The classical Steinbeck. He is one of my favorite authors. I attended a book discussion on Of Mice and Men last Thursday. We had a lively discussion about each of the characters and the ethical implications of the novel. I still say that George turned bad and killed Lennie not out of necessity but out of selfishness. He was sick of the cycle. He had finally made friends. Lennie never did anything bad out of malicious intent. He had a child-like innocence. The death of curley's wife was no different than him accidently killing the little mice and puppy. If Lennie hadn't been so focused in on how George wouldn't let him take care of the rabbits, then he wouldn't have panicked and done bad things in the first place. George's sins seems to get everyone in trouble. Why was Lennie the one who had to pay for them?
Monday, October 16, 2006
Of Mice and Men
The classical Steinbeck. He is one of my favorite authors. I attended a book discussion on Of Mice and Men last Thursday. We had a lively discussion about each of the characters and the ethical implications of the novel. I still say that George turned bad and killed Lennie not out of necessity but out of selfishness. He was sick of the cycle. He had finally made friends. Lennie never did anything bad out of malicious intent. He had a child-like innocence. The death of curley's wife was no different than him accidently killing the little mice and puppy. If Lennie hadn't been so focused in on how George wouldn't let him take care of the rabbits, then he wouldn't have panicked and done bad things in the first place. George's sins seems to get everyone in trouble. Why was Lennie the one who had to pay for them?
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I disagree with you. I just finished reading the book and i definately think George killed him before the rest got to him and did worse to him. He wanted Lennie to go out happy, thinking of the farm they wanted and the rabbits he would tend to. He was doing it out of the goodness of his heart to allow Lennie to go out in peace, rather than have the others get to him, and have Lennie get scared, hurt, tortured or worse before they killed him. George let him think he would tend to the rabbits to make him feel happier, more secure and have a sense of individuality and responsibility, not to make him panick about getting in trouble. Just as a parent disciplines their child, George had to discipline Lennie, using the rabbits. It was not his fault at all. I do think George was getting tired of the cycle, but he didnt result in killing him because of that. it was because he cared for Lennie
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