Lennie killed Curley’s wife accidentally. This happened as she asked him to touch her hair and even put his hands on to it. As Lennie likes to feel soft things he started to stroke her hair harder. Curley’s wife started to get angry as the hair was getting messy and told him to let go but Lennie started to panic as she started to scream louder. As Lennie got confused he put his hand over her mouth and nose. Lennie begged and cried for her not to yell because he thought George wouldn’t let him tend no rabbits as he was warned by George not to do A bad thing. Lennie then broke her neck without realizing he just killed her. When Lennie found out that he just killed her he ran away to the bush where George told him to go to if he done something bad. Candy found Curley’s wife dead and told George first. George told Candy to tell the rest of the ranch guys. Curley was the most furious to find his wife dead and went to kill Lennie with the rest of the ranch guys. Carlson told the ranch people that Lennie stole his lugar but they didn’t now it was George. The ranch guys all went to search for Lennie and kill him but George got there first. Lennie was relieved to see George but thought that he would be angry instead he started to talk about their dream of owning land. As Lennie was thinking, George shot him at the back of his neck so he won’t die painfully “And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again. Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the stand, and lay without quivering.”
There are many differences in the killings and similarities as follows:
Lennie and Candy’s dog were killed for their own good. They were put out of their pain or misery. As Curley would have shot Lennie where he feels the pain for A period of time or he could be sent to prison where he would be treated ferociously “Curley go’n’ta wanta get ’im lynched. Curley’ll get ’im killed.”
And Candy’s dog was in pain all the time “Can’t eat, can’t see, can’t even walk without hurting himself”
Lennie and candy’s dog were killed by Carlson’s lugar.
Lennie and candy’s dog were shot at the back of the head so they didn’t suffer. George killed Lennie without Lennie even knowing “And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head… He pulled the trigger.” Candy’s dog was also shot at the back of the head “The way I will shoot him, he wouldn’t feel nothing…Right back of the head. He wouldn’t even quiver”
Lennie and Candy’s dog were thought highly by those who looked after them. Candy said that his dog was the best ever sheep dog he ever seen “You wouldn’t think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen.” Lennie was also regarded high by George “An’ I got you. We got each other, that’s what, that gives a hoot in hell about us”
Lennie and Candy’s dog are both innocent in their ways. Lennie killed Curley’s wife accidentally “Couldn’ we maybe bring him in an’ they’ll lock him up? He’s nuts, Slim. He never done this to be mean.” Candy’s dog was useless and old so he would have died soon anyway but painfully “An’ he ain’t no good to himself. Why’n’t you shoot him, candy?”
Others considered Lennie and Candy’s dog useless. Candy’ dog was hardly able to do anything “Can’t eat, can’t see, can’t even walk without hurting.” Lennie was also useless without George, as he wouldn’t know what to do “Curley lashed his body around. ‘By Christ, he’s gotta talk when he’s spoke to’
The death of Lennie and candy’s old dog were inevitable as Lennie was always getting into trouble “…But he gets in trouble alla time because he’s god-damn dumb.” And Candy’s old dog was useless and was in A pain all the time “If you want me to, I’ll put the old devil out of his misery right now and get it over with…”
The differences in the killings are:
Lennie was a human killing and Candy’s dog was an animal killing.
The reasons behind Lennie and Candy’s dog death were different, as Lennie had killed Curley’s wife “And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck” but Candy’s dog was old and smelled “That stink hangs around even after he’s gone.”
Candy didn’t shoot his own dog as Carlson shot it “Tell you what. I’ll shoot him for you” but George did kill Lennie “And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head…He pulled the trigger.”
Candy regretted not killing his dog himself “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George.” George knew he had to protect Lennie from A death brought about by someone else “I’ll kill the big son of a bitch myself” said Curley.
Candy’s dog’s death and the killing of Lennie have many similarities and differences. Both deaths have features that make them alike however, their differences are also clear. Lennie’s death does appear to be foreshadowed by the killing of Candy’s old dog by Carlson’s lugar, giving an insight into what is about to happen.
