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How Is Curley's Wife Presented in of Mice and Men

In: English and Literature

Submitted By najd1103
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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 “seen her give Slim the eye,” even though she’s only been married for two weeks; painting the picture of a very desperate woman . George and Lennie put weight in Candy’s word because of his appearance that he has been at this ranch many years, speaking with a wise & knowledgeable manner. Furthermore, Candy’s opinion is then confirmed as soon as she appears, leaning on the door frame “so

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