Of Mice And Men Analysis

Curley’s wife was never thought of, by the men on the ranch, as anything other than Curley’s wife. They continually talk about her and what she does and how she is ‘flirts’ with all of the men. Curley’s wife tells Lennie how she could have done more with her life if she had not have married Curley. She described to Lennie about how she was about to be a movie star and everything but her mother stopped her so she married Curley. Curley’s wife also describes how Curley treats her and how she wants to leave and do something with her life.

Curley’s wife in this novel represents loneliness. Moreover she often had no one to talk to. She was habitually rejected by the ranch hands. Curley’s wife was always looking for someone to bend an ear to; she was not trying to seduce them. Curley’s wife is looking for someone who will listen and talk to her.

Since 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

The theme of the novel, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, is hope and loss. This is shown through the perspectives of Curley's wife, Candy, and George. In this story they all have a period where they hope for something more, but later on lose it. Although it is hard to remain hopeful in horrible situations, it is best not to lose hope and give into the situation you find yourself in.

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.

Thus she talks to the guys in the bunkhouse. “I couldn’t get nowhere or make something of myself... So, I married Curley”(88). Curley’s wife didn’t marry Curley out of love, she only married him because it was the best her life was going to get.

She thought her mom had stole the letter she was waiting for from an agent who could get her into her career; she assumed her mom stole it because she thought her mom would have wanted her daughter to do what “normal” women do. Also, she is not considered a “normal” wife; “normal” for that time meant she was supposed to stay inside and do chores and cook. Instead, she goes around, talks to the men working and hides from her husband. Curley’s wife is lonely because no one talks to her to prevent trouble. George said to Lennie, “well, you keep away from her, ‘cause she’s a rat trap if I’ve ever seen one (Steinbeck 32).”

Before we even meet Curley’s wife Candy criticizes her for flirting with men other than her husband , leaving readers with a negative impression of her. With no real companionship on the ranch, however we later learn that she simply yearned for attention, using the only weapon she had: her sexual

Curley’s wife is perhaps the least mentioned and regarded as a minor character but she is perhaps the most essential in the message of attachment. All she has is Curley, whose abusive nature is causing her to despise him more and more every day. She craves talking to others and forming an attachment to the boys on the farm (39). This causes her to try and make conversation with everyone around her. "Nobody can't blame a person for lookin', (40)", She says this as she reached a point where all she wants people to acknowledge her.

Curley’s wife is one of the most alienated characters in the novel Of Mice and Men, if not the most alienated and isolated character as it is displayed through her being nameless, being very flirtatious, and the perception of her by the men on the ranch. Indeed, the author constantly is showing that how regardless if you are amongst people or have company, but however there is no sensation of love what so ever, it is just as equal to living a life through despair and desolation. Whenever Curley’s wife appears in the book she is either looking for her husband or other company to converse with, however it has a reverse notation and it pours out of her in resentment and disillusion as she states, “Why can’t I talk to you?I never get to talk to

During the great depression not many people had it easy and Curley’s Wife was one of those people who didn’t have so easy especially because she was a woman and at the time they didn’t have many rights. Curley’s Wife is the most misunderstood character because of her background, her seemingly unloving husband, and troubling times during the great depression. To begin, Curley’s Wife has hard times and is misunderstood because she takes her emotions out on innocent people. One example of when Curley’s wife took her anger out on an innocent person is when she yelled at Crooks.

Finally, 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.

(Josselyn) Curley’s Wife can be mistaken for an antagonist in the story because she is only described through the men’s point of view. Workers on the ranch view her in one way: as a cause for trouble. The old sweeper, Candy, sheds his perspective on us when he describes her on page 32, saying, “Jesus, what a tramp. So that’s what Curley picks for a wife” (Steinbeck). As men arrive for work, they are flooded with the opinions of all of the existing others.

Whenever she can’t be found, questions arise about what she is up to. In events such as these Curley doesn’t even trust his own wife. ‘“Thinks Slim’s with his wife don’t he?”’ (54). Curley’s wife’s actions play a role in the reputation of the ranch hands and in the relationship with her husband.

Another example of Curley’s wife being unsuccessful with her search for a companion is when Lennie kills her. Lennie and Curley’s wife were having a decent conversation, it almost seemed like were becoming friends. However, Curley’s wife lets Lennie touch her hair which leads to her death. Lennie was being rough while touching Curley’s wife hair.