Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Essay

¨Ain I got a right to talk to nobody…?¨ This is a line directly said from Curly’s wife in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck introduced Curly’s wife as a tart, eyeing men up and down, while married, and always finding herself in the men’s cabin area. He also introduces her as a lonely average wife during the 1900s, having nothing to look forward too. Steinbeck gives information about what women felt like during these tough times, especially how lonely they were, and how they couldn’t follow their own dreams.

Women back then went through lonely times. In Of Mice and Men Curly’s wife was stuck on the ranch with no other women to talk too. She moved out to the ranch with her husband, away from her family, and was expected to stay out there with him. (Pg 87) Curly’s wife says to Lennie, “I get lonely, you can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curly⎯ .” With her being at the ranch all the time, she only talks to Curly. (Pg 77) Curly’s wife also tells Crooks that she doesn’t like being stuck in that house all the

Back to gender roles, women were expected to do things in the house. So for a women to go out and get a job, is unlikely. Curly’s wife brought up the fact (pg 88) that she had the chance to become a star, and make something out of herself. But instead, her mother expected her to do other things, which resulted in Curly’s wife getting married and going off to live on the ranch. In Curly’s wife’s exact words, “ Seems like they ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live⎯ I coulda made somethin’ of myself,” (pg 88). People often made decisions for women, instead of women thinking for themselves.

This present day, women are treated more fairly. There is a wide range of jobs open to everyone, and some men might be the ones staying at home watching the kids. Yes, almost 8 decades later, women have a right to talk, and can follow their dreams, without being wrongfully treated for their