The Role Of Predator In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
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A predator is characterized as a person or group that ruthlessly exploits others, and in the novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck there are many characters that can be categorized as a predator. A list of these predators would be almost all of the characters in the novel itself. They are not necessarily “bad” people, but they have reasons to why they did what they did. George could be classified as a predator because in the final chapter he, single handedly killed his own best friend. However, George’s reason for killing Lennie was because Curley was going to kill him. George would have rather killed Lennie than have a stranger who did not know Lennie kill him in cold blood.
“ “I’ll go right off in the hills an’ find a cave if…show more content… For a moment he was business-like. “Look acrost the river, Lennie, an’ I’ll tell you so you can almost see it.”
Lennie turned his head and looked off across the pool and up the darkening slopes of the Gabilans. “We gonna get a little place,” George began. “ (104-105)
In this quote from the last chapter, George is making Lennie be happy. Lennie was be consoled after murdering Curley’s wife, and all Lennie wanted was for George to let him raise the rabbits. By making Lennie happy before he killed him was justification enough to be a predator.
In the following quote Carlson is a predator towards Candy for the reason that Carlson can not live in the bunkhouse with Candy’s dog.
“During the conversation Carlson had refused to be drawn in. He continued to look down at the old dog. Candy watched him uneasily. At last Carlson said, ‘If you want me to, I’ll put the old devil out of his misery right now and get it over with. Ain’t nothing left for him. Can’t eat, can’t see, can’t even walk without hurtin’.’ … ‘ I don’t see no reason for it,’ said Carlson. He went to his bunk, pulled his bag from underneath it and took out a Luger pistol. ‘let’s get it over with,’ he said. ‘ We can’t sleep with him stinkin’ around in here.’“