Despite being the only female on a ranch full of foul-mouthed men, Curley 's wife exploits both her sexuality and her status to demonstrate power throughout the novel. For instance, when first meeting Curley’s wife she attempts to enhance her body for the new men: “She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward” (31). From Curley’s wife’s actions we learn that since the beginning she finds it necessary to flaunt her body, instead of showing her real personality. Furthermore, she is using her physical attraction to portray an appearance that is automatically seducing in hopes of placing herself above the newly arriving men. After Crooks tells Curley’s wife to get out of the barn, she erupts …show more content…
Although she may not intend to follow through with the threat, while doing so, she is forcing their attention on her. As Candy discovers Curley’s wife lying dead on the hay, he exclaims, “You done it, di’nt 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 tart” (95). In other words, Curley 's wife does not even have to be alive to cause trouble, and her death alone exhibits enough power to create distress. In addition, Candy is implying that Curley’s wife has had the ability to cause trouble all along. For example, George saw that the first time Lennie was introduced to Curley’s wife he immediately fell under her spell, which caused George to continue to warn Lennie about her since her knew what she was capable of. The constant warning was nagging on the back of Lennie’s brain each time he came in contact with Curley’s wife, wondering when she was actually going to strike. However, the decision of when was to be determined by her, resulting in more power under her wings. Unfortunately, Curley 's wife wields what power she holds to threaten Crooks and Candy, and the men ultimately ignore her playful advances, unwilling to lose their livelihoods by upsetting a jealous