Tatiana Sosa

American Lit
03.07.17
OM&M: Rule to Live By
One rule, treat others how you want to be treated. I would place this rule on the very top
of the list because it is our natural duty in being respectful to everyone. From the text Excerpt
from Justice: Whats the right thing to do? By Michael Sanders, Michael stated, Natural
duties are universal. We owe them to persons as rational beings. They include the duty to treat
persons with respect, to do justice, to avoid cruelty, and so on. Since they arise from an
autonomous will, or from hypothetical social contract, they dont require an act of consent
(Sanders pg. 223-225, Lines 3-6). It is important to treat others how you would want to be treated
because it is showing that you value someone else by giving respect. Giving respect to others
will only give you the same in return.
From the book Of mice and Men By John Steinbock, he introduces a character,
George. George is the main character in the novel and he plays the dominant role in the
relationship between him and Lennie. Lennie is a family friend of George, which is why he takes
the part in caring for him, however, throughout the book, it is clear that George does not have the
mindset of treating others how he wants to be treated. He makes it clear that he is his own person
and does not care about how he treats others. In the book, George and Lennie are having a
conversation in which George states, God amighty, if i was alone I could live so easy. I could
go get a job an work, an no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I
could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want. Why, I could stay in a cat
house all night. I could eat any place I want, hotel or any place, and order any damn thing I could
think if, An I could do all that every damn month (Steinbeck 11). No one would ever want to
be talked to like that because it would only cause self-doubt, low self esteem and uncertainty
with oneself. Being talked down to is not showing respect and will not earn you respect either.
Some, on the other hand, can agree that George does live by the rule treat others how you would
want to be treated because in parts of it, he sticks up for Lennie. George watched him out, and
then he turned back to the swamper. Say, what the hells he got on his shoulder? Lennie didnt
do nothing to him. - Sure Said George, I seen plenty tough little guys. But this Curly better
not make no mistakes about Lennie. Lennie aint handy, but this Curley punk is gonna get hurt if
he messes around with Lennie (Steinbeck 26). George stuck up for Lennie in the barn house
when Curley started to bash at him for no reason by giving him a warning. He shows that it is
good to stick up for those you care about because if the scenario was reversed, they would do the
same in return.
Not living by the rule affected the character by having to make a tough, sad and horrific
decision at the end of the book. Even though George showed his good sides, he didnt show
100% respect throughout the book to Lennie or even the other workers, for that matter. If he
lived by the rule of treating others how he would want to be treated, there wouldve been a good
ending for everyone. Treating others how we would want to be treated would result in happiness
and respect rather than arguments and a death. It wouldve showed how much he valued others,
especially Lennie. Lennie treated him very good, despite Georges mean words to him. George
couldve done the same.