Of Mice and Men

At the end of Mice and Men, George kills Lennie by the pond where the novel started. Why did George do it? Was it in good intentions or was it down right cruel? I think it was a little bit of both. I thought it was in good intentions that George killed Lennie. I think George knew life would be difficult for Lennie living in a jail or even an insane institution. George knew Lennie would just become crazier whereever he ended up because the people would not have treated him the way he should be treated. Also George might of been thinking life would be easier for Lennie dead then struggling with life. On the otherhand George's action was a little bit cruel. George could not handle the fact that if he wouldn't of killed Lennie he would of had to still take care of him and not live the life he wanted to. George knew his life would be worse with Lennie alive and he just wanted to live his life. You can look at this from either side and still have a good arguement good arguement to explain whether you thought it was cruel or in good intentions.