Similarities Between Lennie And Curley's Wife

Lennie and Curley’s wife come across as very different characters. They differ greatly in appearance, mentality, and personality. Despite their differences, though, Lennie and Curley’s wife are surprisingly similar in the way they both constantly need to create physical connections. As a result, they are able to relate to each other, and when they are finally alone together they address each other’s needs, which leads to a tragic end. Lennie and Curley’s wife are extremely different people, both externally and internally. Lennie is “a huge man, shapeless of face, …with wide, sloping shoulders,” (2) while Curley’s wife is a very “purty” (28) woman with “full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes” (31). Lennie has animalistic qualities and
Leading up to this final scene, Lennie’s attraction to Curley’s wife is unequivocal. When he first sees her, his eyes “[move] down over her body,” (31) and when she talks Lennie watches her with fascination. Furthermore when George speaks negatively about Curley’s wife, Lennie “defensively” says, “She’s purty” and then later repeats, “Gosh, she was purty” after which he smiles “admiringly” (32). Curley’s wife knows how to relate to Lennie and speak to him on his level. After Candy tells her that Curley’s hand was caught in a machine, she, knowing what really happened, speaks flirtatiously to Lennie: “O.K., Machine. I’ll talk to you later. I like machines” (80). In the final scene, Curley’s wife indicates to Lennie that she understands his obsession; when Lennie reveals that he likes to pet things, she responds “Well, who don’t?... Ever’body likes that. I like to feel silk an’ velvet. Do you like to feel velvet?” (90). Lennie and Curley’s wife open up to each other, and as a result the reader learns the most about these characters from this scene; Lennie explains his obsession, while Curley’s wife explains her loneliness and need to feel loved. The reciprocal connection between them is so strong that Lennie disobeys George’s orders, risking his dream of tending the rabbits, and succumbs to the temptation of Curley’s wife. Her loneliness is so great that Curley’s wife, aware of the consequences, “[takes] Lennie’s hand and [puts] it on her head” (90). Lennie’s obsession overpowers him, and he continuously strokes Curley’s wife’s hair harder and harder, making her scream in pain. Afraid that George “ain’t gonna let [him] tend no rabbits,” (91) when Curley’s wife