Analysis Of Curley's Wife In Of Mice And Men

Improved Essays
Curley’s wife is the most misunderstood character in the novel ‘Of Mice And Men’ this is clear when you study the book from her point of view. She is innocent, lonely and defensive in a way that readers see it as mean and tart. In real life we should not judge or exclude someone because of a first impression, yet that is exactly what happens in this book.

Curley’s wife is innocent and only wants someone to love her, for example, after she is killed, Steinbeck writes, 'The meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young'. The words Steinbeck uses in this quote, such as 'pretty' and 'sweet', show the reader how Curley's Wife
…show more content…
This is especially shown in chapter 4 of the novel in a tense conversation between Curley's Wife, Candy, Crooks, and Lennie, as she snaps to Crooks, 'Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny'. Curley's Wife is portrayed as a mean character in many readers minds, but when Steinbeck was writing he was envisioning her to be hardened from her tough childhood, but innocent. When she is first introduced in the novel, she is meant to be a round character sort of like a candy, hard on the outside, soft on the inside. When she is first introduced into the novel aside from being flirtatious, she is actually very kind to George and Lennie. The two ranchers, on the other hand were not very nice in return which made the reader believe she was the antagonist right away. She also uses the offensive and hostile term 'nigger'. Although the other ranch workers have utilized this word too, the reader interprets that it is even more disrespectful when it comes from her because in the 1930s ladies were much inferior to men and should behave politely. But for every action there is a reaction, and others may interpret Curley's Wife's harsh words as her reaction to being judged and treated so badly by characters like Candy and George prior in the novel. Her words could also be interpreted as a « monkey see monkey do » scenario - if everyone in your surroundings are acting in a certain way, than surely some of the attitudes can rub off or influence you. Curley’s wife is therefore not a mean character in the novel and is only being influenced by

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Despite being a woman in the 1930s, Curley’s wife possessed power over others on the ranch, primarily because her husband was the boss’s son. Although the men often thought that she was ineffectual, she ascertained to quickly prove them wrong. For example, when talking to Crooks she was very straightforward with her authority: “Well you keep your place then, ni**er. I could get you strung up on a tree so fast it ain’t even funny”(81). Even though she would not be the one to actually pursue that threat, she knew how to use her words to get somebody else to.…

    • 215 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Curley’s Wife: Alone and Unloved In John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife is a lonely character described as a “tart” (28). She only identifies as “Curley’s wife” in the book, and, as a result, she is not ever given a name. Curley’s wife has an obvious relationship with Curley, but other than him, she has no other relationships. This is because the men on the ranch have a fear of causing trouble with Curley.…

    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    She is discriminated against because she is the only women on the farm. Curley's wife is said to be a tart and give the workers the eye. Based on that George warns Lennie about her, ¨´Well, you keep away from her, ´cause she's a rattrap if i've ever seen one.´¨(32). All the workers try to stay away from her because they think that she's trouble. Curley's wife is a very lonely character, too.…

    • 929 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Not everyone is exactly as they seem. In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife is seen by most on the ranch as provocative and attention seeking. Curley and his wife are rarely ever seen together. Instead, Curley’s wife often wanders the ranch, talking to other men but never to her husband. As a result, the workers believe that she is simply looking for male attention.…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Curley's Wife

    • 1539 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Curley’s wife, in this instance, does not do anything to reasonably upset the group, although they make it clear that they do not want to cause trouble with her presence. In an outburst of hopelessness, Curley’s wife explains how no one is even willing to talk to her despite not doing anything wrong. Her anger is only fueled by the unfair treatment she receives, and the loneliness that results from it. Curley’s wife does not hate any of the group members, but instead furious at the constant disregard aimed towards her. A repetitive cycle forms that transforms her into appearing rude is fueled by her tiredness of being socially isolated.…

    • 1539 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Aside from her sweet talkative side, Curley's wife can be very straight forward and frank. When in Crooks room, she is asked to leave multiple times but when Crooks gives attitude she responds with, “Well, you keep your place then, nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny.” In this situation she brings his race and segregation into the mix to show what power she has a white woman…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Steinbeck continuously adds and builds upon the hatred the reader grows for Curley’s wife. He does this by presenting her to the reader by making her look bothersome and obnoxious when she misbehaves with the other ranch men and perpetually decides on new ways on how to playfully and coyly make conversation. Such as when she says, “I’m looking for Curley,”. Not only is this tedious of her, but it shows her in a different light. One where she knows that is unbefitting in her surroundings but knowing this, she is still always pushing her limits.…

    • 2437 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Although the men all talk bad about Curley’s wife she has done no harm or caused any trouble to them. Since she is rumored…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In life, people may appear different than they really are. They may be looking for something, but feel unable to reach it. In John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men Curley’s wife is a vital character to the story’s plot. She is treated as if she is unimportant by everyone; they don’t even give her a name. She is seen as just a woman who is making trouble.…

    • 603 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Taylor Hager Kasey Lutrell English 11 2 February 2018 The Life of an Objectified Woman In the novella of Mice of Men, the author, John Steinbeck, creates a character named Curley’s wife. She is a prime example of how women during the 1930’s were treated, they were expected to stay at home and cook and clean for their husbands every single day while their man went off to work. Meanwhile, all this woman wants is love and affection, which she never receives. She has big dreams to move to Hollywood and become a famous actress, which is her idea of the American Dream. Before she even gets the chance to she is brutally murdered by another character named Lennie.…

    • 1262 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This quote informs everyone that reads the novel that Curley’s Wife is lonely, as everyone shows her a mass of discriminative behaviour because she is a female that gets into trouble. Curley's Wife represents temptation to the men that work on the farm. This si the main reason nobody really wants to go around her, as if they do something with…

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    This shows how Crooks is not welcome among the other men and is left out on simple things such as leisure. The author additionally expresses the theme sexism through the characters Curley and his wife who is not getting the proper attention she deserves. Steinbeck chose to never give Curley 's wife a name to express the fact men were dominant over women and how she is in possession to Curley. Curley 's wife always presents herself in a flirtatious manner to the men on the ranch, this is shown when she "put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward," (page 34-35) she only tries to get the attention of other men. Curley 's wife always tries to gain the guys attention because she is lonely being the only women on the ranch and is not given the proper care and attention need by her cruel husband Curley.…

    • 1289 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Of Mice and Men is a classic novella that paints a tragic portrait of America in the 1930’s. Steinbeck reveals prejudice that was aimed towards women during the 1930’s. The novella consist of male characters with the exception of Curley's wife. Curley’s wife is the only female that we are introduced in the story, since she is the only female she is often treated differently from everyone else. She is the only female on the farm making her isolated from the other workers.…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Steinbeck uses many characters in the book “Of Mice and Men” to express certain discriminations. Some examples are discrimination of other races besides whites, people with disabilities, and many other ones. One of the characters he uses for the discriminations is Curley’s wife. Steinbeck uses Curley’s wife to show us how gender discrimination effects women. One of the most famous quotes that Curley’s wife says is, “I tell you I ain’t used to livin’ like this I coulda made Somethin’ of myself” (Steinbeck 88).…

    • 939 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Steinbeck introduces Curley’s wife as a possession of Curley as the only girl on the ranch. Being the only female on the ranch, Curley had demanded and made sure that his wife does not talk to anyone on the ranch. As a way of revolting against her loneliness and her husband’s rules, she begins to flirt with other ranchers for attention. In the novel Curley’s wife seeks for attention or someone to talk to because Curley does not give her the love and attention she needs. Curley is rather unkind to his wife by not talking to her or caring about she has to say, leaving Curley’s wife with the need to tell someone.…

    • 1115 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays