Chapter 6

This is the final chapter in the novel Of Mice and Men. Lennie is always worrying about George leaving him. Lennie needs George to survive. Whenever people mention George leaving him, Lennie gets very scared and sad. " He's gonna beat hell outa you an' then go away an' leave you." said the rabbit. ( Steinbeck, 102, 1937) " He won't," Lennie cried frantically. " He won't do nothing like that. I know George. Me an' him travel together." ( Steinbeck, 102, 1937) Lennie always talks about leaving George to live on his own. Lennie says this to make George feel bad. But George is smart enough to know that Lennie would never leave. Even Lennie knows he would never leave. " I know Aunt Clara ma'am. I'll go right off in the hills an' I'll fin' a cave an' I'll live there so i won't be no more trouble to George." said Lennie. ( Steinbeck, 101, 1937) Aunt Clara Replied sharply. " You jus' say that. You're always sayin' that, an' you know well you ain't never gonna do it. You'll jus' stick around an' stew the b'Jesus outa George all the time." ( Steinbeck, 101, 1937) As much as Lennie says he will leave George, everyone knows that Lennie would never leave him.


After Lennie killed Curley's wife everything went down hill for Lennie, George, and Candy. Near the end of the book, when all the guys found out Lennie killed Curley's wife they all went on a search to find him and kill him. George knew that Curley would make Lennie suffer and die in pain. So George made the toughest decision of his entire life. George decided that he would kill Lennie. Before George killed Lennie, George had Lennie turn around and picture their dream. George wanted Lennie to die with a happy feeling in his heart. George was talking about the land because he wanted to have one more feeling of hope, and he wanted to have his last thought of escaping loneliness. George knew after he pulled the trigger and killed Lennie that their dream would be over. After George killed Lennie, he was heart broken. George had no family and his only friend was the person he just killed. George knew his life would never be the same without Lennie. There would always be loneliness in his heart. George and Candy's last hope to escape loneliness was just killed.


Throughout the entire novel, loneliness cannot be removed. No matter how hard they try to change and do different things, loneliness always rears its ugly head. Lennie, George, and Candy had an amazing plan to escape loneliness. They tried to avoid all the obstacles that were presented before them. But in the end loneliness out smarted their plan and won. Lennie made one bad choice, and that choice destroyed their entire plan to overcome loneliness. Overall George's life would never be the same without Lennie.