ipl-logo

Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

935 Words4 Pages

Throughout the novella ‘Of mice and men,’ the characters are able to be sympathized by the reader through various techniques that John Steinbeck uses. While some of the characters are not as likable, events and speeches from various characters help influence the readers understanding towards their motives and the pain and grief they experience. Steinbeck presents Crooks as one with a physical handicap and shows how he is discriminated against and forced to live on the periphery of the ranch life. In section 4 Crooks admits to the exact loneliness that George describes to Lennie at the beginning of the novella in the passage he displays vulnerability and desperation towards having no companion ‘He can’t turn to some other guy and ast him if …show more content…

This deception was first displayed in section 1 when George implies that he and Lennie were lucky because others ‘Ain’t got nothing to look ahead to…with us, it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us… If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us.’ The repetition of the phrase ‘But not us’ is not only effective to highlight the abnormality of their relationship, however, relates that loneliness is responsible for much of the suffering, supported through speeches throughout the narrative. It is mentioned again by Slim who comments on him ‘hardly never seen two guys travel together.’ suggesting that companionship was a rare …show more content…

We sympathize with Curley’s wife insist on telling her story, she speaks the words with sadness and we see her longing for her life to have been different. The reader is made to feel pity towards Curley’s wife knowing her opportunities were taken from her ‘If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet’. Our pity for her is heightened when she admits that she was unhappy with Curley. ‘“I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella.” And because she had confided in him she moved closer’ we are able to humanize Curley’s wife with her vulnerable state and genuine trust when she confides in Lennie. The reader feels sorry for Curley’s wife as the motives behind her actions are explained, and she expresses the anger and disappointment towards the consequences of her

Show More
Related

Of Mice And Men Dream Essay

640 Words | 3 Pages

After this incident, their dream is never achieved. Curley's wife is not the most important character in this novel, but her interactions with Lennie affects the climax and resolution of the story. Curley’s wife’s death is the apex of the novel. For example, Curley’s wife keeps trying to talk to Lennie, even though he tells her ¨George says I ain’t to

Read More

Seclusion In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

544 Words | 3 Pages

Curley’s wife blames Curley and her guardian for annihilating her fantasy of fame, isolating her. Curley’s wife yearns for acceptance from numerous laborers to decrease her loneliness. Curley’s wife aches from

Read More

Examples Of Moral Ambiguity In Of Mice And Men

386 Words | 2 Pages

Curley’s Wife is depicted as morally ambiguous because she uses her sexual appeal to lure men into her life, but in her point of view, she is trying to repel her loneliness. Curley’s Wife likes to use her physical appeal to get to know other men. To make her husband jealous, she is very seductive towards her husband's workers. This is

Read More

Quotes On Curley's Wife

1677 Words | 7 Pages

Two weeks prior to George and Lennie’s arrival at the farm, Curley’s wife married Curley to escape her family and gain wealth after meeting him at the Riverside Dance Palace. Due to all the hardships she endures at the ranch, Curley’s wife is the loneliest and most alienated character in the novella. In fear of repercussions

Read More

Curley's Wife Isolation

376 Words | 2 Pages

Curley’s wife is one of the most alienated characters in the novel Of Mice and Men, if not the most alienated and isolated character as it is displayed through her being nameless, being very flirtatious, and the perception of her by the men on the ranch. Indeed, the author constantly is showing that how regardless if you are amongst people or have company, but however there is no sensation of love what so ever, it is just as equal to living a life through despair and desolation. Whenever Curley’s wife appears in the book she is either looking for her husband or other company to converse with, however it has a reverse notation and it pours out of her in resentment and disillusion as she states, “Why can’t I talk to you?I never get to talk to

Read More

How Does Steinbeck Present Curley's Wife

620 Words | 3 Pages

As the novella progresses, the reader learns the flirtatious side is one of the many sides to the lonely woman that makes the reader sympathises with her. In the beginning of the novella, Curley’s wife is presented as a “tart”, “jail bait” and that she has “got the eye” by

Read More

Of Mice And Men Luck Quotes

636 Words | 3 Pages

Curley’s wife is finds herself in an unlucky situation while attempting to befriend the “gentle” giant, Lennie, adding on to her already unfortunate past. She converses to Lennie of all her past plans, saying “‘I coulda made somethin’ of myself.’” Curley’s wife then reveals her backstory, how she nearly did make something of herself, with an actor or movie star husband, not some short-tempered, condescending control-freak. Following this, she dies because Lennie didn’t want her alerting the others to their location. What’s more, as readers follow the story, people see her as, states Candy, a “floozy,” which influences the opinion of how Curley’s wife is portrayed, a horrible, good-for-nothing whore.

Read More

How Does Steinbeck Present Curley's Wife In Of Mice And Men

553 Words | 3 Pages

This analysis of Curley’s wife will explain how due to three factors (how she has to respond to the way men treat her because of her time, how her loneliness drives her behavior, and how her dreams affect her vulnerability) she is more than what meets the eye.

Read More

Pompeii Research Paper

609 Words | 3 Pages

It is a time honored tradition that nearly everyone in the United States does. We end up going to Las Vegas, the city of sin, so that we can have a weekend, or week of fun under the sun of Nevada. Parties, gambling, drinking, and more happens daily in the jewel of the desert. Much like the modern day jewel of the United States, ancient Rome also had a jewel of its own, known as Pompeii. In this city, much like Las Vegas, parties, gambling, drinking, and more happened every day around the clock; however, unlike Las Vegas, Pompeii was also a hub of trade and business.

Read More

Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Analysis

907 Words | 4 Pages

(78) Curley’s wife marrying to Curley, her being treated poorly, her being stuck on a ranch, and her being stuck in her little house all day were the factors that contributed to the loss of her dream. This loss of her dream makes Curley’s wife think about the life she could experience if she can go to a show. This also gives her a generally pessimistic view of the

Read More

Comparing The American Dream In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

630 Words | 3 Pages

Curley’s wife receives no attention from her husband and her dreams have been crushed. This leaves her to feel a sense of loneliness and as if she has nothing to look forward to. Without the plan of fame and glory the had originally imagined, she is lost. Feeling ignored by Curley, she turns to the other men on the farm for

Read More

Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

403 Words | 2 Pages

In the novella Of Mice and Men, loneliness is one of the main themes in the story. Many of the characters in the story live alone and try to find someone who they can trust to be their companion or audience. Crooks and Curley’s Wife are two examples of these characters. Crooks, the negro stable buck on the ranch, lives by himself separate from all the other workers. He has a crooked back and he is abused by the owner of the ranch.

Read More

Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

438 Words | 2 Pages

She was similar to Crooks in many ways. Curley’s wife has no one to talk, and she too wistfully discloses to Lennie about her loneliness. However, when the tales of loneliness pour out of her mouth the accident-prone Lennie unintentionally kills her. She let him stroke her hair, and would not let go as he did to the girl in the red dress. Both of these characters experienced the same haunting isolation as in the novella.

Read More

Curley's Wife Analysis Essay

871 Words | 4 Pages

As we all know, there are different opinions on the character Curley’s wife from different perspective. Some people might say that Curley’s wife is nothing but a possession of Curley, following the fact that we know her as Curley’s wife instead of her real name. Other people might say that Curley’s wife is the main voice from Steinbeck, which expresses the concern of both racism and classism But the truth is women at this period of time in the society, in this case, Curley’s wife, have a dominant role of a housewife and don’t have any freedom when decision is made. She first appeared in the doorway of the bunkhouse, asking the location of her husband, which is later revealed that it is just an excuse to be able to interact with the ranchers.

Read More

The Role Of Justice In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

977 Words | 4 Pages

Furthermore, one of the most interesting roles in the ensemble of characters is Curley’s wife: her name is never mentioned in the book, as a reminder that she feels completely anonymous and useless, since her role is not recognised by none of the other characters. Her self-obsession probably originates from her desperate and unfulfilled need of validation. Someone may argue that her character is designed only as a tool for the development of the story, but her strong personality goes beyond this function. The moment of her death is in fact the highest moment of the novella and the culmination of an ascendant climax that goes throughout the whole narration.

Read More

More about Loneliness In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

Related Topics

Open Document