Embedded Files
John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men takes place during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. Two migrant workers, George and Lennie, find work on a ranch where they meet their boss’s son, Curley, and his wife. Throughout the novel, Curley’s Wife is portrayed as a victim. She is constantly disrespected by the men in the bunkhouse, which makes her feel lonely because she has no one to talk to. Additionally, Curley’s Wife had to give up her dreams of Hollywood and is now trapped in a broken marriage where her husband does not respect her, as seen by the fact that he goes out to be with other women. By portraying Curley’s Wife as a victim, Steinbeck shows the reader that when people lose their freedoms or individuality they can become dehumanized and will prey on weaker members of society, such as women, to feel as if they retain some power.
John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men takes place during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. Two migrant workers, George and Lennie, find work on a ranch where they meet their boss’s son, Curley, and his wife. Throughout the novel, Curley’s Wife is portrayed as a victim. She is constantly disrespected by the men in the bunkhouse, which makes her feel lonely because she has no one to talk to. Additionally, Curley’s Wife had to give up her dreams of Hollywood and is now trapped in a broken marriage where her husband does not respect her, as seen by the fact that he goes out to be with other women. By portraying Curley’s Wife as a victim, Steinbeck shows the reader that when people lose their freedoms or individuality they can become dehumanized and will prey on weaker members of society, such as women, to feel as if they retain some power.
In the novel Of Mice and Men, Curley’s Wife is portrayed as a victim because she is constantly disrespected by the men in the bunkhouse. When George and Lennie first see her in the bunkhouse, George is immediately disdainful of Curley’s Wife. “George looked around at Lennie. ‘Jesus, what a tramp,’ he said. ‘So that’s what Curley picks for a wife’” (Steinbeck 32). George’s first reaction Curley’s Wife is to degrade her. Her relationships with the other men in the bunkhouse are also very turbulent because she is often looked down upon and dismissed quickly. She is not even given a name in the novel, only referred to as “Curley’s Wife.” She has no relationships with other women because she is the only woman on the ranch, so she tries to befriend the men. Even Slim, who is an authority figure on the ranch, completely disregards her. When Curley’s wife attempts to have a conversation with him, Slim is uninterested, “‘I’m tryin’ to find Curley, Slim.’ ‘Well, you ain’t tryin’ very hard. I seen him goin’ in your house.’ She was suddenly apprehensive. ‘Bye, boys’” (Steinbeck 16). Slim, the most respected man on the ranch, completely brushes Curley’s Wife off when she attempts a conversation. Even though she tries to befriend the men in the bunkhouse in order to stop her ongoing loneliness, they continue to look down upon her and call her inappropriate names. Steinbeck portrays Curley’s Wife as a victim because she is just a lonely, frustrated woman who craves respect and attention that she will never receive.
In the novel Of Mice and Men, Curley’s Wife is portrayed as a victim because she is constantly disrespected by the men in the bunkhouse. When George and Lennie first see her in the bunkhouse, George is immediately disdainful of Curley’s Wife. “George looked around at Lennie. ‘Jesus, what a tramp,’ he said. ‘So that’s what Curley picks for a wife’” (Steinbeck 32). George’s first reaction Curley’s Wife is to degrade her. Her relationships with the other men in the bunkhouse are also very turbulent because she is often looked down upon and dismissed quickly. She is not even given a name in the novel, only referred to as “Curley’s Wife.” She has no relationships with other women because she is the only woman on the ranch, so she tries to befriend the men. Even Slim, who is an authority figure on the ranch, completely disregards her. When Curley’s wife attempts to have a conversation with him, Slim is uninterested, “‘I’m tryin’ to find Curley, Slim.’ ‘Well, you ain’t tryin’ very hard. I seen him goin’ in your house.’ She was suddenly apprehensive. ‘Bye, boys’” (Steinbeck 16). Slim, the most respected man on the ranch, completely brushes Curley’s Wife off when she attempts a conversation. Even though she tries to befriend the men in the bunkhouse in order to stop her ongoing loneliness, they continue to look down upon her and call her inappropriate names. Steinbeck portrays Curley’s Wife as a victim because she is just a lonely, frustrated woman who craves respect and attention that she will never receive.
Furthermore, Curley’s Wife is a victim because she is trapped in an unhappy marriage. Her husband Curley does not attempt to make her happy and instead goes out on the town to see other women. Curley’s Wife is usually left at home with the “othered” men in the bunkhouse, including Candy who is handicapped, Lennie who is mentally challenged, and Crooks who is African American.
Furthermore, Curley’s Wife is a victim because she is trapped in an unhappy marriage. Her husband Curley does not attempt to make her happy and instead goes out on the town to see other women. Curley’s Wife is usually left at home with the “othered” men in the bunkhouse, including Candy who is handicapped, Lennie who is mentally challenged, and Crooks who is African American.
“‘They left all the weak ones here,’ she said finally. ‘Think I don’t know where they all went? Even Curley. I know where they all went… ‘Sure I gotta husban’. You all seen him. Swell guy, ain’t he? Spends all his time sayin’ what he’s gonna do to guy she don’t like, and he don’t like nobody”’ (Steinbeck 38).
“‘They left all the weak ones here,’ she said finally. ‘Think I don’t know where they all went? Even Curley. I know where they all went… ‘Sure I gotta husban’. You all seen him. Swell guy, ain’t he? Spends all his time sayin’ what he’s gonna do to guy she don’t like, and he don’t like nobody”’ (Steinbeck 38).
The hurt and bitterness are clear in Curley’s Wife’s language from the way Steinbeck portrays her dialogue in this quote. She knows where her husband goes at night and the company he keeps. Her relationship with Curley demonstrates to the readers how unhappy she is living with a man who neglects her. Additionally, some of the men who degrade Curley’s wife are not the most respected themselves, due to their age, mental abilities, and race. In Steinbeck’s portrayal of the Dust Bowl era, many men have lost respect for themselves due to their inability to provide basic necessities for their families. As a result, these men have to resort to working for other bosses rather than themselves. Their inability to make choices for themselves has robbed them of their humanity; the men, in turn, dehumanize women such as Curley’s Wife by degrading her and leaving her behind to fend for herself. As a result, Curley’s Wife is even more isolated and alone, contributing to her role as a victim in Of Mice and Men.
The hurt and bitterness are clear in Curley’s Wife’s language from the way Steinbeck portrays her dialogue in this quote. She knows where her husband goes at night and the company he keeps. Her relationship with Curley demonstrates to the readers how unhappy she is living with a man who neglects her. Additionally, some of the men who degrade Curley’s wife are not the most respected themselves, due to their age, mental abilities, and race. In Steinbeck’s portrayal of the Dust Bowl era, many men have lost respect for themselves due to their inability to provide basic necessities for their families. As a result, these men have to resort to working for other bosses rather than themselves. Their inability to make choices for themselves has robbed them of their humanity; the men, in turn, dehumanize women such as Curley’s Wife by degrading her and leaving her behind to fend for herself. As a result, Curley’s Wife is even more isolated and alone, contributing to her role as a victim in Of Mice and Men.
Curley’s Wife is a victim because she had to give up on her dreams because her mother forbade her. When she talks to Lennie in the barn, she tells him that she wishes she could have followed her dream to become famous. As she explains, “‘Seems like they ain't none of them cares how I gotta live. I tell you I ain’t used to livin’ like this. I coulda made somethin’ of myself.’ She said darkly, ‘Maybe I will yet’” (Steinbeck 88). Steinbeck has written her dialogue in a way that demonstrates Curley’s Wife’s frustration, which stems from her belief that she could have been famous but is instead stuck on a ranch, married to a coward of a man, and spends each day in loneliness. In Steinbeck’s portrayal of the scene, the reader can clearly see the way she mourns her life and that the high expectations she once held have come crashing down. Her only source of optimism was the hope that she would one day go to Hollywood, but ultimately that was taken away by her mother. Her hostility to the workers on the farm stems from her frustration with her life. Curley’s Wife is a victim because she was forced to give up her dreams and marry a man she dislikes, only to spend the rest of her days with no purpose.
Curley’s Wife is a victim because she had to give up on her dreams because her mother forbade her. When she talks to Lennie in the barn, she tells him that she wishes she could have followed her dream to become famous. As she explains, “‘Seems like they ain't none of them cares how I gotta live. I tell you I ain’t used to livin’ like this. I coulda made somethin’ of myself.’ She said darkly, ‘Maybe I will yet’” (Steinbeck 88). Steinbeck has written her dialogue in a way that demonstrates Curley’s Wife’s frustration, which stems from her belief that she could have been famous but is instead stuck on a ranch, married to a coward of a man, and spends each day in loneliness. In Steinbeck’s portrayal of the scene, the reader can clearly see the way she mourns her life and that the high expectations she once held have come crashing down. Her only source of optimism was the hope that she would one day go to Hollywood, but ultimately that was taken away by her mother. Her hostility to the workers on the farm stems from her frustration with her life. Curley’s Wife is a victim because she was forced to give up her dreams and marry a man she dislikes, only to spend the rest of her days with no purpose.
In John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, Curley’s Wife is a victim. She is constantly disrespected, part of an unhappy marriage, and is forced to give up her dreams. Throughout the story, she is portrayed as a tart or hostile, however, this is only due to her built-up frustration and the complete lack of happiness in her life. Steinbeck shows the reader that Curley’s Wife is a victim by portraying the disastrous and degrading relationships she has with men, the nonexistent relationships she has with women, and the lonely life she leads. The men in the story, because they have lost their own freedom and individuality, degrade and dehumanize her, which is why Curley’s Wife is a victim in Of Mice and Men.
In John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, Curley’s Wife is a victim. She is constantly disrespected, part of an unhappy marriage, and is forced to give up her dreams. Throughout the story, she is portrayed as a tart or hostile, however, this is only due to her built-up frustration and the complete lack of happiness in her life. Steinbeck shows the reader that Curley’s Wife is a victim by portraying the disastrous and degrading relationships she has with men, the nonexistent relationships she has with women, and the lonely life she leads. The men in the story, because they have lost their own freedom and individuality, degrade and dehumanize her, which is why Curley’s Wife is a victim in Of Mice and Men.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse