In Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck in 1937, women are represented negatively. Curley’s wife, who is married to the ranch owner’s son, does not seem like a significant character in the beginning of the novel. As the story progresses, Curley’s wife is seen talking to the other men on the ranch, and consulting them about where she might find Curley. The men treat her badly because she has a husband and is not supposed to be talking to them. Near the end of the novel, she reveals some of the reasons for her actions. Curley’s wife is described in unfavorable ways by the men on the ranch, which provides examples of how women in the 1930’s are seen and treated.Throughout the novel, Steinbeck portrays Curley’s wife in many pessimistic ways.
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Curley's wife is the only woman in the ranch, which makes her automatically an outcast. Usually characters in novels who are outcasts are different. In this case, the only difference is her gender. Since she is a woman and has nobody to talk to all day, she is lonely. When Curley's wife comes to talk to Lennie in the barn, she asks if he, "... think I don't like to talk to somebody once in a while" (77). This quote portrays her as a lonely woman, which she probably is, but this also suggests that all women are needy and lonely. Next, Curley's wife confesses that, "I don't like Curley, he ain't a nice fella" (89). This can be interpreted as Steinbeck's way of saying that women do not actually like their husbands, they marry them simply to say they have a husband. Clearly this is a negative connotation of how Steinbeck views women. Lastly, Curley's wife is actually blamed for her own death. After Lennie breaks her neck, Candy remarks, "you god damn tramp... You lousy tart, you done it" (95). It can be assumed that Candy is upset because Lennie killed her and now they can not have their own ranch. This quote suggests that there is always a way to blame someone else when something goes wrong. It also represents another connotation of women included in the …show more content…
Curley’s wife is the main victim of this oppression. First, Curley’s wife, who is not given an actual name in the novel, is subjected to a lot of gossip between the men. They tell each other that she is pretty, but unfaithful to her husband. Next, she is treated differently by the men, who are influenced by gender roles. In the 1930’s women were expected to cook and clean and only talk to their husbands, which is what the men on the ranch expect of Curley’s wife. Lastly, Curley’s wife is seen as a lonely, attention seeking woman throughout the novel. She confesses Lennie that she is lonely and has nobody to talk to, and that she doesn’t like her husband. This is used to make Curley’s wife a sympathetic character, but also expresses the thought that all women need constant attention from their husbands, or that they do not actually like their husbands.Near the end of the book Candy is outraged that Curley’s wife is dead because that makes Lennie in trouble and ruins Lennie, George, and Candy’s dreams of owning their own ranch. This suggests that women are constantly blamed for things going wrong.In conclusion, John Steinbeck’s of Mice and Men, displays Curley’s wife in negative ways throughout the
Curley's wife is the only woman in the ranch, which makes her automatically an outcast. Usually characters in novels who are outcasts are different. In this case, the only difference is her gender. Since she is a woman and has nobody to talk to all day, she is lonely. When Curley's wife comes to talk to Lennie in the barn, she asks if he, "... think I don't like to talk to somebody once in a while" (77). This quote portrays her as a lonely woman, which she probably is, but this also suggests that all women are needy and lonely. Next, Curley's wife confesses that, "I don't like Curley, he ain't a nice fella" (89). This can be interpreted as Steinbeck's way of saying that women do not actually like their husbands, they marry them simply to say they have a husband. Clearly this is a negative connotation of how Steinbeck views women. Lastly, Curley's wife is actually blamed for her own death. After Lennie breaks her neck, Candy remarks, "you god damn tramp... You lousy tart, you done it" (95). It can be assumed that Candy is upset because Lennie killed her and now they can not have their own ranch. This quote suggests that there is always a way to blame someone else when something goes wrong. It also represents another connotation of women included in the …show more content…
Curley’s wife is the main victim of this oppression. First, Curley’s wife, who is not given an actual name in the novel, is subjected to a lot of gossip between the men. They tell each other that she is pretty, but unfaithful to her husband. Next, she is treated differently by the men, who are influenced by gender roles. In the 1930’s women were expected to cook and clean and only talk to their husbands, which is what the men on the ranch expect of Curley’s wife. Lastly, Curley’s wife is seen as a lonely, attention seeking woman throughout the novel. She confesses Lennie that she is lonely and has nobody to talk to, and that she doesn’t like her husband. This is used to make Curley’s wife a sympathetic character, but also expresses the thought that all women need constant attention from their husbands, or that they do not actually like their husbands.Near the end of the book Candy is outraged that Curley’s wife is dead because that makes Lennie in trouble and ruins Lennie, George, and Candy’s dreams of owning their own ranch. This suggests that women are constantly blamed for things going wrong.In conclusion, John Steinbeck’s of Mice and Men, displays Curley’s wife in negative ways throughout the