The concept of euthanasia is an important aspect of Steinbeck’s book Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck 's treatment of euthanasia evolves throughout the book. The first glimpse we catch of euthanasia is through the fate of Candy’s old dog. Carlson describes the dog saying “Ain 't nothing left for him. Can 't eat, can’t see, can 't even walk without hurtin’“ (47 Steinbeck). This paints the picture that this dog is old and miserable, but Candy loves the dog too much to just shoot it. Carlson who is the biggest proponent of killing the dog continued to pressure Candy, and says things like “Look, Candy. This ol’ dog jus’ suffers hisself all the time. If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head-” he leaned over and pointed,
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Slim is represented throughout the book as a sort of holy figure who is inherently good. When Slim and the men come to the clearing where George has just shot Lennie, the other men don’t truly understand what has happened. Slim does. Slim realizes what has happend, but still supports George, comforting him by saying “ Never you mind… A guy got to sometimes.”(107) and “ you hadda, George. I swear you hadda...” (107). Slim giving his approval is Steinbeck 's way of suggesting that God and Jesus have accepted and forgiven these actions. Steinbeck feels that euthanasia - either of dogs or people - is a kind and charitable …show more content…
However, the popular opinion of euthanasia was not going to last. When World War 2 broke out articles began to appear and showed the horrible things Germans were doing to mentally ill and handicapped people. Germany killing handicapped people to create the Aryan race spread like wildfire, and new found support for euthanasia found in the thirties disappeared."When an opinion poll in 1950 asked Americans whether they approved of allowing physicians by law to end incurably ill patients ' lives by painless means if they and their families requested it, only 36 percent answered 'yes, ' approximately 10 percent less than in the late 1930s” (Historical Timeline).Supporters of Euthanasia how to figure out a way to show how Euthanasia and Nazi killing were not the same thing (Historical
Slim is represented throughout the book as a sort of holy figure who is inherently good. When Slim and the men come to the clearing where George has just shot Lennie, the other men don’t truly understand what has happened. Slim does. Slim realizes what has happend, but still supports George, comforting him by saying “ Never you mind… A guy got to sometimes.”(107) and “ you hadda, George. I swear you hadda...” (107). Slim giving his approval is Steinbeck 's way of suggesting that God and Jesus have accepted and forgiven these actions. Steinbeck feels that euthanasia - either of dogs or people - is a kind and charitable …show more content…
However, the popular opinion of euthanasia was not going to last. When World War 2 broke out articles began to appear and showed the horrible things Germans were doing to mentally ill and handicapped people. Germany killing handicapped people to create the Aryan race spread like wildfire, and new found support for euthanasia found in the thirties disappeared."When an opinion poll in 1950 asked Americans whether they approved of allowing physicians by law to end incurably ill patients ' lives by painless means if they and their families requested it, only 36 percent answered 'yes, ' approximately 10 percent less than in the late 1930s” (Historical Timeline).Supporters of Euthanasia how to figure out a way to show how Euthanasia and Nazi killing were not the same thing (Historical