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An Open Letter to John Steinbeck

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Submitted By dionnes
Words 940
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Letter to the conflicted author of ‘Of Mice and Men’
Contemptible sympathy!

Mr Steinbeck,

Having read your novella “Of Mice and Men” I am both hugely disgusted and confused as to why you gave Curley’s Wife sympathy after her death. I find it very challenging to sympathise with a malcontent being that you ensured sought satisfaction in belittling and ridiculing others. Do you honestly think so little of your audience? That we would disregard her obstreperousness due to the fact that she is no longer living and in reality where she would feel at home; in hell with her father, “the old devil”. Understandably, you gave her a certain amount of respect and sympathy as it is traditionally, common courtesy to offer this to the dead; however, the whole manner in which it was given is quite satirical. She was slated and slandered throughout the novella and presented as a “tart”, yet as soon as she passed “her face was sweet” and her “ache” for attention disappeared. It is completely puzzling how one can be perceived as the devil’s offspring one minute, and the next have angelic qualities. It is only right I question your credibility as the first sign of your inner confliction surfaces. Surely removing this conflict of interest will ultimately benefit everybody, including your sincerity and reputation.

You plead sympathy for a “pretty and simple” vixen who was simultaneously “heavily made up” with “red finger-nails”. Not only is pleading for sympathy utterly pathetic, especially from a man who has contributed to the great literatures of the world, it is wholly misleading given that she was described as the complete opposite and might I add it was a very insightful description. George clearly saw the danger through her false and made up image as he alternately calls her a "tramp," "bitch," "jailbait," "poison," and a "rattrap"; he was obviously aware of her

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