With close reference to the text discuss how Steinbeck presents the character of Curley’s wife in ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck.
‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck is a novel set in 1920 in America this is around the time of The Great Depression and George and Lennie –the two main characters- are two itinerant workers who are supposed to represent working class men of that time. We are presented with the interesting character of Curley’s wife and this essay will consider how the reader’s attitude changes towards her throughout the text.
We are first introduced to Curley’s wife when she is supposedly looking for Curley. Steinbeck makes the reader think that Curley’s wife is dangerous and a ‘tart’ by focusing on her physical presences such as her ‘fingernails [that] were red’, ‘rouged lips’ and ‘red mules’. Stienbeck is highlighting the colour red, which traditionally symbolizes danger and also Curley’s wife’s sexuality, which in that era was a very negative trait for women. The reader should clearly see that her provocative behaviour as a threat when Stienbeck tells us that she ‘bridles a little’ and ‘throws her body forward’.
When the reader next comes across Curley’s wife it is when the other men are discussing her and she is view by them as ‘tart’. Slim a narrative character and whom the reader is encouraged to listen to tells us early on that he thinks Curley’s wife is a ‘looloo’ and he goes on to say ‘she ain’t concealin’ nothin’ ’ Stienbeck clearly wants the reader to view her as a ‘tart’ by having Slim, the most respected character, tell us that he thinks she ‘can’t keep away from guys’ this confirms any doubts the reader may be having as to what sort of a person we are to perceive Curley’s wife to be. When it is said that she is ‘jail bait all set on a trigger’ the reader is being reminded that we are supposed to be aware of the trouble she may bring. George also warns Lennie not to even ‘look at that bitch’ he also says that he hasn’t seen any ‘piece of jail bait worse than her’ Stienbeck uses the fact that Lennie is childlike and so George has to warn him about her to
We are first introduced to Curley’s wife when she is supposedly looking for Curley. Steinbeck makes the reader think that Curley’s wife is dangerous and a ‘tart’ by focusing on her physical presences such as her ‘fingernails [that] were red’, ‘rouged lips’ and ‘red mules’. Stienbeck is highlighting the colour red, which traditionally symbolizes danger and also Curley’s wife’s sexuality, which in that era was a very negative trait for women. The reader should clearly see that her provocative behaviour as a threat when Stienbeck tells us that she ‘bridles a little’ and ‘throws her body forward’.
When the reader next comes across Curley’s wife it is when the other men are discussing her and she is view by them as ‘tart’. Slim a narrative character and whom the reader is encouraged to listen to tells us early on that he thinks Curley’s wife is a ‘looloo’ and he goes on to say ‘she ain’t concealin’ nothin’ ’ Stienbeck clearly wants the reader to view her as a ‘tart’ by having Slim, the most respected character, tell us that he thinks she ‘can’t keep away from guys’ this confirms any doubts the reader may be having as to what sort of a person we are to perceive Curley’s wife to be. When it is said that she is ‘jail bait all set on a trigger’ the reader is being reminded that we are supposed to be aware of the trouble she may bring. George also warns Lennie not to even ‘look at that bitch’ he also says that he hasn’t seen any ‘piece of jail bait worse than her’ Stienbeck uses the fact that Lennie is childlike and so George has to warn him about her to