they are stuck in a cycle and the only way to stop it is to kill Lennie. Also, George recalls when his friend Candy made a similar mistake of letting a stranger kill someone
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This mistake is one of Candy’s biggest regret. He now has no closure, and wishes the person who killed his dog did it for the right reasons. Candy makes it explicit to George in the bunkhouse, after his dog was killed by Carlson, that this was his biggest fault. Candy believes that he “ought to have shot that dog [himself].” He wishes that he did not “let no stranger shoot [his] dog.” These words stuck with George and he knew that he had to kill Lennie because he does not want to make the same mistake Candy did. George kills Lennie out of love and to save him from a hate-filled death.
In conclusion, George had no other option but to shoot Lennie. Saving someone from suffering and a more painful death. Helping a friend befor it is too late. And making the right decision to end someone's life due to prior knowledge of a similar circumstance are all valid reasons to end another person's life. Although killing another human is considered a reprehensible action in some cases it is the only plausible thing to
This mistake is one of Candy’s biggest regret. He now has no closure, and wishes the person who killed his dog did it for the right reasons. Candy makes it explicit to George in the bunkhouse, after his dog was killed by Carlson, that this was his biggest fault. Candy believes that he “ought to have shot that dog [himself].” He wishes that he did not “let no stranger shoot [his] dog.” These words stuck with George and he knew that he had to kill Lennie because he does not want to make the same mistake Candy did. George kills Lennie out of love and to save him from a hate-filled death.
In conclusion, George had no other option but to shoot Lennie. Saving someone from suffering and a more painful death. Helping a friend befor it is too late. And making the right decision to end someone's life due to prior knowledge of a similar circumstance are all valid reasons to end another person's life. Although killing another human is considered a reprehensible action in some cases it is the only plausible thing to