Abraham Lincoln, an influential figure in the U.S. who paved the path to enhanced lives, once said “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power”. Authority is often considered the defining point of a person’s character because a person can choose to do nearly anything with it. Though some employ their power for respectable reasons, often times power is not used in honorable ways. The matter of authority being abused is prevalent in the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck illustrates that those who have power abuse it exceedingly, as shown by Curley attacking countless others larger than himself, including Lennie, a mentally disabled man, Curley’s wife mistreating the men of the
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She associates with several men who get into trouble with Curley for being near her, and ignores every request the men make in an attempt to avoid conflict with her husband. For instance, the men say, “‘Ever’ time the guys is around she shows up. She’s lookin’ for Curley, or she thought she lef’ somethin’ layin’ around and she’s lookin’ for it. Seems like she can’t keep away from guys’” (51). Curley’s wife distracts the men without justification, and continuously agitates many who wish her to withdraw, without regards to what they wish due to her knowledge that she will be able to feign innocence at the predicament. As a result, Curley is constantly following her around and questioning the men about whether or not they have seen her. She refuses to stop, even when she causes dispute amongst the ranch hands, simply because she enjoys seeing the influence she has on the men and her husband. Also, she ignores the ranch hand’s requests to leave them be. An instance of this is when Lennie states that he “‘...ain’t supposed to talk to…’” (86) her; she instantly grows enraged and questions, “‘Wha’s the matter with me?...Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody? Whatta they think I am, anyways? You’re a nice guy. I don’ know why I can’t talk to you’” (87-88). She refuses to acknowledge the trouble that the men get into due to her constant presence. This results in multiple conflicts …show more content…
Many characters in the story Of Mice and Men endure this abuse, as Curley continuously picks fights with larger men, aware they will be unable to defend themselves without consequences; his wife invariably ignores the men’s requests to leave them be so as to avoid trouble with her husband, and she abuses the connotation of her skin color by making inflammatory comments to Crooks and attempting to make him succumb to her seniority, believing that she is superior to him. Those with control over others often exploit their privilege, uncomprehending of the atrocious acts that they
She associates with several men who get into trouble with Curley for being near her, and ignores every request the men make in an attempt to avoid conflict with her husband. For instance, the men say, “‘Ever’ time the guys is around she shows up. She’s lookin’ for Curley, or she thought she lef’ somethin’ layin’ around and she’s lookin’ for it. Seems like she can’t keep away from guys’” (51). Curley’s wife distracts the men without justification, and continuously agitates many who wish her to withdraw, without regards to what they wish due to her knowledge that she will be able to feign innocence at the predicament. As a result, Curley is constantly following her around and questioning the men about whether or not they have seen her. She refuses to stop, even when she causes dispute amongst the ranch hands, simply because she enjoys seeing the influence she has on the men and her husband. Also, she ignores the ranch hand’s requests to leave them be. An instance of this is when Lennie states that he “‘...ain’t supposed to talk to…’” (86) her; she instantly grows enraged and questions, “‘Wha’s the matter with me?...Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody? Whatta they think I am, anyways? You’re a nice guy. I don’ know why I can’t talk to you’” (87-88). She refuses to acknowledge the trouble that the men get into due to her constant presence. This results in multiple conflicts …show more content…
Many characters in the story Of Mice and Men endure this abuse, as Curley continuously picks fights with larger men, aware they will be unable to defend themselves without consequences; his wife invariably ignores the men’s requests to leave them be so as to avoid trouble with her husband, and she abuses the connotation of her skin color by making inflammatory comments to Crooks and attempting to make him succumb to her seniority, believing that she is superior to him. Those with control over others often exploit their privilege, uncomprehending of the atrocious acts that they