Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Analysis

Back in the 1900s women were treated unfairly in relationships, reflecting ideas about gender inequality that kept them in less powerful positions, unlike men. This is demonstrated through the novella, ‘Of Mice And Men’ which is a text written by John Steinbeck, who was born in 1902 in Salinas, California. Steinbeck wrote this novella during the Great Depression in 1937. The character, Curley’s wife, personifies the experience of loneliness, showing us how societal expectations and gender roles can isolate individuals, disregarding time and place. Through the use of colloquialism, emotive language, repetitive language, informal language, expressive language and euphemism, Steinbeck has shown us the feeling of loneliness through gender inequalities.

Lennie follows George’s orders and refuses to talk to Curley’s wife. Then Curley’s wife says, ““I get lonely. “You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to anybody but Curley”. “I get lonely” is small yet has significant meaning. By using the word lonely it shows her isolation, which indicates the use of emotive language. She also mentions that “I can’t talk to anyone but Curley.” She tells Lennie that she doesn’t have anyone but Curley to talk to. This shows her need for meaningful relationships and her dependence on her husband for companionship. Another example would be when Curley’s wife enters the men’s bunk area and asks if they had seen Curley, Crooks tells Curley’s wife to go back to her house. Curley’s wife says, “well I ain’t giving you any trouble. Think I don’t like to talk to somebody every once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house Afla? time?” Curley's wife uses colloquial language to convey her loneliness. The phrase “ain’t” is a colloquial, decreased version of “am not” or “are not”. By using this colloquialism, it emphases her frustration and loneliness. This also expresses her desire for companionship and is annoyed that the reality of her life is at a ranch. Thus, the conventions of emotive language and colloquialism within the novella show how trapped Curley’s wife is in her relationship and represents women in the 1940-50s in

Curley’s wife has a conversation with Lennie, she talks about how she doesn’t appreciate her husband when she says, “I don’t like Curley, he ain’t a nice fella.” This allows Curley’s wife to express her dislike for her husband in a different manner. By saying this in a softer tone, she is attempting to avoid conflict. This can also indicate fear in her relationship. She openly acknowledges her feelings, which shows the use of euphemism. Repetitive language is used in the novella when Curley’s wife says, “I tell you, I ain’t used to living like this”. I coulda made somethin’ out of myself” “I ain’t used to living like this shows her dissatisfaction with her lifestyle. She highlights the contrasts between her exceptions to becoming an actor and reality, which is her marrying Curley and being put into a forced relationship with him. This tells the reader that she has a desire for a different