But George sat stiffly on the bank and looked at his right hand that had thrown the gun away. The group burst into the clearing, and Curley was ahead. He saw Lennie lying on the sand. "Got him, by God." He went over and looked down at Lennie, and then he looked back at George. "Right in the back of the head," he said softly. Slim came directly to George and sat down beside him, sat very close to him. "Never you mind," said Slim. "A guy got to sometimes." But Carlson was standing over George. "How'd you do it?" he asked. "I just done it," George said tiredly.
In this poignant scene from "Of Mice and Men," George is depicted as a figure enveloped in grief and remorse as he reflects on the act of discarding the gun that symbolized a heartbreaking choice. Curley and the others arrive to find Lennie, leading to a chilling confrontation. Curley's cold observation about Lennie's fate highlights the tragic reality of their world, where dreams swiftly dissolve into despair.
Slim's attempt to comfort George reveals a deeper understanding of the burdens one must sometimes bear, even as Carlson's intrusive curiosity adds to George's torment. George's simple, weary acknowledgment underscores the gravity of his actions, illustrating the heavy emotional toll that accompanies difficult decisions and the loss of friendship in a harsh environment.