Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Language Analysis

"Jesus, what a tramp!" George of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men exclaims after meeting Curley's wife (Steinbeck 32). Steinbeck’s humor is distinct in the famous novel, but does the text have a deeper meaning? As a female, it is unfathomable to comprehend such acrimony towards women. Yet while reading this world-renowned text, I became infuriated with every word typed. John Steinbeck’s 1937 novel “Of Mice and Men” clearly shows an utter disregard for women through the use of derogatory language, objectification, and stereotyping.

Undoubtedly, the men’s first impression of Curley’s Wife was negative. The minute the only female character was introduced, hateful and derogatory language harshly rolls off of the men’s tongues. “Don’t even take a look at that bitch. I don’t care what she says and what she does.” George says when Lennie claims how ‘purdy’ she is (Steinbeck 32). Although Lennie tries to reassure George that he ‘meant no harm’ looking at her, George responds saying

“Well, you keep away from her, ‘cause she’s a rat trap if I ever seen one.” (Steinbeck 32). Even when she is killed Candy spits at her, "You god damn tramp… You wasn’t no good. You aint no good now, you lousy tart.” (Steinbeck 95). Steinbeck’s use of name-calling and derogatory language proves the hate towards innocent women.
Furthermore, Steinbeck’s objectification of women is clear.

For instance, in the first few pages of the story we learn about Lennie’s love for soft things and his terrible luck with keeping anything fragile alive. “I wasn’t doin’ nothing bad with it, George. Jus’ strokin’ it.” Lennie explains as he hands over the dead mouse into George’s outstretched hand. (Steinbeck 9). “You broke it pettin’ it.” George observes, proving that Lennie’s innocent petting crushed the life out of the small fragile mouse (Steinbeck 9). Assuredly, this is the same way Curley’s Wife was killed. This objectifies women like a mouse, weak and fragile. As if that wasn’t enough, women are not only compared to weak animals, but also treated like them. Just as owners care for their pets, Curley is constantly criticized for not “looking after his god damn wife.” (Steinbeck 62), as if women were something men have to constantly look after and keep locked away. The objectification of women is clearly shown and is

disgusting.
Finally, Steinbeck repeatedly depicts women as troublemakers who bring hell to men, creating a false stereotype. “I seen ‘em poison before, but I never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her.” George threatens Lennie (Steinbeck 32). Calling women “jail bait” signifies that they will get you in trouble if you associate yourself with them. But the troublemaking stereotype doesn’t stop there. “You let her hang around the bunkhouses and pretty soon you’re gonna have som’pin on your hands and you won’t be able to do nothing about it.” Carlson warns Curley (Steinbeck 62). Not only does Curley’s wife supposedly threaten trouble for Curley, but the ‘trouble’ is believed to be so terrible that not even Curley can fix it. Even Lennie, the sweet, loving, harmless man is afraid of her causing trouble, “Well, I ain’t supposed to talk to you or nothing.” (86). This is degrading to women who are constantly thought of as troublemakers and teaches the reader that women are no good.
In final analysis, Steinbeck’s hateful name calling, objectification, and stereotyping are vivid throughout the opinionated novel “Of Mice and Men”. The prejudice views on women are disgusting and stand as a permanent reminder of how women were treated during the 1930’s by men similar to Lenny and George. The text proves not to be comical, but to be hateful.