OF MICE AND MEN ESSAY
In the book Of Mice and Men the author John Steinbeck presents Curley’s Wife dramatically different to his other characters. Throughout the story she remains nameless, only known as “Curley’s Wife” and yet she is constantly mentioned around the ranch. She wanders around gaining many different reactions such as ‘she’s a married tart’. The fact that Steinbeck has not given her a real name just Curley’s Wife presents her as being a possession to Curley and is nothing more. By presenting the reader with only one female character Steinbeck is suggesting that there is no real place for women on the ranch and their role in society is made clear.
Curley’s Wife is introduced not by her appearance but in conversation between George and Candy. She is the only character Steinbeck introduces in the way of being spoken of and described in detail, before being met by George and Lennie. In chapter 2 Candy begins to describe Curley’s relationship with his wife. “Married two weeks and got the eye? Maybe that’s why Curley’s pants are full of ants.” Steinbeck tells the reader here that the couple doesn’t have a strong relationship at all and suggests that Curley’s Wife has become bored with her new husband and she has turned to the ranch hands. Doing this to, perhaps, make Curley jealous. The relationship between Curley and his wife is expected, by the reader, to be a close affectionate one. However, Steinbeck presents the relationship in a completely different way and makes the reader feel slightly hostile towards the wife of Curley. Curley’s wife is a good-looking lady who wears quite a bit of makeup, form-fitting dresses, and ostrich feathered high-heels. As the only woman on the ranch Curley’s wife is rather lonely and sad – something the marriage of Curley and herself makes a lot worse. When Curley’s wife says “an likin’ it because they ain’t nobody else” the reader understands how lonely she is.
Throughout the book Steinbeck revels to the reader that Curley’s wife also had a
Curley’s Wife is introduced not by her appearance but in conversation between George and Candy. She is the only character Steinbeck introduces in the way of being spoken of and described in detail, before being met by George and Lennie. In chapter 2 Candy begins to describe Curley’s relationship with his wife. “Married two weeks and got the eye? Maybe that’s why Curley’s pants are full of ants.” Steinbeck tells the reader here that the couple doesn’t have a strong relationship at all and suggests that Curley’s Wife has become bored with her new husband and she has turned to the ranch hands. Doing this to, perhaps, make Curley jealous. The relationship between Curley and his wife is expected, by the reader, to be a close affectionate one. However, Steinbeck presents the relationship in a completely different way and makes the reader feel slightly hostile towards the wife of Curley. Curley’s wife is a good-looking lady who wears quite a bit of makeup, form-fitting dresses, and ostrich feathered high-heels. As the only woman on the ranch Curley’s wife is rather lonely and sad – something the marriage of Curley and herself makes a lot worse. When Curley’s wife says “an likin’ it because they ain’t nobody else” the reader understands how lonely she is.
Throughout the book Steinbeck revels to the reader that Curley’s wife also had a