OMM Death

Question 1

Death as a foreshadowing element

Answer 1

• The Death of Mice: Early in the novel, Lennie’s accidental killing of small animals, like mice, foreshadows the larger tragedies to come. His unintentional violence highlights his inability to control his strength and the inevitability of harm despite his innocent intentions.
• The Death of Candy’s Dog: The killing of Candy’s old, disabled dog mirrors the moral dilemma George faces later regarding Lennie. The dog’s death signifies society’s treatment of those who are no longer deemed useful or productive. It also shows that candy is no longer useful without his dog, which is why he’s reared to as ‘old candy’ after the death

Question 2

Death as an escape from suffering

Answer 2

• Candy’s Dog: Carlson insists on euthanizing Candy’s dog, arguing that it is better to end its life than let it suffer. This act reflects the utilitarian mindset of the time, where life was valued in terms of its functionality.
• George and Lennie’s Final Moment: George kills Lennie out of mercy to save him from a worse fate at the hands of Curley and the mob. This act mirrors the earlier scene with Candy’s dog, emphasizing death as a means of sparing suffering.

Question 3

Unintentional deaths

Answer 3

• Lennie’s Strength: Lennie accidentally kills the puppy and later Curley’s wife, acts that are tragic and unintentional but irreparable. These deaths highlight the destructive potential of innocence and ignorance, as well as Lennie’s tragic inability to exist within a world that demands control and awareness.
• Curley’s Wife’s Death: Her death is not just a turning point in the narrative but also a symbol of broken dreams, as she longed for a better life that was never realized.

Question 4

The inevitability of death

Answer 4

Throughout the novel, Steinbeck portrays death as an inescapable part of life, particularly in a world marked by economic hardship and societal indifference. This inevitability is reinforced through the deaths of characters and animals alike.

Question 5

Death and the American dream

Answer 5

Death in the novel often coincides with the destruction of dreams. Lennie’s death marks the ultimate collapse of the dream he shared with George, symbolizing how harsh realities often shatter hopes and aspirations.

Question 6

Loss of innocence

Answer 6

Lennie’s death signifies the loss of innocence and the harshness of a world that cannot accommodate the vulnerable.

Question 7

Cyclic nature of life and death

Answer 7

The repetitive cycle of death in the novel mirrors the cyclical despair faced by itinerant workers, trapped in a system where life is undervalued.