Of Mice And Men Attitudes Towards Curley's Wife

Steinbeck presents strong feelings and attitudes towards Curley’s wife in many different ways. Curley’s wife is often shown through other people’s opinion of her and as a result she is often judged before she has had the chance to meet other people properly.

Two characters from the novel, George and Lennie’s, had an earlier job in Weed they had to leave because Lennie was stroking a girl’s dress but the girl became frightened George and Lennie ran away this could be one of the reason why George is so cautious about Curley’s wife, as he is afraid she will bring Lennie the same problems as the woman in Weed. Curley’s wife is pre-judged by George because of previous experiences but also because of the way she is viewed by others men on the ranch.

When they first arrive Candy shows the men around the ranch and proves that he is not to be trusted “a small yellow can.” George sees by the bed that “positively kills lice, roaches and other scourges.” He then continues to tell a story about Whitey and his cleanliness that seems to be untrue. Steinbeck may want a person to believe that Candy is an untrustworthy throughout the novel and that his opinion should not be taken as important.
When Candy first tells George and Lennie about Curley’s wife, he feels he can warn them about her because he believes they will trust what he says. However, the reader knows he may not be telling the truth because of the conversation earlier. Candy tells the pair “Well I think Curley’s married…. a tart.” In particular, the word “tart” indicates to the reader that Curley’s wife is a flirt; she does not seem happy with one man and she is not acting the way a woman should be in woman during this time would be expected to remain America during the 1930s. Moreover, she seems to try her best to attract male attention. However, this may also suggest that Curley’s wife is lonely and is in need to contact with other people we see she doesn’t get any attention that she wants from her partner. George and Lennie appear to have different views toward Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife has no opportunity to defend herself from what Candy says so George has already judged her. She could be dangerous for Lennie because of what happened earlier at Weed.
Curley’s wife, the only woman on the ranch and we see how she suffers isolation from other characters the separation she feels this maybe a reason why she is so desperate for attention. When Steinbeck first introduces Curley’s wife he shows that she is a self-confident character. In specific the word “red” suggests that she may be unsafe, insecure and pose a danger to others. Moreover, it submits that she wants attention from males. Steinbeck does this to make the reader not feel sympathy or kindness for her. The attitude towards Curley’s wife is that she is undesirable. Steinbeck establishes this to the reader through the quote “Jesus, what a tramp” the word “tramp” may suggest she behaves in a way that is seen as inappropriate by other men. It appears some of the men feel she could cause problems for them and that may be promiscuous.
When George and Lennie first see her, “Both men glanced up, for the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off” The metaphor suggests that Curley’s wife blocked off the light its suggest to the reader she is dangerous to others as it shows men stop and notice her she seems like a dark cloud that could bring trouble and could stop all the happiness. The word “sunshine” suggests to the reader their ambitions will come true but the word “cut off” reveals to the reader that everything will be finish it will break their dreams they won’t be able to do also it show all their hopes will be destroyed. The fact Curley’s wife is the person who breaks the light foreshadows future events in the novel. Moreover pathetic fallacy implies she is bringing something negative to the scene- warning- she brings darkness.
Slim’s expressions are slightly more optimistic towards Curley’s wife over the way he speaks to her.

He says “Hi good looking” because he is not afraid of Curley. He shows her respect but still talks about the way she looks. He seems to be look concerned through Curley’s wife because of her expressions and words.

When Candy encounters Curley’s wife his attitude toward her is unwanted. Candy says “Curley’s ain’t been here” he said sourly and sharply. “Candy has a dismissive tone towards her and makes her feel like she does not belong with the men if her husband is not here. Language from the text suggests he doesn’t like her; he wants Curley’s wife to go away from him because in his opinion she could cause suffering and pain for him and the other men on the ranch.”

She is pretty and flirtatious, but according to some people, nothing but trouble Curley’s wife is only known through the name of her husband she is not given a name yet every person in the novel is named, even unimportant characters such as Whit we see she likes to flirt with other men, other than her husband When she dies, no-one mourns her; no one feels regret or sadness about at her death because everybody dislikes her so much. This creates sympathy for her as she is no longer seeking attention because she is

dead.
We never know her name because she is Curley’s “property” with no individual identity.

Slim’s dog is given a name “Lulu” but she isn’t. This shows her status and lack of importance to other characters in the novel. Candy’s dog has no name and is killed this might link her death at the end?

The reader sees that Curley’s wife goes into crook’s room when he is there with Lennie. Curley’s wife is racist. A white woman should have never been in a room with a black man because in the 1930s, many Americans believed that black people were inferior we see crook stand up for himself at first and says “we don’t want to trouble.”

Candy’s attitudes toward Curley’s wife in this part is negative because he thinks she is dangerous, a trouble maker, and could cause many problems for him. She makes candy angry. “Candy’s face had grown redder and redder.” The words “redder and redder” suggest this to the reader that Curley’s wife is making him frustrated and irritated. The longer she is there, the more she is making him cross. Candy is never mean to anyone but that shows how much he hates her. He knows Curley’s wife is terrible and she tries to get everyone in trouble this is seen further on when Candy call her a

“bitch.”
Another example shows how the reader feels about her “you ain’t wanted here.” This shows He doesn’t like. His attitude toward her is negative. Candy wants Curley’s wife to leave because he knows how harmful she is and tries to get everyone in trouble. In particular the words “you ain’t wanted” tells the reader how much he hates her. Curley’s wife is the only person that candy doesn’t like in the play as we do see throughout the play that she makes him so angry and possibly he has to control his emotion.
Crooks style toward Curley’s wife is different because quotation from the text shows the reader how he feels about her “We don’t want any trouble.” The word “trouble” suggests he wants to ignore her, he’s trying to stay away from her, and that shows he had enough from her. Crooks know that Curley’s wife can cause difficulties for him.
The quote “Crooks stood up from his bunk and faced get I had enough he said coldly” tells the reader that Crook had enough and he is independent to stand up to Curley’s wife also it shows his emotion toward her. His emotion shows is frustrated, he is fed up of her, and he that show he has no feeling for her. The words “I had enough he said coldly” displays in this part Crooks attitude toward her is bad. The word “enough” suggest that he doesn’t want to keep his mouth shut but he has to because he knew if he would speak up then he will be in risk, danger and that shows he need to stay away from her, he wants to stand up against her in this part. That shows Crooks an attitude toward Curley’s wife is negative. “Crooks started hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself”. This submits to the reader that crook is unaccompanied. Curley’s wife is using her control over him because of his skin colour. Crooks know if he speaks no matter what he could be in trouble and could lose his job. She has made Crook feel fearful and frightened.
Lennie’s attitude towards Curley’s wife is different when he is on his own. Lennie is petrified of her at first because he is worried she will get him into trouble for murdering the puppy. “In a panic he shovelled hay over the puppy with his figure”. The word “panic” suggest to the person who reads that when Curley’s wife appears and looks and talk with Lennie, that shows to the reader that something tragic is about to happened.
Afterward Curley’s wife first speaks to Lennie, he still feels pretty insecure. Text from the book shows “Lennie glared at her” suggest that he is looking at her angrily, he doesn’t want to speak to her, Lennie think if George find out that he has spoken to curley’s wife then he won’t let him tend the rabbits. The word “glared” gives the impression that he is giving her hard, angry look. He still thinks she will get him into suffering and could make George go furious at him.
Lennie changes towards her when she starts to talk to him about how she feels she says “I get lonely”, “you can talk to people but I can’t talk to anybody but Curley. The word “lonely” suggest to the reader that Curley’s wife is own her own, anybody talks to her, she has no one to talk to or no one to share her feeling with also its shows the reader that He is unhappy and unwanted only because she is not with other people.
The quotation “Lennie began to cry with the fright” shows to the reader that Lennie is nervous, worried and worried. The word “cry” shows lennie is disappointed what he has done and feel regretful of what he did with Curley wife. He is worried that he shouldn’t have done what he has done because in further this will cause many difficulties for him. The word “fright” recommends to the reader that he is petrified because he will be in trouble for killing Curley’s wife then “Lennie grew angry” which tells the reader that Lennie is worried entirely about that George won’t let him tend no rabbits. Lennie was treating her as an animal this is not important because he acts like an animal his self.
The quotation “The discontent and ache for the attention were all gone from her face” shows to the reader that all unhappiness and meanness is gone from her face the word “discontent” suggest to the reader that all displeasure is gone. Also, the word “aches for attention” shows the reader that she was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. She wanted to attract men but she couldn’t because everyone hated her because the way she used to act. The word “all gone” everything was finish; nothing was left to argue about. We see she is alone in death as she was in life. We see through the novel how close lenine and George was but when lennie is dead we realise George sounds like a defeated man who think there is no reason to keep trying now because Lennie is gone and his dreams was to be successful and to live that American dream that they both planned together but he doesn't see the point of it any more due to the fact he is alone.