How Is Curley's Wife Lonely

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. The so called “tart” in the novel is described as having “full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up” (Steinbeck 31). She has red fingernails and “her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages” (Steinbeck 31). Curley’s wife, a flirtatious woman, wants to feel loved and valued; therefore, she …show more content…
As a result, her actions are given explanations. This lost woman trying to find her place is avoided by the ranch workers, in addition to being unvalued by her own husband. Loneliness is prominent in the novella, and Curley’s wife helps develop that theme. She is isolated from everyone except Curley, and she makes it clear to Lennie that she does not like Curley and feels like she has no one to talk to. “You can talk to people, but I can’t to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?” (Steinbeck 87). Her loneliness is revealed once again. As Curley’s wife explains her lifelong dream shortly before her death, people coming to Christ before their death came to mind. People who do not follow God are portrayed as a certain way to Christians; nevertheless, the perceptions of them change if they choose to follow Christ, even if it is right before their death. Curley’s wife was portrayed as a certain way the whole novella, but the viewpoint of her changes when she explains her strenuous life before her unfortunate death. Curley’s wife’s death makes her memorable. It is the climax of the story, in addition to foreshadowing the death of