Student Essay on An Ethical Dilemma in Of Mice and Men

An Ethical Dilemma in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Essay

Throughout our lives, we are faced with many difficult questions. Each question presents us with an ethical dilemma in that we must decide between doing what is right and what is wrong. In the book, "Of Mice and Men," a mentally-retarded person, Lennie, has innocently taken the life of another person, and his caretaker, George, is faced with choosing between killing Lennie or letting him face justice What George ends up doing is killing Lennie.

George's decision is wrong because killing a person is wrong. He makes the decision to take Lennie's life, thereby disregarding the bible's instruction to "treat others as you would like to be treated." His choice goes against all moral rules because he makes a decision that goes against Lennie's will. Although his intentions are good, his actions are wrong.

George could have proved that he loved Lennie and cared for him by fleeing with him, even if it meant putting his own life on the line. Although the odds of surviving were against them, George would have known he had tried his best to save Lennie rather than feeling misery from killing him.

When making tough decisions in life, we should keep in mind that things happen for a reason and God may be testing us when he forces us to choose between right and wrong. God may have been testing George by making Lennie the way he did so that he could see if George really loved Lennie.

In conclusion, although Lennie's mental retardation made him unable to understand the difference between right and wrong, George's decision to kill him was wrong.