Why are Alternative Endings appealing?
Sometimes the stories that we, the reader, become engrossed in end in a way that leaves us dissatisfied. We may have become attached to a character throughout the novel and want their lives to conclude in a certain way. We might have thoroughly disliked someone in the narrative and secretly hoped that they got an ending that they deserved. Think back to a time when you have read a book or watched a movie and thought that it could have ended in a better way.
Writers on the other hand, write stories to incite us to think. This may mean that the ending they choose may be more unpleasant but it will also cause you to wonder why. Here is where some interesting discussions can take place and where hearing someone else's opinion might add to your understanding of the story and the characters within it. This may also lead to deeper discussions of life and society on a greater scale.
Now that we have finished reading Of Mice and Men, please consider the following questions and then post your responses in the comment section below. Ms.Cavaliere's class in Merritt,B.C will respond to your posts soon after.
Choose two or more questions to respond to. Please use textual evidence to support your thinking.
Do you think Lennie had to be shot? What were some other alternatives? What would have happened to Lennie if George hadn't shot him? Why do you think George killed Lennie himself instead of letting the men do it? Do you think George was justified in killing Lennie?
In the novel Of Mice and Men, I personally don't think Lennie should have gotten shot. He shouldn't have gotten shot because Lennie was one of the most innocent people in the story who liked cute furry animals. Another way of ending this story would be, if George told Lennie to hide while he takes care of what had happened to Lennie and then George and Lennie would run off and start their dreams. George killed Lennie instead of the other men doing it because the same as when Candy "should have" shot his own dog, out of respect. I believe this was the bad thing to do on Georges part, because George should have just told Lennie what to say and where to go, but i guess there was noting else he could do because the men would have killed him. So George did the deed himself, out of respect.
ReplyDelete-Crystal
I think lennie shouldnt have been shot. I thing that George could have told Lennie to run in the opposite direction, away from the men trying to catch him. Afterwards George should have lead the men in the opposite direction, allowing Lennie to get away safely. Another way out would be telling Lennie to run into the hills and live in the caves while George tries to calm the situation down with curley and the othermen. Afterwards he could run away from the ranch and find Lennie in the caves. They could both move to another city, where they could find new jobs.
ReplyDeleteGeorge killed Lennie himself because he felt Lennie was his property. He felt that if he let the another man kill Lennie he would feel like Candy did when he let carlson kill his dog instead of doing it himself. Also he felt that he could comfort Lennie before he shot him.
I think George was justifies in killing Lennie because he confessed that he wasn't ever mad at Lennie and that he always liked having his company. He also felt better that curley didnt get revenge on Lennie.
I feel lennie had to be shot because he did commit a crime(killing curley's wife) whether he meant to or not, and i feel that lennie would not have survived in prison without george helping him on what to do.
ReplyDeleteIf the group of men from the ranch had gotten a hold of lennie they probably would have tortured, tormented then killed lennie and he would have died scared and lonley (because there would have been nothing george could have done) instead of dying happily with the thought of the plot of land and the rabbits.
Personally, I think Lennie had to be shot because he always gets in trouble, and the conclusion of this trouble usually involves somebody dying. Lennie is a “good fella” and he “doesn’t mean no trouble”, but he is not aware what he actually does, which is killing the animals and Curley’s wife. Another alternative would be that Lennie could run away and hide in a cave, but he wouldn’t survive on his own. The problem is that he can’t survive alone. George was always taking care of Lennie because he ‘isn’t so bright” and also mentally disabled. If Lennie would run away and live on his own, he would die. It would only be a matter of time.
ReplyDeleteNatan - I beleave that Lennie had to be shot because he couldent have been stoped any other way.I think George had to kill Lennie himself insted of letting someone the other men do it because George know were he was and he was his friend and dident want anyone of the other men to kill him.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that Lennie had a problem which George was aware about, but was hoping that he could help or even hope to change Lennie. After Lennie killed Curly's wife, George finally came to terms that Lennie would never change and sadly back then there really was no other alternatives so Lennie had to be shot. If the same situation happened now, there would be alternatives for him. He could go into a special hospital where he would be taken care of. Back then they did not have that option so there really was no alternatives.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Lennie had to be shot?
ReplyDeleteWhat would have happened to Lennie if George hadn't shot him?
I don't think so. Because no one can decide other fate.Maybe they can teave or just sent Lennie into jail.When he out,they could have a better life. If George hadn't shot him, maybe they could live together. Have a new life be happy everyday.
I think George love Lennie very much although he usually feel he is a big trouble.
In the novel George was very kind to Lennie before he killed him.He didn't be angry to Lennie.For example,in page 106 George said''You......and me.Everbody will be nice to you.
Therefore, George may not wants Lennie die, he also very sad.But Lennie did the bad things. He doesn't wants Lennie was killed by other guy who doesn't has affection with him. George just wants made Lennie sleep himself because he love Lennie. Christine Hsu
I think Lennie had to be shot because Curley hat Lennie by any reasons Curley will kill Lennie. George must shot him because Curley will kill Lennie anyway. George didn’t want Lennie fears and pain, so he must shot him. The last part in the story, George talked with Lennie. He makes Lennie feels happy and saw the hope. When he died, he didn’t think he will. George makes the right way to kill Lennie.
ReplyDeleteWhat would have happend if Lennie wasn't shot by George? Curley would have tortured him and degrated him, then finally hung him, so George did the right thing because then Lennie couldn't be bullied and tortured.
ReplyDeleteIf Lennie didn’t get shot by George the other men would had made him
ReplyDeletesuffered, By shooting him in the stomach or hanging him. He said, “Curley – maybe you better stay here with your wife. Curley’s face reddened. I’m goin’, he said im gonna shoot the guts outa that big bastard myself, even if I only got one hand”.
Phil
I don’t think Lennie necessarily had to be shot but it was probably the best thing to do because it was the only way to stop him. Another alternative for him would be to be put into jail, which probably wouldn’t have happened because Curley wanted him shot, or to run away again like they did when the incident in Weed happened. I think it was better that Lennie got shot though because he didn’t purposely do bad things, he really was a good guy he just underestimates his strength and he has no control, he doesn’t know when to stop. If he hadn’t been shot he would continue doing the same things over and over again because he doesn’t learn his lesson and Lennie and George would constantly have to keep running away from place to place. George shooting Lennie reminds me of when Slim talked about shooting his dog and how he should have done it himself and not let someone else do it for him. He was attached to the dog since he raised it from when it was a puppy and he felt he shouldn’t have been a coward and taken responsibility for it. I think that George was thinking the same way when he shot Lennie.
ReplyDelete1. We don't think it's fair to Lennie for being killed, Sure he has done some wrong things in the past but that gives no reason for him to be shot. Lennie has been carring so much about diffrent things, an all what Lennie wanted was commfort. He also loves soft animals like the pup. George and Lennie needed each other for support and happiness.
ReplyDelete2. I think that it was fair that Geaorge killed Lennie because George killed Lennie out of love like not being mad at him and saying its ok everything is going to be fin no one is mad at you.
By : Amanda and Chels
I personally believe Lennie did not have to be shot. I think they both should have just ran away together, or gave Lennie the choice of running away alone or getting shot. I also think if hey would have found a place all alone together, they would have been fine and not cause trouble. And if Lennie did not want to be killed by George, I think George just should have taken him to jail.-Conor
ReplyDeleteI don’t think Lennie had to be shot. He doesn’t mean to kill the woman; he doesn’t want to hurt anybody. In total, he is not a bad guy; he is strong , healthy ,and young. He can do a lot of work for compensation .He is not hurtful if people know how to live with him.
ReplyDeleteby Kevin
Natan- I agree with you in thinking that George was justified in shooting Lennie . Your right that he couldn’t have been stopped because he has done It multiple times. George felt he did the right thing about killing Lennie out of respect and making him feel he wasn’t mad at him. So Lennie died happy with the thoughts of living off the fat of the land and the rabbits. Although I think they could have ran away together and started their dream some ware else just the two of them, that way they wouldn’t have to deal with Lennie being a trouble maker.
ReplyDeleteRhianne
Justin Liu, I agree that you think Lennie had to be shot by George because, George felt like he needed to be the one to shoot Lennie. He knew where he was and George would rather shoot Lennie himself than Curley or anyone else. George painted Lennie a happy picture of where they were going to be in the future so that Lennie died with happy thoughts in his head, which was the best way for Lennie to go out. Either way Lennie would’ve got killed.
ReplyDeleteFrom Danielle Tesan
Well Julia, I completely agree with you, I don’t think there was any other solution, if they ran away, they wouldn’t make it very far obviously because their pursuers are on horseback, and if Lennie was to find a cave yes he would die alone. So the only solution was to kill him pain free, I just don’t like saying this because I personally would not have the strength to do so. Dale Allen
ReplyDeleteEric I agree with you that George came to realize that Lennie couldn’t change and there really wasn’t a alternative, Lennie either being shot by George or shot and maybe tortured by the other guys that were chasing him. Otherwise Lennie would have kept doing bad things everywhere they went if they ran away.
ReplyDeleteDustin M.
Julia, I agree with you in thinking George was justified in shooting Lennie. I think that George did what was best for Lennie. Yes, Lennie was a good guy at heart but he had his ups and downs of things, like killing the animals and Curley’s wife. The ending of the book ridiculous because Lennie was a good guy and didn’t mean no harm, but then if Lennie didn’t get shot the story would have dragged on. Yes, Lennie would not live that long without George cause of the problems Lennie has.
ReplyDelete“Kevin, I would agree with you there because Lennie shouldn’t of got shot, George should of just let Lennie live and they could of gone off to another place to work. I don’t think Lennie didn’t mean to hurt anyone either because all he likes to do is to touch soft things and he doesn’t know what to do but hold on, but I don’t think he meant to hurt anyone. I also agree that he can work for anything as long if somebody tells him what to do and no one will get hurt. I would also agree that Lennie is not a bad guy because he doesn’t know what is right or wrong but it’s too bad that he wasn’t smart like George.” Jaylyssa
ReplyDeleteEric I agree with you, because if the world back then was like today then there probably could have been an alternative ending. Lennie is a good man who doesn’t mean anything bad and tries his best but he just doesn’t know his own strength. Even though he tries to not get into trouble he just doesn’t understand and causes trouble, and I think George made the best choice at the time. It would be better then running away together to somewhere new, cause Lennie just cant understand and learn from his mistakes. The only other choice would be to let curly get him and then he would probably make lennie feel bad and torture him then kill him. But that’s different from what George did because he comforted lennie and told him about the rabbits before he killed him.
ReplyDeleteChristine, I disagree that George was justified in shooting Lennie because lennie was a problem in society. Wherever lennie went he was always in trouble, whether he was killing a mouse or accidently hurting people. Lennie did not know his own strength and wound up killing an innocent girl because of it. George was right when he decided to shoot the big bastard, he deserved to die.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tyler Johnson because Lennie did commit a crime, weather he ment it or not. I think if curly and the group of men would have gotten a hold of lennie, they would have tortured him and then killed. I think George did the right thing because he wouldn’t have died happy.
ReplyDeleteTo Crystal, I totally agree with you on the fact Lennie didn’t need to be shot. He was like a Big kid who didn’t know how to control his own actions. His obsession with soft things continuously gets him into trouble. I think if George was to tell lennie to take off and hide in the caves and they did make it to there dream land, George would always have that burden of being an actual out law. So when George did shoot Lennie it was like a burden being lifted off him, or it was easier on his conscience to know Lennie didn’t die in pain or fear or loneliness. Tanner .O.
ReplyDelete“Amanda, I would agree with you thinking that George was justified in shooting Lennie. I think that George had mixed feelings. The love side is when George has choose to kill Lennie because he didn’t want Curley to, but at the same time George wanted to end all the trouble that Lennie has caused. it seems to be the best solution to do. (Frank Sterling)
ReplyDeleteSean, Lennie was dead left or right so I agree with you. In the story tho he said he’d or Curley would shoot him himself and he didn’t have a really good face on him when he said it. Despite from being tortured or dulled he was a dead man once that woman neck snapped.
ReplyDeleteKyle
Brett,
ReplyDeleteI agree that lennie shouldn’t have been killed. He’s not a dog to be shot for having problems, he’s a human and I think he should have been treated as a human. He should have been put in some kind of place where he could exist happily, without causing any problems. But their probably wasn’t anything like this at the time, so George probably felt it was the right thing to do, since they were sending a party to do it anyway. Jorry
Phil, I agree with you. Curley and the other men would have eventually found Lennie and probably would have beat the crap out of Lennie and made him suffer a lot before killing him. I think that George felt that it was the best thing to do by killing Lennie himself because if George were to convince Curley to lock Lennie up and not kill him, that wouldn’t be the best thing for Lennie. George knew that the best option was to shoot Lennie himself so that he did not feel like Candy when he didn’t do the dirty deed himself. Glenn
ReplyDelete“Robyn, I agree with you in thinking that although Lennie shouldn’t have been shot it was for the best. It wasn’t like George wanted to kill him; he did it to essentially protect Lennie from Curley and the other men. If George hadn’t shot him, could he have killed again? Could next time Lennie injure or kill George? Lennie needed help but in that time there wasn’t any hospitals that were able to help him. George wanted what was best for Lennie. If George let Lennie go to jail, he wouldn’t be able to survive. Lennie would end up hurting himself or others trying to get back to George. So as much as George didn’t want to kill his friend he felt he had no choice for that time.” Courtnea
ReplyDeleteChelsea I agree that Lennie should not have been shot. I think that he should have been brought to town and got a fair trial. hard labor would have been a good route for Lennie because he wouldn't do good in jail but hard labor he wouldn't get in trouble. Ty
ReplyDeleteConor, I agree with you in thinking that George was justified in shooting Lennie. I think your right that Lennie never had to be shot; he should have a right to live just because of his disability. I also think that George and Lennie had a chance to run as well, to live off the fat of the land. But I disagree about the part where Lennie gets a choice to die, go to jail or to live in the cave by himself. Lennie would never choose to leave George at any point in his life. Jude.
ReplyDeleteI think like what other says that it's not fair that Lennie got shot. first of all he didn't mean to killed Curley's wife and he was just trying to avoid her because in Lennie's mind he's gonna be in trouble to George if he talk to her. like George's plan the alternative would be just to put the law to the ones who knew the law. If George didn't shoot Lennie then Curley and his friends would kill him and that's just not rightful to do. Lennie's death is just like Candy's dog. George "mercy killed" him because he doesn't want to regret it at the end. Candy's dog is a foreshadowing of what's gonna happen to Lennie at the end of the novel. I agree that it is justified for George to shoot Lennie because he knew him so much, they have a great adventure since the beginning of the novel even though it's hard for George to do it, he doesn't want his guilt to hunt him.
ReplyDeleteRita - I totally agree with you, it would have been better to take Lennie to a judge. I personally agree Lennie would do some good with the community doing hard labor and to himself. It would teach Lennie to also be more confidence in him self.
ReplyDeleteI thought the book was really sad. I was devastated when I read the part when Lennie past away. I would have preferred if the book was longer and didn’t have such a harsh ending.
I would recommend this book to people because it was very appealing to me, at first it wasn’t but as I kept reading it got my attention with the excitement coming and going.
I think it’s amazing how far we’ve come from back then with racism, colors, and lower level functioning.
I would like to hear your opinion.
- Chelsea