After Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife, he remembers what George told him to do if he got into trouble and flees to their designated meeting spot. As he waits for George to arrive, he fears his friend's anger.

When George arrives, he knows he has to kill Lennie before Curley and his men can lynch him, which would mean a slow, cruel death. Lennie wants to hear, once again, the story of the farm they will buy. To divert him from what he is about to do, George begins to tell the story. He also tells Lennie to take off his hat and then to look far away, as if he can see the farm they've been dreaming of. Right before he pulls the trigger, he tells Lennie that he's not angry at him and never has been. Finally, hearing Curley and his men coming closer, George shoots Lennie.

The scene is an example of dramatic irony because the readers know what Lennie doesn't, which is that he is about to die. Readers see how much George doesn't want to kill his friend and can recognize how agonizing it is for him to talk about their dreams knowing full well that he and Lennie will never share that future.