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Examples Of Sexism In Of Mice And Men

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Is the sexism in Of Mice and Men purposeful? This is the question I needed to consider while writing this essay and researching. What I found when researching Steinbeck's political views was that he was a very radical person. Many of his books were burned especially by the very people who were the subjects of them. In 1962 the New York Times published a piece on him calling him quote: “ a “limited talent” whose work was “watered down by tenth-rate philosophizing." These attacks solidify Steinbeck as a radical. Once my questions were hardly answered I dove deep into the actual book. The book Of Mice and Men portrays blatant depression era sexism.

If women worked, it was only housekeeping type jobs and women without families were often overlooked in society. I believe because of this it makes sense that Curley’s wife had to marry him. Though it would be presumed that it was harder for women to get work it was actually the opposite, jobs that were considered “women's work” were less …show more content…

I believe that because of Steinbeck's political views, leaving her unnamed was definitely purposeful. I believe that naming something helps humanize it, leaving her unnamed causes us to lack empathy towards her. I believe that her flirty behavior & vivid description makes her seem more unhuman but also emphasizes the outdated idea of women being objects. This can be seen when George calls her a rattrap, "Well, you keep away from her, cause she's a rattrap if I ever saw one.” Another thing done to not make us empathize with her is her harsh treatment of Lennie and Crooks. Both characters she treats with little respect yet when Lennie kills her it is yet again proven that she doesn't have any power and the blame is put on her. This can be seen when Candy says, “You God damn tramp”, he said viciously. “You done it, di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy

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She is constantly searching for her husband, hoping that she can turn “any of you boys seen Curley” into a conversation starter (38). In some cases it works, but she is usually quickly shut out. The only time she manages to get in more than a few words with the men is in the barn with Lennie, where Steinbeck reveals a side of her not seen elsewhere in the book. Throughout the rest of the story she is put together and composed, a mirage sent from Old Hollywood, but here she is blatantly upset, wondering “what’s the matter with me?”(43). A part of her shines through that isn’t usually seen.

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John Steinbeck’s presents Curley’s wife in a way that comes off as she is being abused. In Of Men and Mice Steinbeck clearly portrays Curley’s wife as a victim and not a villain, as others would see her. She is abused by Curley, mistreated by the other men on the ranch, and she is treated like she does not exist with no respect or value. Curley’s wife is a victim because Curley her husband, abuses and mistreats her.

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The novella Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, tells of the story of how individuals were alienated during the Great Depression, including an unnamed farm wife married to a man named Curley. She is simply identified as “Curley’s wife.” Being the only woman on the farm has caused her to be a sexualized object, have a great sense of loneliness, and feel that she will never live up to her dreams. The characterization, actions, and treatment of Curley’s wife depicts how women were kept from achieving their own American Dream in the sexist society of the 1930s. Through the characterization of Curley’s wife a reader can see that she is sexualized, desires to be dominant, and has suffered throughout her life.

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635 Words | 3 Pages

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is a story about discrimination due to someone being different in any way. The reader learns how people were treated and discriminated in 1930s during the great depression. This is important because this issue continues even to this day. This problem has been around for a very long time. Steinbeck uses Archetypes,Symbolism, and Setting to convey the theme of discrimination.

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959 Words | 4 Pages

Every character has different behaviors to opinions. John Steinbeck wrote this book like it was real life. Characters had habits, personalities, dislikes, opinions, sadness, happiness, anger, etc. This is what makes this book so alive and truly something about life. Stereotypes such as women not being important enough to learn their names.

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Through the characterization of George, Crooks, and Curly’s wife, in his novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck reflects on the impending doom humans face due to their insufficient hopes blinding them from what truly matters. Curley’s wife plays a crucial part in asserting the theme, as she is a paradigm for someone whose loneliness and dreams drive them in a search for happiness somewhere they will not find it. Her

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255 Words | 2 Pages

Of mice and men is a novella written by John Steinbeck and published in 1937. It follows 2 migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie Small as they begin working as farm hands on a ranch close to a small town called Soledad durning the great depression. Of mice and men is a novella set almost 100 years ago, but some of the problems that are faced in the story are still an issue today. This essay will focus on the misogyny and victim blaming shown in Of mice and men and how it still relates to today. Misogyny is extremely prevalent in this book.

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553 Words | 3 Pages

Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, is a classic demonstration of sexism, as well as misogyny. Set in the 1930s, when these views were “normalized”, the author relates these issues primarily in the description of Curley's wife. You can identify the sexism Curley's wife faces daily by analyzing the words of George, one of the main characters of the book. He says “ranch with a bunch a’ guys on it ain't no place for a girl” (Steinbeck), George means this in a clearly offensive way, by using the word “girl” instead of “woman”, this could mean he doesn't respect her, or find her on the same level as himself, and belittles her.

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In the novella Of Mice And Men, sexism is prevalent throughout the course of the story. One significant character who has been affected by sexism is Curley’s wife. This is clearly demonstrated when she is referred to throughout the novella as “Curley’s Wife”. Rather than being known as an individual with emotions, she is objectified and her identity is robbed from her. Sexism is also shown towards Curley’s Wife when she is constantly misunderstood and is suspected to flirt with others by all the men on the ranch.

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People need to take responsibility for the issues that they or someone else may have caused. If no one takes responsibility for issues then the issue will get worse. Even if the person does not have an affect on the issue, it may affect them in the long run. Steinbeck’s, Of Mice and Men, and sexism in the work place are both affected by the responsibility someone takes for certain issues. If we do not take responsibility for issues bigger than ourselves, then it may turn into a more serious issue or it may not get accomplished.

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288 Words | 2 Pages

I strongly agree with the statement ‘Of Mice and Men is Steinbeck's protest against the unfairness of American society in the 1930s.’ because throughout the novel Steinbeck shows a variety of examples of the discrimination people in 1930s America would face. He also shows us that there was a lack of hope and humanity around this time. A key character in Of Mice and Men who shows how people were treated is Curley's wife. The use of the possessive apostrophe in her title, "Curley's wife”, leads to us being able to infer that she is seen as an object and treated as though she was Curley’s possession.

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250 Words | 1 Pages

The fact that Curley’s wife is never called by a name but always by Curley’s wife means that at the time people didn’t care much about women's, there was sexism towards women. John Steinbeck never gave her a name in the story, to show us that she was treated like she was worthless and unimportant. Furthermore, Crook in the novel is a black worker,

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973 Words | 4 Pages

World of Sexism Due to the Great Depression, women’s rights took a back seat to employment and poverty. It was believed that women shouldn’t work but stay at home, clean, cook, and raise their children. The prejudice against women in the society was great back in the 1930s for they were degraded and underestimated. All the rights they had gained in the 1920s were neglected and the women were once again maltreated. In Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the victim of sexism is Curley’s wife who is so insignifact that even a name was not provided for her.

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In John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck portrayed a political statement by looking at mental and physical disabilities through different characters such as Curley's Wife, Crooks, and Lennie. Curley's wife is used to represent how women were treated during the 1930’s and almost treated with a disability. Women were portrayed as the help and they were supposed to stay home and work while the strong brave men went out and got money to support the family. By Steinbeck not giving Curley's wife a name he is showing how she is connected to Curly with an Invisible rope.

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1644 Words | 7 Pages

Author John Steinbeck explores multiple real life issues in both works, and provides a message of how unfair the world is, as well as show how cruel humans can be to differences. Sexism is an important topic when one discusses society. The issue of sexism has always been prominent. With the definition of prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex. In Of Mice and Men, author John Steinbeck showed how men thought about and treated women through the character Curley’s wife.

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