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Curley's Wife Symbolism

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Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, displays many examples of symbolism using many interesting characters. The development of the characters during this novel shows the broader trends during the historical time period of The Great Depression in America. Examples of these trends are racism, sexism, and ableism. Three integral characters for the development of these themes are Crooks, Curley’s Wife, and Candy. Mice and Men uses these characters to explore the effect of effects of systematic oppression on women, African Americans, and people with disabilities. Crooks, the stable-buck, is oppressed in the novel due to his status as an African American citizen. During this time period, racism is prevalent towards African Americans. There …show more content…

Even though women are gaining rights and respect during this time period in America, they still have not achieved gender equality in society. Curley’s wife is the epitome of the misogynist society in America during the early 1900s. Steinbeck clearly exhibits the lack of respect that Curley’s wife receives by not giving her a name in the novel. The author also describes many situations where the men on the ranch disrespect Curley’s wife. The majority of the characters in the novel attempt to avoid her at all costs: “Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely” (Steinbeck 85). Curley’s wife purposefully makes this statement to show the disadvantages she deals with being a woman during this time period. She is trying to get the men’s attention because she is neglected daily and treated as a distraction to all of the men on the ranch that are …show more content…

In contrast to Curley’s Wife and Crooks, Candy is oppressed due to a physical handicap. Prior to the novel’s time frame, Candy cuts off his hand, which drastically affects his efficacy on the ranch: “I ain’t much good with on’y one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That’s why they give me a job swampin’” (Steinbeck 59). This displays the lack of importance that the boss of the ranch puts on Candy as a worker because of his disability. He is not as important as the other men at the ranch because he cannot do work as efficiently. This lack of importance causes Candy to fear for the future, as he might be laid off. Candy knows his future is not promising as it will be difficult for him to find his place in society without two fully functioning working

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John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men takes place during the Great Depression in the 1930’s. Taking place in Northern California, and in this time period, gives the reader a different perspective and a hint of what life is like back then, and the misery’s and hardships of what people went through. Many themes are expressed in the book, the main one loneliness, which is Steinbeck’s focus. Most people desire contact with others to give life meaning. This is seen when Lennie goes into Crook's room to find someone to talk with, and later Curley's wife comes for the same reason.

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There are many indications that this is true, but three reasons stand out specifically. First, her character is described in one point of view only; the point of view of the men is the only told perspective in the book. Second, Curley’s Wife was forced to settle for less. She even goes to say this directly in the story. Lastly, she has a deep sense of isolation from being the lone woman on the ranch.

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The author, however, drops hints throughout the book telling his audience that there may be more to Curley’s wife than what is easily deduced. One scene involving a sympathetic portrayal of Curley’s wife is when she is looking for Curley in Crooks’ quarters after Lennie and Candy enter. She knows where Curley and the rest of the men have gone, and grows angry at the cold shoulder treatment she is given by the three men in the room. Curley’s wife confesses her loneliness of being stuck in the house all the time and to not liking Curley’s company. The men in the room take this as flirting rather than seeking friendship and someone to confide in.

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Candy loses opportunities to work on other parts of the farm because of his hand. The boss thinks that he can’t do much and gives him easy work. While discussing Lennie and George’s future farm, Candy says “I ain’t much good with on’y one hand. I lost my hand right here on this ranch. That’s why they give me a

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None of the other guys like to talk to her either because they all think she's a flirt that, and Curley will bust them. Then when she tries talking to someone they all tell her the same thing to leave no one wants to talk to her. Curley’s wife also implies that "I always thought my ol' lady stole it. Well, I wasn't gonna stay no place where I couldn't get nowhere or make something of myself, and' where they stole your letters, I ast her if she stole it, too, an' she says no. So I married Curley” (Steinbeck,88) .“I

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Steinbeck has designated this title to her to show that she is merely a wife, she belongs to Curley. Even during a time so important, her death, she is still referred to as “Curley’s wife” (87), she is an attachment to her husband. In the story, the men on the ranch call her sexist slurs solely based on her physical appearance. When Curley’s wife is first being introduced, Candy describes her as a “tart” (26), a woman with a poor reputation, a flirt. She had only been married to Curley for two weeks which means the men on the ranch have not truly met her, let alone have a conversation with her

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She was never even given a proper name besides “Curley's wife” which only makes her Curley's possession. The way the other characters talk and interact with Curley’s wife demonstrates how sexism was an active part of a woman’s life in the 1920’s. The first time Curley’s wife is mentioned, Candy is talking about Curley’s glove full of vaseline, and how it is to keep his hand soft for his wife. The other ranchers know about this because Curley went around bragging about it, to make him feel better about himself and to assert his dominance. The fact that Curley went around telling people about

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(Steinbeck, 87). This was one of many mentions of how she gets lonely. The last way that the author proves Curley's wife is an outsider is by making her an attention seeker who will say and do promiscuous things for attention, approval, and validation. Whenever you hear Curley’s wife in the novel she says that she is looking for Curley this is a ply to start a conversation with the men and get attention (Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Feminist Analysis). The men on the farm think that she is trouble and that she is overly flirtatious which is scary to them because they do not want to make their boss and source of income, Curley, mad.

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As an aging and disabled worker, Candy is isolated both physically and emotionally. He is segregated from the other ranch-hands due to his age and his inability to perform physically demanding tasks such as harvesting or farming. Candy's isolation is further amplified by his lack of companionship. His only companion is his old dog, whose death emboldens his loneliness. Candy's longing for connection and his eagerness to join George and Lennie in their dream of owning a piece of land underscores his desperate need for human connection and a sense of belonging.

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There is a sexist barrier between her and the men on the ranch, because they believe she should not be there. The men on the ranch attempt to keep her in her place, making the barricade for her to feel loved even harder to get over. In the article, “Of Mice and Men (Novel)” by Harold Bloom, it expresses the lack of self expression given to Curley’s Wife. Bloom states, “He announces that he hears the men returning, and says, ‘You better go home now… If you go right now, we won’t tell Curley you was here’.

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1182 Words | 5 Pages

She is seen as a woman in Lennie’s life and nothing more. Throughout the entire novel, Curley’s Wife is still never given a name. She is depicted as a huge flirt that always seeks attention. She does not receive any respect from the other men on the ranch; even her husband treats her poorly. George and the other men know that the involvement with her will only cause trouble.

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In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, a number of laborers, including two new individuals named George and Lennie, work on the ranch in Salinas Valley overseen by Curley, the son of the boss, and Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife is the only woman on the ranch, creating an atmosphere that is mainly male-driven. She is not treated with much respect, and most of the men make assumptions based on her appearance. Throughout this novella, Steinbeck portrays women as those who are necessary, only to serve “traditional” roles and seen as inferior to men. Women, such as Curley’s wife, are portrayed as individuals who are given the role of a wife, not expected to undertake anything outside of chores or household work.

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Lennie shares a moment with another character when they bond over Candy, realizing that because of his hand he is also talked down to and marginalized. As Candy was recumbent on his bed helplessly talking to Lennie he mumbled, “‘ "I ain't much good with one hand. That's why they give me a job swampin'’”(Steinbeck 59). On the farm, Candy is used for sweeping and not much more. Candy does not play games with the other migrant workers because they play games that he can not participate in as a result of his physical disabilities.

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571 Words | 3 Pages

Candy is ranked one of the lowest on the ranch since all he does is clean. He is considered an outcast and is left behind, just like some of the others who are discriminated against. Crooks is another character who faces difficulties on the ranch. Characters, such as

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