Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Isolation Analysis

John Steinbeck was an American author and communist, alive in the 1900’s. He wrote many books, most set in the Salinas River Valley, California, where he grew up. The same applies to Of Mice and Men. Of Mice and Men is set during the Great Depression, occurring from 1929 to 1939. During this time the stock market crashed and money lost its value, leading many to be migrant farmers. These men who are migrant farmers tend to be the focus of Steinbeck’s novels. John Steinbeck uses Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife to depict the barriers and isolation that exist due to American society. First, Steinbeck uses the character of Candy to depict the isolation of the disabled. Of Mice and Men follows the tale of George and Lennie, two migrant workers

Curley’s wife is the only woman on the ranch. She is very pretty, wears short dresses, and likes to watch the men on the ranch. She often times flirts and tries to talk to the men. During the conversation between Lennie, Crooks, and Candy when George left to go into town with the rest of the men, Curley’s wife shows up and notices that there were only three men left on the ranch. Candy tells her that she shouldn’t be talking to them. Curley’s wife says, “funny thing… if I catch any one man , and he’s alone, I get along fine with him. But just let two of the guys get together an’ you won’t talk … you’re all scared of each other, that’s what … you’s scared the rest is goin’ to get something on you all” (Steinbeck 77). This depicts that the men try to avoid her, especially when they are around each other because they do not want to get in trouble with Curley. When the men look at her, they see her as a way to have sex, not as a normal human being. This depicts the fact that in American society, women tend to be looked at just for their looks, not for their personality. Later on, Lennie is in the barn, petting a puppy that he accidently killed while the other men play horseshoes outside, unaware of the puppy. Curley’s wife comes into the barn in hopes to find someone to talk to someone. When she finds Lennie, he tells her that he is not allowed to talk to her. Curley's wife says, “what kind of harm am I doin’ to you? Seems like ain’t none of them cares how I live. I tell you I ain’t used to livin’ like this. I coulda made somethin of myself… I don't like Curley” (Steinbeck 88-89). This depicts the fact that she feels left out. She does not enjoy the life she is living with Curley because she is treated as properly, not as a human beings. This is one of the reasons why we never learn what her actual name is. Curley’s wife is stuck living in the farmhouse and staying in the house