Curley's Wife Power
“I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella… Coulda been in the movies.”(Steinbeck 89). The book Of Mice and Men, which is written by John Steinbeck, has its main focus on an all-male ranch with a lone female. Steinbeck’s portrayal of Curley’s wife is different from all the other characters which makes her unique. Curley’s wife has power, but can also be the subject of it. The impression of Curley’s wife definitely has an impact on the impression of women as well. Power comes in many forms. Curley’s wife exercised her power over the others in a very strong way. Since she was a woman, she knew she had power over those men at camp for that single reason. She had power over Crooks, because she was a white female. “Well, you keep your place then… I could get you strung up on a tree so easily it ain’t even funny.”(Steinbeck 81). The only …show more content…
Curley’s wife was subjected to the power of her husband. He was an overly jealous man who loved to be in control. “Curley maybe ain’t gonna like his wife out in the barn with us.”(Steinbeck 78). Curley tried to control her every move. Curley’s wife knew at time she was powerless. “They left all the weak ones here.”(Steinbeck 77). Curley’s wife is calling Crooks, Lennie, and Candy weak because they didn’t go off to the whorehouse with the other guys, but here she is. She is weak by default and all her pretty dresses does not make her powerful. Steinbeck created a certain image of women by portraying Curley’s wife as she is. The impression of women that was left was not too kind. “Well, I think Curley’s married… a tart… He ain’t the first… there’s plenty done that.”(Steinbeck 28). This quote speaks to me as if women are seen as unloyal. The whorehouses in this novel did not help bring up their image. “You give me a good whorehouse every time… A guy can go in an’ get drunk and get ever’thing outa his his system all at once, an’ no messes.”(Steinbeck 56). Women are seen as exchangeable
Of Mice And Men Sexism Essay
725 Words | 3 PagesOf Mice and Men which takes place in the 1930’s, Steinbeck’s discussion on sexism is still an obstacle that faces society today. John Steinbeck wrote about sexism as a social issue in his 1937 novel Of Mice and Men, and, even though there have been some immense improvements in the role of women in society, the problem still stands today. Because John Steinbeck saw sexism as an important social issue in his time he wrote about it in his novel Of Mice and Men. How Curley's wife is treated by all the men in the ranch displays how women were treated back in the 1930’s. In the novel the readers are not given the name of Curley’s wife; she is being displayed as property.
How Is Curley's Wife Presented In Of Mice And Men
733 Words | 3 PagesIn the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Curley’s wife is portrayed many different ways throughout the story. Women were often understated around guys, and given less power. When Curley’s wife is first introduced, she doesn’t come off to the readers as very nice. When she was introduced she was mean, flirtatious, and it was let known that she was beautiful. She was flirting with the other men on the ranch,you feel more bad for her when the men are saying mean things about her, and near the end of the book the reader becomes sympathetic for her.
How Does Steinbeck Present Curley's Wife
948 Words | 4 PagesCurley’s wife is the wife of the Bosses son, Curley. In the novel Curley’s wife represents different themes such as loneliness, innocence and dreams. We learn this as we are introduced to her character and learn her story. Her overall purpose in the book is simple- she is a ‘tramp’, who ruins mens happiness however as her character develops, she becomes more complex and we learn about her vulnerability and innocence. Steinbeck also shows the portrayal of women in 1930s America, showing that women were treated as objects and could only get attention through their physical appearance.
How Does Steinbeck Present Curleys Wife In Of Mice And Men
664 Words | 3 PagesSomeone you don’t necessarily want to associate yourself with. Steinbeck shows Curley’s Wife as an example of a misfit, someone who really has no one else to talk to, and someone who really just wants to let out all of her feelings. She is the only woman mentioned on the ranch, and this can cause some issues. She has no desire to be Curley’s Wife, and she has no desire to live on this ranch with these misfits. Steinbeck uses many different characters to play out his theme of dreams through the novel.
Curley's Wife Imagery
1294 Words | 6 PagesSteinbeck creates contrasting images of Curley’s wife by using literary techniques such as pathetic fallacy, juxtaposition and irony. Body 1: When Curley’s wife is first introduced into the novella it isn’t in person, it is through rumours and gossip. Evidence of this is when George is talking to Candy and Candy describes Curley’s wife as a “tart” who has “the eye”. This provides the reader with only a description of a married woman who is immoral and only causes trouble for the ranch hands. Specifically, the word “tart” dismisses her as a person and rids the reader of any thoughts about her having feelings.
Curley's Wife Victim Essay
744 Words | 3 PagesSomeone once said, “A villain is just a victim whose story hasn’t been told.” The character known as Curley’s Wife in Of Mice and Men is portrayed in John Steinbeck’s writing as an antagonist. Multiple time throughout the book she is insulted by the men, who call her things such as a tramp, or a tart. As the story continues, there are many hidden indications that she could be seen as a much simpler, innocent presence, rather than an evil. When looked at more in depth, Curley’s Wife can be seen as a victimized character.
Examples Of Stereotypes In Of Mice And Men
494 Words | 2 PagesCurley's wife is stereotyped as a woman who gets around a lot, with other gentlemen. Therefore, Curley’s wife is a woman’s man and likes to get around. She flirts with any guy she can see with her own two eyes. “I never seen no body like her. She got the eye going, all the time on everybody” (Steinbeck 5.1.1).
How Does Steinbeck Use The Power Lens In Of Mice And Men
780 Words | 4 PagesSteinbeck describes Curley’s wife as followed: “...wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up... she wore a cotton dress and red mules... She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the doorframe so that her body was thrown forward... Lennie’s eyes moved down over her body, and though she did not seem to be looking at Lennie she bridled a little” (31). Curley’s wife knows that her power, her only power, lies in her beauty and her position of actually being Curley’s wife.
Dehumanization In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
384 Words | 2 PagesFinally, Steinbeck dehumanizes Curley by the negative criticism that always pursues her and her loss of identity when accompanying someone or something. This is why she is always commonly known as “Curley’s Wife”, proving that she is an unimportant and insignificant character in this book. Plus, everybody in the book says that Curley’s wife causes trouble for everyone; as George says, “She’s a jail bait all set on the trigger,” (Steinbeck, 49) and is constantly getting blame for all that goes wrong in Soledad; as Candy says, You God damn tramp. You done it, di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad.
Seclusion In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
544 Words | 3 PagesCurley’s wife describes her childhood, “I never got that letter. I always thought my ol’ lady stole it. Well, I wasn’t gonna stay no place where I couldn’t get nowhere or make something of myself, an’ she says no. So I married Curley…” (Steinbeck 88).
Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Quotes
614 Words | 3 PagesCurley’s wife is flirty, powerful, and lonely which leads her life to be self-destructive. Curley’s wife starts off being flirty in this novel. Evidence shows that Curley’s wife is flirty is stated in the novel when Steinbeck states, “She puts her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward” (Steinbeck 31). This shows how flirty she is at the ranch as she has met with all the working men at the ranch.
Examples Of Sacrifice In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1357 Words | 6 PagesAll the men on the ranch thought that Curley's Wife had a perfect life but she says, “Coulda been in the movies, an’ had nice clothes” (Steinbeck 3). Even though she’s married to Curley and seems like she has the life but even she doesn't want to be there on that ranch with the life and family she has. Curley's wife is very neglected on the ranch she's treated like she doesn’t exist and doesn’t matter. Curley doesn’t talk to her and or spend time with her and this makes her desire a better, higher lifestyle with a bigger
How Does Steinbeck Present The Death Of Curley's Wife
669 Words | 3 PagesCurley’s wife was weakened by her state of isolation as the only female on the ranch. Due to this, she sought companionship with Lennie. Although Lennie was a mentally challenged individual, he was stronger with his status as a man who was also physically strong. Despite her efforts to escape Lennie’s grasp, the difference in power made Curley's wife unable to defend
How Does Steinbeck Present Curley's Wife A Victim
735 Words | 3 PagesJohn Steinbeck’s presents Curley’s wife in a way that comes off as she is being abused. In Of Men and Mice Steinbeck clearly portrays Curley’s wife as a victim and not a villain, as others would see her. She is abused by Curley, mistreated by the other men on the ranch, and she is treated like she does not exist with no respect or value. Curley’s wife is a victim because Curley her husband, abuses and mistreats her.
To Blame For Women In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
688 Words | 3 PagesSince the other men on the ranch did not have a love, Curley uses his wife to his advantage by using her as bragging rights. It is unfortunate and disturbing what Curley’s wife had
More about Curley's Wife Power
Of Mice And Men Sexism Essay
725 Words | 3 PagesHow Is Curley's Wife Presented In Of Mice And Men
733 Words | 3 PagesHow Does Steinbeck Present Curley's Wife
948 Words | 4 PagesHow Does Steinbeck Present Curleys Wife In Of Mice And Men
664 Words | 3 PagesCurley's Wife Imagery
1294 Words | 6 PagesCurley's Wife Victim Essay
744 Words | 3 PagesExamples Of Stereotypes In Of Mice And Men
494 Words | 2 PagesHow Does Steinbeck Use The Power Lens In Of Mice And Men
780 Words | 4 PagesDehumanization In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
384 Words | 2 PagesSeclusion In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
544 Words | 3 PagesOf Mice And Men Curley's Wife Quotes
614 Words | 3 PagesExamples Of Sacrifice In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
1357 Words | 6 PagesHow Does Steinbeck Present The Death Of Curley's Wife
669 Words | 3 PagesHow Does Steinbeck Present Curley's Wife A Victim
735 Words | 3 PagesTo Blame For Women In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men
688 Words | 3 Pages