Why Is Curley's Wife Weak

How would you feel if you were mistreated because you were weak? Often, the more powerful disfavor women, people of different skin colors, and elderly people. In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck shows a part of American society in which the superior discriminate the weak.

In Of Mice and Men, all the men on the ranch treat Curley’s wife with no respect and talk about her like if she were an object. Curley’s wife is the only woman on the ranch, so she is forced to make male friends. When Curley’s wife first appears next to the bunkhouse door, George immediately said that she is a tart; which means that she intentionally wears the type of clothes and make-up that attract sexual attention too obviously. George made this comment, because he knew that even if she would find out about it, she wouldn’t do anything because she is just a woman. Not only is Curley’s wife

mistreated, but she is also separated from everyone on the ranch. Curley does not want anyone talking to her, because he believes that she is his own property, and he is the only one allowed to do so. Curley also tells her that she is forbidden to leave the house without his permission, and he gets furious when his wife goes out the house without him knowing.

The people on the ranch also discriminate Crooks.

Crooks is the only black man on the farm and is named so, because of his crooked back. Crooks’s dark skin insures he does not have the same privileges as the rest of the men on the ranch. Crooks is not allowed to enter the bunkhouse with all the white ranchers so instead he has to sleep in the barn with all the animals. Similarly to Curley’s wife, Crooks is also not allowed to participate in any games with the other ranch workers. This probably makes Crooks feel ashamed of himself, however he can’t quit his job because he needs the money to survive. This is another example of when weak people are treated unfairly by the more important. Even though Curley’s wife is mistreated herself, she knows she is superior to Crooks, so whenever she gets the opportunity to, she also threatens to fire him. Throughout the story, Curley’s wife is sad because she is abused by the men on the farm, however when she gets the chance to, she does the same thing. This situation proves, that as soon as someone has a little bit more power, they are going to use it against the

weak.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a voice for social commentary because it includes serious issues that are present in the world today. People that have a higher status than others treat the less privileged with little respect because they know they can without consequence. Of Mice and Men portrays racism and sexism realistically because in today’s world, people with different skin color, and woman are still treated unequally by men in power. Discrimination is still a very important issue in the world today and this book shows that the treatment of people based on their skin color and gender is unfair.