Curley's Wife in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

Curley's Wife in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

‘Of Mice and Men’ was originally a novel by John Steinback which was

written in 1937. It was also made into a film in 1939, and then later

in 1992. It is a tale of the friendship between two men, George and

Lennie, who have travelled to work on a ranch together and how their

friendship is put to the test. Curley’s wife is important to the story

because the tragedy is built up around her, and she is the one who

destroys George and Lennie’s friendship. In the films, if not in the

book, I think she’s one of the most important characters.

In both films an extra scene has been added by the director to give

you a clearer picture than the book provides, of her point of view and

how she acts around men, and she is portrayed differently in both.

In the 1939 film, the extra scene is set in the barn, with Curley’s

wife (May) playing with a puppy. Curley and his father are outside

talking about her. Curley is saying how he doesn’t trust her, but his

father is defending her, saying Curley should ‘Let her alone for a

minute’ and she over-hears them. In this scene the picture is framed

so we watch her listening to the others, and the camera angle stays

the same throughout the scene. The scene also doesn’t use sound

effects, although the puppy is used as a prop to show that she has

affection to give.

In the 1992 film, the extra scene is with Curley’s wife and George in

the barn. George is tending to a mule with a hurt foot, and Curley’s

wife comes in because she says she’s lonely and wants someone to talk

to. But she sits down, lifts up her dress and starts showing off her

legs. She strokes the sack she’s sitting on, inviting him to sit down

as well and talk to her. She says “nobody here but you and me”,

implying anything could happen and no-one would ever have to know,