Curley's Wife Quotes Of Women In Of Mice And Men

According to Oxford Dictionary, the definition of a tart is an open pastry case containing a filling. To the male ranchers in Of Mice and Men, a tart was Curley’s wife; a promiscuous flirt who cannot contain herself around men. And for what reason? Simply because she was a woman. Even today in our nation, gender is a strong issue. Often in political debates and even in the classroom it is argued how women cannot accomplish what men can or cannot do tasks as well as men. For Curley’s wife, gender means her life on the ranch includes disrespect, verbal abuse, false judgement, perspective of an object, and sexist ideals. Many of which women still suffer in today’s society. Throughout Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife is affected by her gender and

Whatever he commands her to do, she must obey. A rule that is prominent for Curley’s wife is that she must segregate herself from the other men on the ranch. This means no talking to other men or leaving the small house she and Curley live in. In the story a conversation between Curley’s wife and Slim says, “”Well, you ain’t tryin’ very hard. I seen him goin’ in your house.” She was suddenly apprehensive. “Bye Boys,” she called into the bunk house, and she hurried away”” (Steinbeck 32).When told by Slim that Curley is at the house; she abruptly ceases the conversation and runs off. This shows that Curley does not allow her to be out of the house and must leave Curley’s wife lonely and in a state of depression. Being a woman unmistakable has a negative effect on Curley’s

Unlike the men who can communicate freely, the woman cannot. She is warned not to talk to anyone but her husband. Curley’s wife says to Lennie when sitting alone with him in the barn, “Mine is soft and fine. ‘Course I brush it a lot. That makes it fine. Here- feel right here,” (Steinbeck, 90). Curley’s wife is inviting Lennie to pet her hair even after learning her just killed a puppy by accident because of his immense strength. She is so lonely that she is willing to let a man who just unknowingly used his strength to kill a puppy, repeat the same action on her hair. Curley’s wife’s natural sense of being cautious is absent because of how deprived she is of attention. In the end, being a woman led to a misfortunate