Oppression Of Women In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

How does a woman in a male dominated society gain attention? Steinbeck wrote the novella titled Of Mice and Men displaying male society while enveloping readers in glimpses of failed American dreams. A leading role includes Curley’s wife, who is condemned to her husband’s father’s farm as the majority are men, and she is merely an unbelonging woman. Furthermore, this woman’s image demonstrates a sexual figure towards the workers, especially when Lennie and George encountered her for the first time as noted, “She had full, rough lips and widespread eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails red and her hair hung in curls with a cotton house dress,” while the appearance of her lips is sexualized and the red nails provide awareness to her hands (Steinbeck 31). Provided that, …show more content…
This manifests loneliness, as being secluded from the rest of the farm except her husband creates longing for another soul. As a matter of fact, it is claimed that, “Every time the guys are around, she shows up, and it seems like she cannot keep away from them,” since seclusion has driven Curley’s wife mad she counters loneliness by turning up in the barn (Steinbeck 51). Provided that, Curley’s wife uses her physical features to gain attention and to dull her loneliness and provoke conversation. All try to avoid Curley’s wife because of her marital status, and this leads to Curley’s wife distress call, “What is the matter with me, do I not have a right to talk to anybody! What do they think I am,” only shows the emotional impact taking a toll upon Curley’s wife (Steinbeck 87). Whereas, Curley’s wife extends herself by showing up around the men to conversate, but she only truly has Curley to give her company. In fact, Curley’s wife is condemned to loneliness from the moment she entered Curley’s environment surrounded by male figures and her husband’s jealous