The end of Lennie

[Tim.Liu]

After Lennie kills Curliey’s wife, George knows that Lennie is going to die. People are angry of this odd man who is dangerous and numb. So George wants to end his life without pain. He lie to Lennie that he is going to a better place, everyone will be nice to him. And then, George, the only person who care about Lennie, kills him with his pure soul. In another hand, Lennie get saved from this cold world.

[Hawaa]

As sad and upsetting to kill Lennie, George (and Steinbeck) gave him the less brutal ending. If the others had caught Lennie they would have barbarically treated him before killing him - they couldn't understand (nor did they care for) his mental limitations and his lack of fully understanding the world around him. Having George, the only person in the book whom cared for Lennie, kill him was tough, but made the story stronger.

[Hawaa]

I didn't. Though probably much older than you when I read it, it broke my heart too. Though he rough-handled soft things he liked (unintentionally), he was a loveable character.

[M Neil 372]

My take was that foreshadowing was the major mechanism utilized in the story. Candy and his dog = George and Lenny.