John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men follows two migrant farmers and their experiences working towards their dream. The story takes place in the Salinas Valley during both the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, when jobs were few and far between. George and Lennie have a dream of owning land, which is inhibited by these conditions. On the farm they come to work on, they meet the sultry wife of the Curly, the boss’ son. She was deprived of achieving her dream or stardom, and is left constantly craving attention in any way she can get it.
She is used as a symbol for all women in society. However all the characters are used to develop the themes of the novella. One of the major themes being the American Dream. In order to demonstrate the American Dream is unattainable for women, Steinbeck, sexualizes, objectives and eventually kills Curley's wife.
Curley’s wife has many unrealized dreams. Before her death, Curley’s wife confesses her desire to become a movie star, “Coulda been in the movies, an’ had nice clothes-all them nice clothes like they wear... An’ all them nice clothes like they wear. Because this guy says I was a natural.” p.89
The death of Curley’s wife is a very shocking event which is what triggers George’s decision to shoot Lennie. She does nothing wrong and without noticing Lennie kills her; just how he killed the mouse and the puppy killed the puppy. Curley’s wife’s death is a tragedy and symbolizes Lennie’s untroubled life coming to an end. Even though Lennie is not a bad person after the death of Curley’s wife, we can no longer think of him as an innocent child-like person. George and Lennie’s life was about survival, but centred on the innocent dream of the rabbits.
In such time of the Great Depression and gender equality, this novel presents the character of sexism, Curley’s wife, to show how her dreams has been achieved through death. During her talk with Lennie, she tells him that she “‘[...]never get[s] to talk to nobody [and that she] get[s] awfully lonely’” (Steinbeck 86). Even though she is depicted as a flirtatious, “‘[...]purty [...] bitch’”, her true life was lonely and segregated from the male ranchers (Steinbeck 32). Steinbeck applies this paradox in the story to picture the reader about how a character’s identity can either encourage or ruin his or her reasons to live and achieve a future.
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
Furthermore, Crook’s and Candy’s unrealistic notions revolving ambitions prohibited them from accomplishing them. Candy’s dreams are obstructed due to ageism. Candy is in a rush to fulfill any last ambitions before he passes away. He could finally view himself in a peaceful mindset, with proper people. However, once Curley’s wife was found dead, and Lennie was dead, Candy uttered when worried his last year of life would not be fulfilled, "You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George?
Someone once said, “A villain is just a victim whose story hasn’t been told.” The character known as Curley’s Wife in Of Mice and Men is portrayed in John Steinbeck’s writing as an antagonist. Multiple time throughout the book she is insulted by the men, who call her things such as a tramp, or a tart. As the story continues, there are many hidden indications that she could be seen as a much simpler, innocent presence, rather than an evil. When looked at more in depth, Curley’s Wife can be seen as a victimized character.
In the book Curley’s Wife is portrayed as a whore and not much else. She is painted as an emotionless tramp who is looking to “get with” anyone she can. But in the movie she was in a very different situation. In the movie version she was a damsel in distress. The movie made you look at her in a different light.
Confirmation bias is heavily evident in Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck, though it is best seen through Curley’s wife. Before she is even introduced, Steinbeck (through his characters’ dialogue) paints a picture of an unfaithful, promiscuous woman who habitually flirts with different men (outside of her husband). One of the first mentions of her is while Candy is talking to George and Lennie. He says, “Well - she got the eye. [...] I seen her give Slim the eye.
Another character in Of Mice and Men who has a lower hierarchy in the ranch is Curley’s wife. Steinbeck exemplifies that she is devalued because of the fact that she is woman. Woman had less rights at the time along with coloured people, but women’s rules weren’t as restricted. “Ever’body out doin’ som’pin’. Ever’body!
Curley’s wife would not be a pleasant character in many ways. As a wife of manager’s son, she was described as a charming and flirty woman and treated others with scorn. However, her appearances later had shown actually she was just an immature, innocent and lonely woman who missed her chance to be a successful movie star in Hollywood and compelled to marry Curley. “If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet” (Steinbeck 84) Accordingly, she felt unfair for her life and doesn’t want to get stuck on the ranch
In the book Of MIce and Men, Steinbeck creates the character “Curley’s wife” to be a victim of loneliness. The author made this character the way that she is to show that there is loneliness happening in the Great Depression time period. Steinbeck also incorporated the theme loneliness and showed it a lot through Curley’s wife to show that George and Lennie’s friendship is very important. The other characters in the book Of Mice and Men do not have a friendship like that let alone Curley’s wife. Some of Curley’s wife's actions can now be better understood knowing that she is lonely and that Curley is not nice to her.
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.
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.
