Comparing John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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In the 1930s during the Great Depression, most men worked on a farm in the hot sunlight all day to provide for their families. Men worked solely to earn money, and did not want anything to do with the other working men on the farms. Consequently, it was very unlikely for two men to be traveling and working together. However, the opposite is true in Of Mice and Men. In Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Lennie, George’s best friend who has always been by his side, is mentally challenged and lacks respect from the other men on the farm, thus giving George an incentive and reason to kill him. George had many reasons to do this, and Lennie’s actions showed us that he needed to be in a better place, for both himself and for George. As the novel begins,…show more content…
George and Lennie originally came to the farm because of Lennie, due to himcausing trouble in their previous job. Often when George and Lennie are traveling, George brings up how he could be leading a life of riches and health without Lennie constantly beside him. Near the beginning of the story when George complains, “‘God, you’re a lot of trouble,” said George. ‘I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail.’” (Steinbeck 7). By this small rage we can tell that George is fed up with always having to deal with Lennie and keep him out of trouble. George feels like he was granted a life too, and that he should be able to live it to his pleasure. For this reason, George’s killing Lennie had an acceptable self reason, as George had to shoot Lennie partly for himself. In relation to this, George felt the need to send Lennie away because he always causes trouble that George must step in to fix. As George explains, “‘An’ that ain’t the worst. You get in trouble. You do bad things and I got to get you out.’”. (Steinbeck 11) George is feeling very overwhelmed by Lennie, and is easily frustrated by his actions. Because of these irritations to George, he felt very angry, enough to make the decision to shoot Lennie in the end of the story. Although George and Lennie’s relationship is forever undying, George did have his breaking point and becomes irritated by Lennie’s
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