In John Steinbeck’s classic novel Of Mice and Men, George Milton and Lennie Small are migrant ranch workers in California during the Great Depression. They share a dream of one day owning their own farm and “living off the fatta the lan’.” However, Lennie’s mental disabilities often get them into trouble. At one point when they are camped by the river, Lennie unintentionally kills a woman by shaking her too hard. When the other men find out, George knows they will want to kill Lennie in revenge. So George takes Lennie to the riverbank and tells him to look across the river and imagine their dream farm.
The Trouble with Lennie
Throughout the novel, it becomes clear that Lennie has a mild intellectual disability that makes him behave erratically at times. He struggles to control his strength and emotions. Several times he unintentionally kills small animals by petting them too hard. He also tends to repeat phrases over and over. George looks after Lennie and gives him advice to try to keep him out of trouble. However, Lennie’s disabilities make trouble inevitable.
After starting new jobs at a ranch, Lennie and George make friends with an old man named Candy and Candy’s old dog. One day when most of the other men are gone, Lennie accidentally kills the dog by stroking its fur too vigorously. Candy is heartbroken over the death of his pet. This incident foreshadows the trouble to come with Lennie’s uncontrolled strength.
The Death of Curley’s Wife
Curley is the boss’ aggressive and confrontational son. Curley’s flirtatious wife often hangs around the bunkhouse trying to talk to the workers. One afternoon when George is away playing horseshoes, Curley’s wife comes into the bunkhouse looking for company. She complains to Lennie about how lonely she is and encourages him to touch her soft hair. As usual, Lennie cannot control himself and accidentally shakes her violently, breaking her neck.
When the other ranch hands find her body, they immediately suspect Lennie committed the murder. Curley vows to shoot Lennie in revenge. George realizes there is no way around the consequences this time. The men form a lynch mob to hunt Lennie down and kill him.
The Plan by the River
To save Lennie from the angry mob, George devises a plan. He takes Lennie down to the riverside and tells him to look across at the mountains and imagine the little farm they will own someday. As Lennie excitedly describes caring for the rabbits he will tend, George takes out Carlson’s Luger and shoots Lennie in the back of the head. This act of mercy spares Lennie from the crueler fate the mob had in store for him.
George shoots Lennie himself both to prevent a more painful death for his friend, and to take responsibility for his own role in the tragedy. Some critics see this as an act of true friendship, while others question whether George made the right choice.
Why Does George Shoot Lennie?
George’s decision to shoot Lennie himself shows his conflicted feelings. In some ways, George dreams of a life free from the responsibility of caring for Lennie. Several times he complains aloud about how much easier his life would be without having to look after his friend. However, George also feels a duty to protect Lennie and has grown to truly care for him over the years.
To Spare Lennie from the Mob
Once George sees that the crowd of angry ranch hands plans to find and torture Lennie for revenge, he realizes he cannot escape the situation. The only options are to let the mob find Lennie first and brutally beat or hang him, or to give Lennie a quick and painless death himself. Faced with these two choices, George decides a compassionate death is the best outcome.
George understands that Lennie is childlike and innocent in many ways. He does not believe Lennie deserves to be lynched by the mob, no matter what he has done. Given Lennie’s disabilities, George may feel that Lennie does not fully understand the gravity of his actions. The kindest option is for George to take Lennie peacefully out of this world.
To Take Responsibility
The tragedy with Curley’s wife puts George in a difficult position. The two men have been run out of towns before due to Lennie’s problems. George knows the ranch hands will make sure Lennie faces consequences this time. George clearly feels guilty that he did not protect Lennie and others from this final disaster.
By being the one to pull the trigger, George takes full responsibility for Lennie’s fate. He does not try to avoid blame or pretend he is not involved. George recognizes his role as Lennie’s guardian and makes the difficult choice himself, rather than leaving it to the angry mob.
To Set Lennie Free
In his childlike naivete, Lennie still fixates on their dream of owning a farm up until the very end. He talks excitedly about tending the rabbits and being independent. George realizes this dream farm can never become real for Lennie now. By shooting Lennie, George frees his friend from facing the harsh realities to come.
Some readers see George’s action as merciful in allowing Lennie to die happily thinking of their dream. Lennie remains innocent and oblivious rather than having to comprehend the consequences of what he has done. The shooting prevents Lennie from having to come to terms with the tragic mistake that will cost him his life.
The Significance of the River Setting
The riverbank setting represents a point of no return for George and Lennie’s friendship. Away from the ranch, George acknowledges out loud that their dream of independence can no longer be achieved. The river marks the end of their long relationship and the happy fantasies they constructed.
Isolation
The natural landscape isolates the two men in this crucial moment. Alone at the riverside, George can take charge of Lennie’s fate without intervention from the lynch mob. The riverbank provides privacy for this intimate moment away from the judgment of others. In this isolated outdoor space, George alone determines the way in which Lennie will die.
Peace and Calm
In contrast to the angry chaos brewing back at the ranch, the riverside has an atmosphere of tranquility. Being surrounded by nature’s beauty provides a peaceful setting for Lennie’s last moments. The comforting sound of the river masks the gunshot that ends his life. Lennie dies in a calm, pastoral place rather than in terror.
Escape
The river represents a sense of escape, as it flows endlessly onward away from the ranch. Lennie often dreams of “living off the fatta the lan'” away from responsibility and hardship. In death, he finally achieves an escape along the river to that fantasy world George describes.
The river also symbolizes George’s desire to escape his duty to care for Lennie. After shooting his friend, George will be freed from that burden moving forward in his life journey.
The Shooting from Lennie’s Perspective
Since Lennie has a childlike innocence, he does not seem to fully grasp his fatal predicament in his final moments. He still fixates on their dream of owning a farm together.
Confused and Oblivious
When George takes the gun out, Lennie likely does not understand what is about to happen. He has no concept that George actually intends to kill him. Lennie is confused but continues happily describing their plan for the future farm.
Feeling Reassured by George
Since Lennie trusts George completely, he likely feels reassured seeing George by his side at the river. Lennie depends on George for guidance and protection. He does not sense any danger from his long-time friend.
Uplifted by the Farm Vision
The idea of tending the future farm fills Lennie with his usual childlike excitement. He imagines himself performing tasks like feeding the rabbits. Talk of the dream farm distracts Lennie from comprehending his impending doom.
Lennie remains uplifted by their plan for independence up until the bullet suddenly ends his life. He finds joy in his fantasy rather than fearing death.
How Would the Story Change if George Did Not Shoot Lennie?
If George did not shoot Lennie by the river, the ending of Of Mice and Men would have played out very differently. The angry lynch mob likely would have found Lennie and brutally killed him themselves.
A More Violent Death for Lennie
Instead of a quick and relatively painless end, Lennie would have faced a viscous attack from the mob seeking vengeance. Men like Curley might have painfully beaten Lennie before killing him. His death almost certainly would have been drawn out and traumatic.
George’s Abdication of Responsibility
If George did not take matters into his own hands, it could be seen as an abdication of his duty to care for Lennie. Allowing the mob to dispense vigilante justice would amount to a passive acceptance of violence against his friend.
George would have avoided confronting his own role and responsibility in Lennie’s fate. By not acting, he would essentially have sacrificed Lennie to the anger of the crowd.
A More Bleak Tone
Without the poignant moment of George shooting Lennie himself, the story’s tone would be significantly more bleak and harsh. The mercy killing, while tragic, shows that George still cares about Lennie. A more violent mob murder would remove any sense of compassion at the end.
Letting the ranch hands kill Lennie themselves would paint George in a far more cynical light. His failure to protect his friend would make the story conclude on a note of hopelessness rather than bittersweet sadness.
Conclusion
When George takes the confused but compliant Lennie to the riverside and shoots him in the final pages of Of Mice and Men, he aims to provide his friend with a quick and peaceful death. Having cared for the troubled Lennie for so long, George understands the danger the lynch mob poses and concludes a mercy killing is the most humane option under the tragic circumstances. While immensely difficult, George’s act eases Lennie’s passage from life and completes Steinbeck’s powerful and poignant tale of friendship, responsibility, and mercy.
Key Questions
Why does George shoot Lennie in Of Mice and Men?
George shoots Lennie out of mercy and compassion to spare him from a more brutal death at the hands of the angry mob seeking revenge for Lennie’s accidental killing of Curley’s wife. George also takes responsibility for Lennie’s fate by choosing to end his friend’s life himself.
How does the river setting contribute to the meaning of George shooting Lennie?
The isolated riverbank provides a peaceful, tranquil place away from others where George can carry out Lennie’s mercy killing. The river also symbolizes a sense of escape, both for Lennie in death and for George escaping the duty of caring for his troubled friend.
What would happen if George did not shoot Lennie in the end?
If George did not shoot Lennie, the lynch mob likely would have found Lennie and violently tortured and killed him. Lennie would have suffered a crueler fate and George would have abdicated his responsibility to care for his friend.
Key Facts
- George takes Lennie to the secluded riverbank after Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife at the ranch.
- Fearing Lennie will be tortured and killed by the angry mob, George decides to shoot Lennie himself to give him a quick and painless death.
- George wrestles with feelings of responsibility, mercy, guilt, and duty as Lennie’s caretaker and friend.
- The river setting provides isolation and tranquility, allowing George control over Lennie’s fate away from the judgment of others.
- If George did not shoot Lennie, Lennie likely would have met a far more violent and painful death at the hands of the mob.
| Character | Role in the Shooting |
|---|---|
| George | Shoots Lennie out of mercy and responsibility |
| Lennie | Dies quickly and without understanding George’s intent |
| Curley | Leads mob seeking to lynch Lennie in revenge |
| Candy | Feels despair at loss of dream without Lennie |
| Slim | Understands George’s motives and the impossibility of the situation |