Reflections on Sacrifice

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 It was only when Abraham had attained what he wanted most, a son, that God made him foraske it. It was only when George was on the verge of fulfilling their dream that their plans failed. It was only when Jane loved Rochester the most that morality compelled her to leave him.

In all situations, the decision-makers--Abraham, George, and Jane--had to make a choice. And a difficult choice. All three made the morally correct and meaninful choice: the choice to leave behind what they loved in the interest of something bigger of meaningful. In two out of the three cases, they who chose right were given back the object they unhesitatingly sacrificed.

Abraham was spared the difficult decision of killing his son by the hand of an angel, and Jane, after willing herself away from her master against the wishes of her heart and nearly dying in the process, was reunited with Rochester.

But, what about George? He... shot Lennie. His joint dream with Lennie now would never be fulfilled, at least not completely. Jane's marriage plans with Rochester culminated in a direction that neither had predicted, but she still got her marriage. Steinbeck leaves George heading to have some drinks with "godlike" character.

Would George go on to fulfill the dream without Lennie? If he were to ascribe regard for his long term goals, and if he views that particular long term goal as a meaningful one, then it seems that he would be eager to do so.

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