The Pursuit and George's Decision

Traces the hunt for Lennie after Curley's wife's death, and George's internal struggle that leads to the mercy killing.

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The Discovery of the Body

The Moment of Reckoning Candy's Discovery Candy finds the body of Curley's wife in the barn. He knows immediately that Lennie has done it. He runs to find George, and together they confirm the worst. The dream is over. George knows that Lennie must be found, but he also knows that the mob will kill him brutally. The Formation of the Lynch Mob Curley organizes the men to hunt down Lennie. He takes Carlson's Luger and vows to shoot Lennie in the guts. The mob is driven by vengeance and fear. George is forced to join them, but he has a plan. He knows that he must find Lennie first, to give him a quick death. George's Internal Conflict George is torn between his love for Lennie and the necessity of his death. He cannot let Lennie be tortured by the mob. He must act as a friend, not a captor. The decision is agonizing, but he is resigned. He tells Slim that he will have to do it himself.

The Final Meeting at the Pool

The Last Goodbye The Quiet Before the End George finds Lennie at the pool, just as he had instructed him to go if there was trouble. The setting is peaceful, the same place where the novel began. The contrast between the calm of nature and the turmoil of the hunt is stark. George sits beside Lennie, and they talk one last time. The Recitation of the Dream Lennie asks for the story of the farm, and George tells it. He describes the rabbits, the alfalfa, and the house. The dream is a lie, but it is a comfort. George's voice is steady, but he is trembling inside. He knows what he must do. The Mercy Killing George raises Carlson's Luger and shoots Lennie in the back of the head. The shot echoes through the valley. Lennie dies instantly, dreaming of the farm. George is left alone, staring at his hand. The act is one of love and tragedy. He has killed his best friend to save him from a worse fate.

The third day at the ranch, late afternoon

The third day at the ranch, evening