Only George and Slim understand that George has killed Lennie to put an end to the danger he poses to others. Carlson believes that George has killed Lennie for the same reason that Curley would have or that he (Carlson) would have — as retribution for the death of Curley’s wife.

The last line of the novel is Curly’s response to George as he and walks away, with Slim consoling him after Lennie dies. Curly says, “Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?” This line is fitting because it contrasts Curly’s lack of commitment to anyone with the devotion that George shared with Lennie.

At the end of Of Mice and Men , George spares Lennie from Curley’s wrath by shooting Lennie in the back of the head after reciting their shared dream of owning a farm one final time.

A Happy Death for an Ending At the end of the novella, Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, Lennie Small is shot by his best friend George Milton. One reason why the novella was a happy ending is because George does not need to worry or stress about Lennie any more.

Slim

George kills Lennie by shooting him in the back of the head to save him from a more painful death at the hands of Curley, who has vowed to make him suffer for the death of his wife.

Lennie is schizophrenic which is when he is imagining things that aren’t real. Lennie was talking to his aunt and a rabbit, which is his mental disability. Lennie is often thought to have some form of it, due to his obsession with rabbits and the story of his and George’s dream.

Why is George in charge of Lennie? Lennie is mentally challenged and is described to walk like a bear. He’s big and slumped down and his arms hang loosely at his sides. Since Lennie is mentally challenged, George takes it upon himself to take care of him, like a parent.