Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Essay

Of Mice and Men

In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men that was written in 1937; the character of Curley’s wife is portrayed in an unusual way as it makes the reader question her innocence. Her hasty marriage to Curley proves to be a failed attempt to escape from her spiral of loneliness. Curley doesn’t satisfy her so she finds solace in other men even the three at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Because of the circumstances of her own isolation she can’t escape from the sexual image that other men on the ranch have of her. She therefore uses this as a means of getting noticed by other men.
The character of Curley’s wife is first introduced by Candy, The swamper who shares his opinion on her to George and Lennie when they first arrive at

the ranch. Candy says “she got the eye” and then goes on to describe how she is on the ranch and eventually remarks that she is a “tart”. Through Candy’s attitude of her you learn that this opinion is a strong one as he has lived on the ranch the longest and has seen her on a day to day basis so therefore you get an instant judgment of Curley’s Wife. Because of candy’s opinion of Curley’s wife it has an influence on George and Lennie as they now have a prejudiced view of her even though they haven’t met her yet. She is portrayed as both; victim and villain. She is portrayed as a villain in this because of candy’s impressions of her and that she can cause trouble with her “eye” as she may flirt with someone and land them into a trap and result in them getting canned. The reader also thinks she is a victim as George and Lennie have not yet met her and they have a bad impression of her and that she is getting victimized, this makes the reader feel sympathetic for her.
The colour red is a colour often used for Curley’s Wife; from this we get the impression that she is trying to show off and impress other men “her fingernails were red”. Colour imagery purposely with Curley’s Wife to give the reader a better understanding of her. The quote portrays an image of her in the reader’s mind that she is trying to make herself look seductive so it brings attention to her. The colour “red” is a colour mainly associated with evil this may suggest that Curley’s Wife is a danger to other men on the ranch. The colour “red” is also used for upcoming danger, this foreshadows that something bad is going to happen in the novel. This makes the reader think that she is a villain as Steinbeck intentionally associates Curley’s Wife with red so therefore it gives the reader a bad impression of her as red is a colour mainly used for evil.
Steinbeck shows in the novel that Curley’s wife has two sides to her; a good side and a bad side. This is shown in chapter 2 “the rectangle of sunshine in the door way was cut off”. In this quote imagery has been used to create an effect on the reader. The quote creates an image in the readers mind that “the rectangle of sunshine” suggests a good side to Curley’s Wife as sunshine represents happiness. However the phrase “was cut off” suggest that she has a bad side to her as darkness represents evil. The quote also suggests that good and bad things have happened to her in the past or good and bad thing may happen to her in the upcoming future. The quote has an effect on the reader as it makes them wonder whether she is a victim or a villain.
In the novel Steinbeck has shown that Curley’s Wife is always trying to find Curley.

He has shown this in chapter two by “I am trying to find Curley, Slim”. The quote suggests that Curley’s Wife is constantly feeling lonely and therefore is trying to find Curley so he can keep her company. You also get the impression that she may be using this as an excuse to talk to other men on the ranch. The quote uses emotive language to leaves the reader in having mixed emotions towards her. It makes the reader question whether she is actually lonely and as a result of this it makes the reader feel sympathetic for her and they get the idea that she is a victim however she may not be lonely at all and may just be attention seeking so they get the idea that she is a villain.
In conclusion to chapter two, I believe that Curley's Wife is more of a villain than a victim as the way she presents herself to George and Lennie and Candy’s description of her as it portray her in a negative way. Another reason why I believe that she is a villain because of her fondness of the colour red as it makes her seem evil and a danger to

all.
In the novel; Curley’s wife shows anger to Candy, Crooks and Lennie as they refuse to talk to her as all the other men have left for town. Steinbeck has shown this in chapter four when Curley’s wife exclaims “a nigger an’ a dum dum and a lousy old sheep.” From this quote you can deduce that she is feeling lonely and upset as Curley has left her so he can go to the brothel. Curley’s wife’s use of offensive language to the three suggests that she may not like them or may think that she was more superior to them. In 1930’s America; women at the time weren't given much rights except over black people however in the ranch Curley’s wife is given more right than candy and Lennie also as candy is old and weak and Lennie is mentally unstable. This unlawful abuse of power present her as a villain as it makes the reader question her innocence of being lonely however some may think otherwise.
In chapter 4 Curley’s wife makes a derogatory statement that has an effect on the three at the bottom of the social hierarchy.

Steinbeck shows this when she remarks that “they left all the weak one behind”. The use of negative language in the quote just goes to show how Curley’s Wife can be quite intimidating at times; this plays with the readers mind giving them mixed feelings as it may be a result of her loneliness or her negative attitude. This quote also suggests that she is trying to make them feel ashamed of themselves or may prompt a sense of anger within them toward the other men. The phrase “weak ones” have a big impact on them three as they might think that because of them below the rest of them they were left in the ranch and that they don't deserve a good time. This quote shows the reader that Curley’s wife is being rude to them in a very cunning way as it may have made them feel left out therefore she is a

villain.
In the novel “of mice and men” set in 1930s America; women weren’t given as much rights than men as they were expected to be housewife’s and there to look after the children however they did have more rights than black people. “Listen nigger you know what I could do to you if you open your trap” her constant use of negative language towards crooks shows how she use