Morals and Values: To Kill A MockingBird
How values influence ethical and moral decisions
Have you ever faced a difficult decision? Every day, we have to make decisions. Some of these decisions can be simple, but others can raise moral or ethical dilemmas. How does one go about making these moral or ethical decisions? People have value systems that can influence the moral or ethical decisions they make. This is clearly illustrated in the book Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, through the main character, George Milton and his interaction with his companion, Lennie. Steinbeck shows how George’s value system influences his moral and ethical decisions when George shows his care for Lennie, when he helps Lennie resolve his conflicts with other people, and when Lennie kills Curley’s wife. Steinbeck shows that George values companionship. It is shown throughout the story that George values companionship but at the same time, he wants his freedom. However, he cannot have his freedom because he has Lennie to take care of, but George doesn’t mind having Lennie and wants Lennie to stay with him no matter how much trouble Lennie gets into because Lennie gives him companionship. An example is when George gets mad at Lennie and tells Lennie the “swell time” he can have without him and Lennie responds, “George, you want I should go away and leave ya alone … I could go off in the hills there. Some place I’d find a cave” (pg. 13). Ethically, since Lennie is an adult, George could have let Lennie leave so that George would his freedom to “stay in a cathouse, eat any place [he] wants, get a gallon of whisky, or set in a pool room and play cards or shoot pool” (pg. 12). However, George feels that he is morally responsible for Lennie, and says, “Yeah? How’d you eat? You ain’t got sense enough to find nothing to eat … No-look! I was jus’ foolin’ Lennie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me … Tell you what I’ll do, Lennie. First chance I get, I’ll give you a pup (pg. 14)”. Steinbeck also shows
Have you ever faced a difficult decision? Every day, we have to make decisions. Some of these decisions can be simple, but others can raise moral or ethical dilemmas. How does one go about making these moral or ethical decisions? People have value systems that can influence the moral or ethical decisions they make. This is clearly illustrated in the book Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, through the main character, George Milton and his interaction with his companion, Lennie. Steinbeck shows how George’s value system influences his moral and ethical decisions when George shows his care for Lennie, when he helps Lennie resolve his conflicts with other people, and when Lennie kills Curley’s wife. Steinbeck shows that George values companionship. It is shown throughout the story that George values companionship but at the same time, he wants his freedom. However, he cannot have his freedom because he has Lennie to take care of, but George doesn’t mind having Lennie and wants Lennie to stay with him no matter how much trouble Lennie gets into because Lennie gives him companionship. An example is when George gets mad at Lennie and tells Lennie the “swell time” he can have without him and Lennie responds, “George, you want I should go away and leave ya alone … I could go off in the hills there. Some place I’d find a cave” (pg. 13). Ethically, since Lennie is an adult, George could have let Lennie leave so that George would his freedom to “stay in a cathouse, eat any place [he] wants, get a gallon of whisky, or set in a pool room and play cards or shoot pool” (pg. 12). However, George feels that he is morally responsible for Lennie, and says, “Yeah? How’d you eat? You ain’t got sense enough to find nothing to eat … No-look! I was jus’ foolin’ Lennie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me … Tell you what I’ll do, Lennie. First chance I get, I’ll give you a pup (pg. 14)”. Steinbeck also shows