Short answer: After George finds out Lennie has accidentally killed Curley’s wife, he decides to go and kill Lennie himself rather than let Curley and the other men find him. He does this to spare Lennie a brutal, vengeful death and because he feels responsible for Lennie.
- What George learns. Candy discovers Curley’s wife’s body and tells George. George immediately realizes the likely consequence: Curley will raise a mob and will want violent revenge.
- Why a mob is dangerous. If the ranch men catch Lennie, they will not show mercy. Curley wants to inflict pain and humiliation; prison or a lynching would be terrifying and cruel for Lennie, who does not understand what he has done.
- George’s decision. Knowing this, and feeling that he is the only one who truly cares for Lennie, George decides to take responsibility and kill Lennie himself. He hopes to make the death quick and peaceful and to preserve Lennie’s dignity rather than allow a violent public killing.
- How he carries it out. George finds Lennie at their special spot by the river. He calms Lennie by talking about their shared dream of the little farm and the rabbits. While Lennie is focused on the dream, George shoots him—an act presented as a mercy killing.
- Aftermath and meaning. George’s choice is painful and full of moral ambiguity. It shows the depth of his loyalty and the limits of compassion in a harsh world. The scene highlights major themes: friendship and sacrifice, the cruelty of mob mentality, and the impossibility of the American Dream for some characters.
In short, George kills Lennie himself out of mercy, responsibility, and a desire to spare his friend from a violent, humiliating death at the hands of others.