George and Lennie have a long-standing bond, George acting as Lennie's guardian. Referred to throughout the book as a child or an animal ("(Lennie) walked heavily, dragging his feet a bit, the way a bear drags his paws"), Lennie possesses the mental ability of a child, yet is described as having the strength of a "bull". When George discovers that Lennie has killed Curley's wife accidentally while attempting to just stroke her hair, it is apparent that Curley and the other hands from the ranch will lynch Lennie, and he will be beaten brutally and killed.
The scene in Chapter Three displaying the men trying to convince Candy to shoot his dog, is significant in foreshadowing the final climax. It ends with Candy lamenting not making the difficult decision to take full responsibility for this life:
"I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog." (Chapter 3, Page 61)
George tackles a dilemma, and acting in love, makes the decision to end Lennie's life in order to save him from a violent, lonely death. The two have always been together and Lennie's life ends with his friend George there, still ultimately bonded in the relation of their shared dream of "livin off the fatta the lan". And thus, George is aware that they can run no further and the American dream dies as the friendship has to at that moment.
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