Acknowledging Mercy Killing from Murder: Can One be Justified? People have distinct capabilities and obstacles that determine their well being in life, this can include disabilities and or other factors that can interfere and cause suffering for individuals. It is up to relatives or guardians to judge the matter and decide if they want to take the life of people, through mercy killing. Set in the stressful time period during the 1930s in Soledad, California, George Milton and Lennie Small are both migrant workers who happen to travel and explore together looking for a job in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. George acted as a father figure and cared for Lennie, even through the inconvenience that Lennie has caused.
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However, if George chose to save Lennie’s life, Lennie would have been gruesomely killed or sent to jail. Lennie would have never been able to survive on his own and would have risked his life too. As seen in another case, a man murdered his wife, to prevent his wife from future suffering. The man’s lawyer stated, “She hadn’t verbalized anything, but I think it was fair to say he felt for the first time he was making some connection with her, and what he saw was agony, desperation, and pain.” (Qtd. In Rivera). George and the husband took their loved one’s life for a reason, which was to put an end to the pain these individuals were going through. The pain would have continued and would eventually cause more harm than good, in which Lennie would have been deeply affected. All in all, George’s thoughtful action prevented Lennie from experiencing a difficult time full of distress and ache.
In brief, George taking Lennie’s life away was the best approach in ending Lennie’s sufferment. George let Lennie feel happiness right before Lennie’s last breath, to end Lennie’s ongoing pain and he did not risk Lennie living in solidarity, since Lennie would not have been able to survive alone. In essence, it is human nature for people to have a protective side over those that, they developed a special relationship with. It is their responsibility to think of their friends or family and make a choice that would lead to less torment and
However, if George chose to save Lennie’s life, Lennie would have been gruesomely killed or sent to jail. Lennie would have never been able to survive on his own and would have risked his life too. As seen in another case, a man murdered his wife, to prevent his wife from future suffering. The man’s lawyer stated, “She hadn’t verbalized anything, but I think it was fair to say he felt for the first time he was making some connection with her, and what he saw was agony, desperation, and pain.” (Qtd. In Rivera). George and the husband took their loved one’s life for a reason, which was to put an end to the pain these individuals were going through. The pain would have continued and would eventually cause more harm than good, in which Lennie would have been deeply affected. All in all, George’s thoughtful action prevented Lennie from experiencing a difficult time full of distress and ache.
In brief, George taking Lennie’s life away was the best approach in ending Lennie’s sufferment. George let Lennie feel happiness right before Lennie’s last breath, to end Lennie’s ongoing pain and he did not risk Lennie living in solidarity, since Lennie would not have been able to survive alone. In essence, it is human nature for people to have a protective side over those that, they developed a special relationship with. It is their responsibility to think of their friends or family and make a choice that would lead to less torment and