According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, mercy killing is described as, “the killing of someone who is very sick or injured in order to prevent any further suffering”. However, to John Steinbeck, author of the novella Of Mice and Men, mercy killing is more than just that. In the plot of the story, mercy killing repeatedly becomes a subject of discussion when characters in the story kill other people and animals out of mercy. George, Slim, and Candy reveal how mercy killing is justifiable in the cases when it ends unnecessary suffering and pain, where it comes from a selfless place, and when it is for the greater good.
A kill of mercy terminates unnecessary pain and suffering for the subject, and hence is justifiable. Recounting the events …show more content…
Candy is someone who loves his dog very much. Unfortunately, his dog is now a mere disappointment from the mighty sheepdog it once was; the dog is now very old, is crippled and is in a lot of physical pain. When the other men want to kill the dog to end ts misery, Candy selflessly gave them permission, “Awright--take ‘im” (Steinbeck 47). Although Candy is devastated at the thought of being separated from his dog, he still gives permission for his dog’s execution. He does this because he knows that keeping his dog alive is actually a selfish action. Keeping the dog alive forces it to live through the painful life of a cripple, so allowing his dog to die was a selfless action of love. He ends the dog’s suffering even though it means that he himself will suffer. It follows, then that the dog’s death is a justified kill of …show more content…
George demonstrates this with his actions during Lennie’s last moments. After Lennie kills Curley’s wife, Lennie and George reunite at the brush for the last time before George eventually shoots Lennie in the back of the head (Steinbeck 106). George knows that Lennie will be lynched (killed) when caught by Curley and the other men. He also knows that even if they were to elude the men and go elsewhere, Lennie will not change. Earlier in another town by the name of Weed, Lennie had another scare with the law when a girl accused him of allegedly raping her even though he had no intent of the sort (Steinbeck 41-42). This shows that no matter when or where Lennie is, he will always inevitably stir up trouble. Therefore, Lennie is a danger to society and no matter how hard George tries, he will never be able to keep him away from society’s harm, nor protect society from him. Thus, for the greater good of society and Lennie, he is obligated to put a bullet in his head, and that is a reasonable
A kill of mercy terminates unnecessary pain and suffering for the subject, and hence is justifiable. Recounting the events …show more content…
Candy is someone who loves his dog very much. Unfortunately, his dog is now a mere disappointment from the mighty sheepdog it once was; the dog is now very old, is crippled and is in a lot of physical pain. When the other men want to kill the dog to end ts misery, Candy selflessly gave them permission, “Awright--take ‘im” (Steinbeck 47). Although Candy is devastated at the thought of being separated from his dog, he still gives permission for his dog’s execution. He does this because he knows that keeping his dog alive is actually a selfish action. Keeping the dog alive forces it to live through the painful life of a cripple, so allowing his dog to die was a selfless action of love. He ends the dog’s suffering even though it means that he himself will suffer. It follows, then that the dog’s death is a justified kill of …show more content…
George demonstrates this with his actions during Lennie’s last moments. After Lennie kills Curley’s wife, Lennie and George reunite at the brush for the last time before George eventually shoots Lennie in the back of the head (Steinbeck 106). George knows that Lennie will be lynched (killed) when caught by Curley and the other men. He also knows that even if they were to elude the men and go elsewhere, Lennie will not change. Earlier in another town by the name of Weed, Lennie had another scare with the law when a girl accused him of allegedly raping her even though he had no intent of the sort (Steinbeck 41-42). This shows that no matter when or where Lennie is, he will always inevitably stir up trouble. Therefore, Lennie is a danger to society and no matter how hard George tries, he will never be able to keep him away from society’s harm, nor protect society from him. Thus, for the greater good of society and Lennie, he is obligated to put a bullet in his head, and that is a reasonable