2018 OMAM blog (C period)

I think that the shooting of Lennie links back to the mercy kill of the old dog. George knew that Curley would punish Lennie greatly and at the very least send him to a mental institution. George also knew that none of the options were good ones and decided to take matters into his own hands. When he came upon Lennie, he told him to " 'look acrost the river' " (105) and that he would describe their dream future so Lennie could envision it clearly. This way when he did shoot Lennie, Lennie would die thinking happy thoughts and not painfully. George also "brought the muzzle of [the gun] close to the back of Lennie's head...He pulled the trigger" (106). This is the same way that Carlson killed the dog to prevent the dog from feeling anything. It was clear that George didn't want to end Lennie's life from the fact that his "hand shook violently" but he was able to steady his hand before he shot resulting in a quick, clean death rather than ...

During Part 3, Carlson kept telling Candy to kill his dog. He complained that the " 'dog stinks...That stink hangs around even after he's gone...Got no teeth...He's all stiff with rheumatism" (44). Carlson then goes on to suggest that Candy shoot his dog saying that " 'he wouldn't feel nothing...He wouldn't even quiver' " (45). Slim agreed saying that the " 'dog ain't no good to himself' " and saying that he " 'wisht somebody'd shoot [him] if [he] got old an' a cripple' " (45). I understand where Candy is coming from, I had a dog that my family eventually decided to put down, but even though I would like my dog, Roxanne, to still be alive, I know that it would be very selfish of me to keep her alive while she is suffering. Eventually, everyone will get to a point that life is too painful, hard, et cetera to keep living and if the person or animal is better off not living, than it's not o...

One thing I noticed in Part 2, was the power dynamic on the farm. Curley, as the boss's son, knows that he is high on the ladder of power and lords his status over everyone else. He is always wearing high-heeled boots and by doing so, makes him able to look down on everyone else. He also sounds very haughty and arrogant. Curley will pick on those he knows can't fight back without consequence. He doesn't like big guys and will target and sometimes fight them. He knows that he won't end up punished because if " 'Curley jumps a big guy an' licks him...ever'body says what a game guy Curley is. And s'pose he does the same thing and gets licked. Then ever'body says the bi guy oughtta pick on somebody his own size' " (26). Even though Curley is the boss's son, the men on the farm seem to see Slim as the second in command. When George and Lennie first saw him, "there was a gravity to his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk sto...