Curley's Wife Loneliness Essay

Loneliness causes people to become mean, and afraid of everyone else. During the Great Depression due to lack of money; people had to travel around, and that did not allow them to have friends or get treated as family members. During that time people were migrating constantly from one place to another. The Great Depression era was a time of discrimination because people were judged by their age and race. This is how it is for Curley's wife in the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck because her name is never revealed. She is always mentioned as Curley's wife. Curley's wife is the only woman on the ranch and she is being controlled by her husband, who does not allow her to speak to other men on the ranch. Curley's actions lead her to loneliness

and reveal that the characters don't care about each other. In the time of the Great Depression, the country lack friendship, many people were lonely and hopeless. Curley's wife symbolizes loneliness in the story Of Mice and Men because she had shortness of companion. All the men on the ranch try to avoid having any contact with her. They knew if they made any contact with Curley’s wife, they could go to jail. John Steinbeck in the story Of Mice and Men uses characterization, and symbolism to prove that loneliness and hopelessness can hold back someone from achieving their American Dream.
Steinbeck uses the characterization of Curley's wife to allude that she does not want to be alone.

She also doesn't want to be left behind by society. When Lennie is in the barn with the dead puppy Curley's wife is so desperate for companionship that she tries to talk to Lennie. But Lennie doesn't want to talk to her. Because George told him; she will get them in a mess. "Seems like they ain't none of them cares how I gotta live."(Steinbeck 88). Curley's wife feels so prohibited; that she does not know who she is anymore. She always stays in her small house thinking to herself, and not knowing what to do. She does not have anyone to listen to her feelings or dreams. She always gets ignored because everyone thinks; she will get them in trouble. Steinbeck uses characterization in the middle of chapter five to show how; Curley's wife is trying to get Lennie's attention. To show him that she is important and that she has a place in this world. Curley's wife said;" I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely," (Steinbeck 86). Curley's wife wants someone; to talk to about her American Dream, and about her unhappy marriage. Someone who will stand up for her when she needs it. However, Curley gets very jealous when she talks to other men on the ranch so all the workers avoid her. This shows that each character cares, more about themselves not getting in any trouble, than anyone

else.
Curley's wife loneliness characterizes her as a lonely woman and someone who gets ignored and not allowed to do anything because of her husband.
Steinbeck uses the symbolism of loneliness to reveal that although Curley's wife has some chances to achieve her American Dream but because of her loneliness she becomes hopeless.

Curley's wife tries to engage Lennie's attention toward herself by telling him about her American Dream and how she can't achieve it. " Coulda been in the movies, an' had nice clothes all them nice clothes like they wear," (Steinbeck 89). Curley's wife is so bored and lonely that she tries to get men’s attention, by doing that she pushes them further away. She is so lonely that she has given up on her dream of having a better life as a movie star and appears around men who would rather listen to her such as Lennie. She wants to feel like someone special. This loneliness prevents her from achieving her dream. Curley's wife has some hope and dream when she was younger and had her mom to talk to. She wasn't as lonely as she is today."He says; he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was natural," (Steinbeck 88). She has hopes and future ahead of herself. After she married Curley she became lonely, because her husband ignores her and who, that doesn't allow her to have communication with other men, or go anywhere that she wants to go. This lead her spending time alone with Lennie and spending time alone with Lennie causes her unbelievable death. Because of her loneliness she loses all the opportunity that will help her to achieve her dream of being a superstar one day. Curley's wife loneliness

symbolizes that loneliness leads someone to hopelessness. When someone is hopeless they will have no reason to be proud of who they are, and that holds them back from achieving their American Dream.
John Steinbeck in the story Of Mice and Men uses characterization, and symbolism to prove that loneliness and hopelessness can hold back someone from achieving their American Dream. Many people during the Great Depression had dreams of having lands, and Curley's wife’s dream was to become a movie star and wear nice clothes. Curley's wife had some hopes when she was younger and had her mom to help her achieve her dream. But when she married Curley she became lonely and desperate. While Curley's wife didn't have anyone to talk, to she went to the only person who she knew would listen to her; the mentally disabled man Lennie. People should surround themselves by society that they would be able to move forward with their life without facing any difficulties of loneliness.