...moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them”. Of Mice and Men, a novella by John Steinbeck shows migrant workers hardships during the Great Depression in the United States. The book is set in the 1930’s in the city of Soledad. Curley's wife is the only female character and the faces many challenges throughout the text. Curley’s wife is the loneliest character in the novella because she does not have a name, faces physical separation, and discrimination by the men on the ranch. First, Curley’s wife is the loneliest character because she does not have a name. This is shown by Steinbeck as he portrays women as troublemakers and not useful. So, not giving a name to Curley’s wife adds more insignificance to her in the story. An example of this is shown when Steinbeck was revealing Curley’s wife character as having “full, rouged lips and wide spaced eyes... fingernails were red... her voice had a nasal, brittle quality”(Steinbeck 31). This quote shows that Steinbeck did not even mention her name or any personality traits, this shows that women were perceived as an object and also women back during the Great Depression were seen inferior to men....
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...Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is the story of Lennie and George and their job in Salinas Valley. Lennie and George are dropped off, by the bus, and are on their way to their new job. They decide to stop for the night, by a river, and make camp. They show up to work the next day, were given a bed, and told to go to work with Slim. Before work they meet a few of their bunk mates and get to know a few of them. They meet Curley and later his wife. They just work, nut one night Curley made Lennie agitated, which then turned into him getting mad. Lennie broke Curley’s hand, so Curley wants to get him back. Slim had a dog that had puppies and Lennie gets to keep one. One day Lennie gets mad at the puppy and kills it. Curley’s wife comes in and...
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...In the novel “Of Mice and Men,” which was written by John steinbeck, a huge inequality is shown between men and women through Curley’s wife. His wife is a victim to the world filled with power hungry, “machista” men. Curley’s wife is both, misunderstood and lonely. She does not have anyone to be around and talk to besides her controlling husband. Her description in the novel, which took place during the “Dust Bowl,” significantly demonstrates that women’s roles were insignificant and “non-existent” compared to men’s. Curley’s wife reveals the roles women had because she was awfully lonely, she was not able to do anything out of her own consent, and she was horribly judged by others whenever she attempted to make a “move.” Curley’s wife’s loneliness is shown throughout the novel as she attempts to go out of her home, walk around the ranch, and talk to some of the guys. She is the only female in the ranch, which makes her feel weaker and lonelier. Her desire for companionship is shown towards the end of the novel when she tells Lennie, “I never get to talk to nobody. I get awfully lonely” (Steinbeck 86). She shows that she finds it unfair that she is very lonely, while the men can all talk to each other. Curley’s wife is lonely because her husband does not allow her to speak to anyone; She has to do as he says....
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...Curley’s Wife: The Tart In this novel, Of Mice and Men, the author is John Steinbeck. The author explains Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife is flirtatious with everyone she goes around. “gives men the eye, kinda flirting with them” (31). “I’m lookin’ for Curley”, she exclaimed. “Oh!” said George. “You’re the new fellas that just come, ain’t ya?” (31). Curley’s wife is a lonely woman since Curley is always busy doing stuff on the farm. Earlier into the novel, Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife is not only flirtatious, she claims to be lonely. Lennie made a comment to Curley’s wife “George says I ain’t to have nothing to do with you- talk to you or nothing” (86). She began to giggle “George giving you orders about everything?” (86) Lennie still wanted to listen to George and he expressed to Curley’s wife “No, sir. I ain’t gonna talk to you or nothing” (86). “Listen” she said. All the guys got a horseshoe tenement goin’ on. It’s on’y about four o’clock. None of them guys is goin’ to leave that tenement. Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely” (86). No one never wanted to Curley’s wife because if Curley ever found out or saw them talking, he would get mad and then want to fight them. Not...
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...A big dream of fame: The loneliness of a dead girl Everyone has big dreams, especially when you are younger but they do not always come true. Some dreams you have to give up and accept, that they will never come true. In Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, nearly every Character has a dream, a goal that they are working for. George and especially Lennie have their dream of a farm, Candy dreams of a place for his last days and Crooks dreams of equality. But one of the most significant dreams is Curley’s Wife's dreams. Because she knows that she can not achieve her dream she gives them up and marries Curley. Steinbeck describes Curley's as a girl with “full, rouged lips and wide spaced eyes”, Red fingernails, red mules with little bouquets of red...
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...Curley’s wife controlled assessment Steinbeck shows that the character Curley’s wife is not given a name throughout the novella this gives the reader the impression and shows that she is objectified by Curley and the other workers on the ranch when Candy says “wait’ll you see Curley’s wife”. This also may give the reader the impression that the workers on the ranch see Curley’s wife as something special and that you wouldn’t expect Curley to have a wife of that standard. Steinbeck then uses the sentenced “Both men glanced up, for the rectangle in the doorway was cut off.” The use of the noun “sunshine” has positive connotations and the symbolism of light which Steinbeck uses in contrast with the darkness she creates which has negative connotations associated with it for example danger and death. This means that the connotations of darkness are then associated with Curley’s wife. This may give the reader the impression that the darkness she creates which has negative connotations of death may foreshadow her death leading to George tragically killing Lennie. Steinbeck shows how Curley’s wife is an outsider on the ranch through the sentence “A girl was standing there looking in.” this may give the reader the reader the impression that she is an outsider on the ranch and is never involved with any of the activities that take place on the ranch, this there for makes her feel that she has to stand by the doorway because she is an outsider. Steinbeck uses the sentence “She had full...
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...of Curley's Wife in 'Of Mice and Men' How is Curley's Wife presented in 'Of Mice and Men'? The novel is a microcosm, a cross section of society reflecting the prejudice. Blacks had no rights in America; they were seen as ‘nobody’s. Women too had very few rights. The itinerant workers ended to be loners. All these people were forced into loneliness and isolation; they each had a dream in hope of a better life often referred to at the time as ‘The American Dream’. Central to Steinbeck’s novel is Curley’s Wife and her importance in the novel is of how she revolves around the novels main themes and events. Curley’s Wife is excluded for being female, she is often found in search for companionship on the ranch as her newly found marriage does not give her the affection she desires, as she states to Lennie “I don’t like Curley he aint a nice fella.” Because of this she often tries to interact with the other men although she is never allowed as they think a “ranch aint no place for a girl.” Carlson also states of how a “women should be at home where she belongs.” The fact that she is excluded from a place of physical work is indicative of how women were portrayed during the 1930’s. They were not expected to do work, but instead stay at home and raise a family. Curley’ wife feels insecure because of the loneliness she feels and it is made clear she is frustrated with this situation, “none of them care how I gotta live.” Throughout the novel as similar to Crooks, Curley’s Wife...
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...John Steinback’s Of Mice and Men is a thought-provoking novel set in the 1930’s during the Great Depression on a ranch. The main characters are two men: Lennie and George. Looking out for one another, these two wander from place to place in search of work. The conflict occurs when the two find work on a ranch in Soledad, California, and Curley, the ranch owner’s son, starts harassing Lennie. Curley’s wife, who is not named in the novel, arouses Lennie, and Lennie’s unhuman-like strength causes him to accidentally kill her. George knows the men on the ranch will brutally kill Lennie once they find out he killed Curley’s wife, so George decides to end Lennie’s life quickly by shooting Lennie in the back of the head. Throughout the novel, the reader can infer that George is protective of Lennie, and his personality exhibits a short-temper, but also, understanding. The author describes George as small and short with sharp features. To begin with, the author shows George’s affection towards Lennie. George feels obligated to watch after Lennie. He feels this because Lennie’s Aunt Clara asked George to take care of Lennie before she died. Although George...
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...If your friend and coworker would die at the hand of a man he didn’t know would you ponder killing him to protect him from suffering at the hands of the other man? The novella Of Mice and Men was set in the midst of the Great Depression. The novella focused around two men; Lennie Smalls and George Milton, two traveling migrants looking for work in the money deprived American financial system. Lennie is mentally unstable and has a troublesome time performing at the level of a stable minded person. Lennie finds himself in a troubling predicament when he kills Curley's’ wife, this brings a very problematic decision for George. George must decide whether to protect or come to the correct resolution and kill Lennie himself. In the novella Of...
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...Curley’s Wife The novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ tells the tragic story of George Milton and Lennie Small; two migrant ranch workers, their struggle to become free and independent men and their dream to work up a stake and live off the land. It is set during the Great Depression on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley; the ranch is owned by the boss whose son Curley is married to the only female character in the novel, Curley’s Wife. She is a tarty and lonely woman who has nothing better to do than flirt and be a nuisance, as Curley never pays her any attention, unfortunately, this brash behaviour is the cause of Lennie’s and her own death. Steinbeck presents the ranch as the Garden of Eden and Curley’s Wife, as Eve; the woman who ruins the peace and tranquillity in the Garden of Eden and ultimately destroys George and Lennie’s dream. The author is able to explore the plight of women through Curley’s Wife; she is a victim of prejudice, being stereotyped as a tart or tramp throughout the novel, when actually underneath she is a nice girl. However Steinbeck also shows that Curley’s Wife is capable of being prejudiced against other weaker members of society, in particular Crooks, Candy and Lennie, people who were discriminated for supposedly ‘bad’ traits. Throughout the novel Steinbeck presents Curley’s Wife as a tart, a flirt and even promiscuous. Even before we meet her, we form an unfavourable opinion of her because of how Candy describes her; calling her a “tart” and saying he’s...
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...In John Steinbeck’s Novel, Of Mice and Men, the character, Curley’s Wife, is a misunderstood woman, as were most women during The Great Depression. Everyone is basically judging her like people judge a book by its cover, which leads to her acting out in ways to get attention because the loneliness and depression is eating away at her. Curley’s wife may seem like there is nothing to her. Some might think she just stands for a promiscuous person, but that is the thing. So many people judge before they really think or get to know a person. Yes, Curley’s wife does act like what people see her as sometimes, but she has reasons as to why she acts this way. During the Great Depression, women were treated as objects, or should I say sex objects. Curley’s wife is a prime example of what women had to do to get some attention during this time. Desperation drove them to become these dolls in society who would do anything to feel the least bit of love....
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...Abnormal Woman The famous story “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, uses characterization of women throughout the piece to represent the social attitudes towards women in the 1930’s, the story's time period. There is only one main, female character in the text, referred to as Curley's wife, who Steinbeck characterizes well throughout the text as an unfitting, flirtatious and irresponsible woman who does not contribute to her household. First, when Curley's wife is being introduced to the antagonists, George and Lennie, at the bunkhouse she is described as very elegant and voluptuous. When Lennie and George look up to see Curley's wife for the first time she wears a “cotton house dress and red mules, on the insteps of which were little...
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...for. To Lennie, the puppy was “soft and nice”, until the puppy showed aggression to Lennie and he hit it too hard causing it to die. Lennie often retaliates to “aggressive” behavior throughout the novel, such as the mice he tends to as a child. When they show aggression to Lennie, he “pinched their heads”. Lennie’s actions may be accidental, such as the murder of Curley’s wife. However, when he kills her, he notices he’s “done a real bad thing”. Lennie’s choice to hide her body is essential because if anybody found out that he killed Curley’s wife, the consequence would result in his own death. George prevents more trouble for other men on the farm by killing Lennie because he would have been killed anyways. After the fatal death of Curley’s wife, Lennie’s death and there were only 2 ways: the men’s way or George’s way. George and Lennie’s relationship shows a strong correlation to Candy and his dog’s relationship. Candy...
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...While leisurely conversing in the harness room with Crooks, Candy, and Lennie, Curley’s wife first reveals her suffering, and then expresses it by intimidating and belittling the men in order to feel superior and disguise her own misery. After exposing deep feelings of pain and powerlessness, Curley’s wife conveys this grief by trying to put down the rest of the men to make her situation seem less severe in comparison . She can be compared to a bully, a person that dispenses pain they have felt to others either to gain sympathy or to feel entitlement and belonging. In the case of Curley’s wife, being to only woman on the farm has isolated and excluded her. In attempts to make friend or at least company, Curley’s wife enters the cabin to talk with the men. What seems like a heartwarming conversation turns sour very quickly when Curley’s wife yells, “‘Well you keep your place then, n*****. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny.’... She turn[s] at last to the other two... ‘Tell an’ be damned,’ she crie[s]. ‘Nobody’d listen to you an’ you know it’” (81). Because she experiences social rejection she feels the need to pass it along to the rest of the men in the cabin. She does this to make them feel the same or worse than she is feeling, or to show that her hurting...
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...portrayal of Curley’s wife in Of Mice and Men Of mice and men was set in America during the 1930’s when the whole country was going through the great depression so no one had much money and it became hard for men to find jobs and keep them. This is why it is strange at the start of the novel when we are introduced to George and Lennie traveling together to find work. It was hard for men to find jobs alone and even harder for two men to find jobs together. During the great depression, women had no freedom and they couldn’t get jobs like the men tried to because the men had more power over them and controlled them. The men weren’t used to women being around them and the women were trying to look for jobs like the men and everyone wanted a well-paid job but it was really hard to find one. The American dream was present at this time and people had their own dreams they wanted to reach. All the characters in the novel have dreams they want to reach but throughout the novel we see that some of the main characters: Curley’s wife, George and Lennie all have dreams but they don’t reach them as they work on a ranch and don’t get paid enough. At the start of chapter 2, Candy, the swamper starts to talk about Curley’s wife. At this stage in the novel, we have actually met her yet but the men on the ranch are gossiping about her. The impression that Steinbeck gives the readers is negative about Curley’s wife because they don’t talk about her in a positive way. One of the men brings her...
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