The Representation Of Women In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Curley’s wife is a representation of women in 1930’s America. Women were considered weak, useless and vulnerable - just like black, old or disabled people. We notice this when she walks in the harness room, where Crooks stayed due to discrimination against black people, asking where Curley is (whom we then find out, is a pathetic excuse to interact with the ranch workers). As she looks around, she noticed the boss ‘left all the weak ones’ there. Before she came, Candy and Lennie were explaining about their dream house to Candy. Suddenly ‘the sunshine in the doorway was cut off’ because ‘she stood still in the doorway’. Sunlight traditionally represents happiness and life- which she had now interrupted. This is foreshadowing that she might jeopardise