Premium Essay

Curley's Wife Character Analysis

Submitted By
Words 612
Pages 3
Different people have different amounts of power. In the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, we get to know a variety of characters, all living on a ranch together. In the story, we get to see who is on the top of the hierarchy and who is on the bottom, for example who is the most respected and who is the least. There are characters in the story who are the most powerful on the ranch, like Curley, but there are also characters with the least amount of power on the ranch, like Crooks. We can all see that Crooks has the least amount of power because he is black and because of his back injury, but I will be focusing on Curley’s Wife. Although she doesn’t have the least amount of power, Curley’s Wife is still extremely weak by simply being a woman and even more so by acting like a tart.
Throughout the book there are multiple mentions and examples when Curley’s Wife is seen as overly flirtatious even though she’s a married woman, she is also never mentioned by name and constantly referred to as Curley’s Wife. “She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.” This is how she acts when she is only barely meeting George and Lennie. She is already trying to catch their attention and using her body to her …show more content…
“You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad.” Curley is overprotective of his wife since he sees her as a trophy that he can display because he’s the only married man on the ranch. This, of course, is not what Curley’s Wife wants, she sees herself as someone who deserves better. She is controlled and overpowered by the person who was supposed to be her gateway to a better life. Curley’s Wife is the only woman on the ranch. By even being a woman at this point in time, she certainly doesn’t have any power over most of the men on the

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Character Analysis

...John Steinback’s Of Mice and Men is a thought-provoking novel set in the 1930’s during the Great Depression on a ranch. The main characters are two men: Lennie and George. Looking out for one another, these two wander from place to place in search of work. The conflict occurs when the two find work on a ranch in Soledad, California, and Curley, the ranch owner’s son, starts harassing Lennie. Curley’s wife, who is not named in the novel, arouses Lennie, and Lennie’s unhuman-like strength causes him to accidentally kill her. George knows the men on the ranch will brutally kill Lennie once they find out he killed Curley’s wife, so George decides to end Lennie’s life quickly by shooting Lennie in the back of the head. Throughout the novel, the reader can infer that George is protective of Lennie, and his personality exhibits a short-temper, but also, understanding. The author describes George as small and short with sharp features. To begin with, the author shows George’s affection towards Lennie. George feels obligated to watch after Lennie. He feels this because Lennie’s Aunt Clara asked George to take care of Lennie before she died. Although George...

Words: 685 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Character Analysis

...If your friend and coworker would die at the hand of a man he didn’t know would you ponder killing him to protect him from suffering at the hands of the other man? The novella Of Mice and Men was set in the midst of the Great Depression. The novella focused around two men; Lennie Smalls and George Milton, two traveling migrants looking for work in the money deprived American financial system. Lennie is mentally unstable and has a troublesome time performing at the level of a stable minded person. Lennie finds himself in a troubling predicament when he kills Curley's’ wife, this brings a very problematic decision for George. George must decide whether to protect or come to the correct resolution and kill Lennie himself. In the novella Of...

Words: 348 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Character Analysis

...aggression to Lennie and he hit it too hard causing it to die. Lennie often retaliates to “aggressive” behavior throughout the novel, such as the mice he tends to as a child. When they show aggression to Lennie, he “pinched their heads”. Lennie’s actions may be accidental, such as the murder of Curley’s wife. However, when he kills her, he notices he’s “done a real bad thing”. Lennie’s choice to hide her body is essential because if anybody found out that he killed Curley’s wife, the consequence would result in his own death. George prevents more trouble for other men on the farm by killing Lennie because he would have been killed anyways. After the fatal death of Curley’s wife, Lennie’s death and there were only 2 ways: the men’s way or George’s way. George and Lennie’s relationship shows a strong correlation to Candy and his dog’s relationship. Candy...

Words: 461 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Omam

...is now.  Steinbeck’s use of the character of Curley’s Wife is the only female character in the novella.  Steinbeck uses different methods to diminish the importance of Curley’s wife Steinbeck never gives Curley’s Wife a name.  This is done to show that she does not have any identity or position on the ranch.  As Curley’s Wife is a representation of all women in the 1930s I feel Steinbeck uses her to show that she does not have any identity or position on the ranch.  As Curley’s Wife is a representation of all women in the 1930s I feel Steinbeck uses her to show that most women back then had no identity or position in the working world. Steinbeck uses methods of introduction to show the reader the hardships of women in the 1930s.  Steinbeck never introduces Curley’s Wife throughout the novella.  I feel Steinbeck does this to show that although to the reader she is an important character, she is insignificant in the 1930s society.  However Curley’s wife upon meeting George and Lennie never introduces herself.  This shows that the character herself feels insignificant in society.  She feels that she is unwanted and no one cares for her so no one would need to know her name.  Curely’s Wife is also only introduced to other people as “Curley’s Wife”, I think that Steinbeck does this to show that Curley, her husband, is in possession of her, like so many other women in 1930 in other situations. No characters in the novella care for Curley’s Wife and very little attention is given...

Words: 783 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Curleys's Wife

... |The quotation |How she is represented |Language devices used | Deeper analysis | |Two |34 |‘Little bouquets of red ostrich feathers’ |As a lonely, isolated and un-wanted |Connotations, imagery, metaphor and |In this quote we can identify that Steinbeck is portraying Curley’s wife as an ostrich. Unable to fly, meaning CW can’t leave or escape the ranch. This represents that she is stuck and will never be able to leave. This goes back to portraying her as a lonely woman. It can also portray that she shows off and for that reason she is unable to leave because she no one would care in the outside world. | |Two |34 |‘For the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off’ |Obstacle, trap and as a distraction. |Connotations, imagery and descriptive language |Connotes that she is an evil character who cuts the hopes and dreams of innocent men such as Lennie and George. This is portraying the Curley’s wife is an evil character and warning us that George’s and Lennie’s dreams will always be cut off if she is in the way. | |Two |35 |‘But I have never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her’ |Whore and a trouble. |Connotations and imagery |In this quote Steinbeck shows what the ranch workers think of her. A girl who will get you in trouble due to her level in the hierarchy. | |Two |34 |‘Nobody can’t blame a person for looking’ |Flirty |Symbolism |In this quote it symbolises how the Curley’s wife is always pointing out the obvious. This is if someone like George is ignoring...

Words: 981 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Of Mice And Men Quotes Analysis

...Quote analysis: Pull directly from quote, connect to topic sentence, connect to thesis. Discrimination in Of Mice and Men All throughout American history, minorities have been mistreated. In the John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, prejudice influences the way the ranchers treat others. Curley’s Wife, Crooks, and Candy are excluded because of gender, race, age, or disability. This bias results in these people feeling lonely and inferior. In Steinbeck’s novella, multiple characters experience alienation due to discrimination by other ranchers. Throughout the novella, Curley’s Wife is isolated from the male workers several times due to her gender. This is portrayed when the men in the bunkhouse argue with Curley about his wife, when they try to avoid Curley’s Wife because they view her as a nothing more than a distraction because they think her beauty is her only valuable characteristic. Carlson says, “Why’n’t you...

Words: 590 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Of Mice and Men Analysis

...Analysis of Major Characters Lennie Although Lennie is among the principal characters in Of Mice and Men, he is perhaps the least dynamic. He undergoes no significant changes, development, or growth throughout the novel and remains exactly as the reader encounters him in the opening pages. Simply put, he loves to pet soft things, is blindly devoted to George and their vision of the farm, and possesses incredible physical strength. Nearly every scene in which Lennie appears confirms these and only these characteristics. Although Steinbeck’s insistent repetition of these characteristics makes Lennie a rather flat character, Lennie’s simplicity is central to Steinbeck’s conception of the novel. Of Mice and Men is a very short work that manages to build up an extremely powerful impact. Since the tragedy depends upon the outcome seeming to be inevitable, the reader must know from the start that Lennie is doomed, and must be sympathetic to him. Steinbeck achieves these two feats by creating a protagonist who earns the reader’s sympathy because of his utter helplessness in the face of the events that unfold. Lennie is totally defenseless. He cannot avoid the dangers presented by Curley, Curley’s wife, or the world at large. His innocence raises him to a standard of pure goodness that is more poetic and literary than realistic. His enthusiasm for the vision of their future farm proves contagious as he convinces George, Candy, Crooks, and the reader that such a paradise might be possible...

Words: 2401 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Heart

...Year group: Title Extended Reading Language Unit 3 A Of Mice and Men 10 Unit description Candidates must make reference to the whole text. Tier ( Higher) Candidates must produce work totalling about 1200 words in a period of up to four hours CA task: Explore the ways sympathy and dislike of ‘Curley’s Wife’ is created in ‘Of Mice and Men.’ CA = Week starting 20 October 2014 (All 4 lessons this week) (Possibility of starting one lesson early at the end of week 6). Level or Grade A*-C Differentiate appropriately for the group that you teach and for individuals within that group th Length 7 weeks (To include CA) Learning objectives AO3 (See mark scheme for band descriptors)     Interpretations of texts/understanding significant meanings of the text Engagement with writer’s ideas and attitudes Interpretation of ideas supported with evidence Understanding of features of language and structure Learning outcomes      Close analysis of text extracts leading to development of reading skills Consideration of context and writer’s intentions/themes and ideas Speaking and Listening to show understanding of issues and empathy with character Writing a draft essay and set targets for the assessment Produce an analytical essay for CA (New Acronym = SMILE (Structure, Meanings, Ideas, Language, Evidence) Prior knowledge (Enter pre-requisite knowledge and skills.) Analytical essay – Year 9 KS3 reading skills National Framework for Secondary English Strands National Framework for...

Words: 2713 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Of Mice and Men

...Michael Emminger Ms. Wanczuk English 9 Honors Period 3 11/21/13 Character Analysis Essay A time of sickness, bankruptcy, and underground liquor runs; the 1930’s were a devastating time in which our protagonists lived. Of Mice and Men is a classic book by John Steinbeck. Published in 1937, this tale shows the adventures of two poor men, George and Lennie, who are suffering in the Great Depression. The book goes through a portion of their life through different places and roads. Lennie, I believe, is the most interesting character. Lennie shows his strengths and flaws from Of Mice and Men by having a big heart but bigger hands, helping keep George sane, and accidentally killing animals and people. Lennie has extraordinary physical strength, but his mind does not have that type of power. His head and heart did not know what to do when Curley started punching him and: “he was too frightened to defend himself… Curley’s fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it. The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand” (69). Lennie’s brain could not comprehend the events developing around him and his body initially shut off in the process. If it was not for George yelling at him to fight back Lennie could have been really hurt. Some might say fighting is wrong all together, but if it is not possible to walk away from it then it is important to defend yourself. Even though it took him a while to be convinced to hit Curly...

Words: 761 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Of Mice and Men Essay

...be their own boss and nobody can tell them what to do, where Lennie will tend their rabbits, and where they will "live off the fatta the lan'." Lennie has heard this story so often he can repeat it by heart. And George emphasizes that this dream and their relationship make them different from other guys who don't have anyone or a place of their own. They settle down and sleep for the night. The next morning at the ranch, the boss becomes suspicious when George answers all the questions and Lennie does not talk. George explains that Lennie is not bright but is a tremendous worker. They also meet Candy, an old swamper with a sheep dog; Crooks, the black stable hand; the boss' son Curley, who is an amateur boxer and has a bad temper; Curley's wife, who has a reputation as a "tart";...

Words: 3813 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Of Mice and Men - Slim

...His voice is the voice of rationalism. When Carlson suggests killing Candy's dog, Candy appeals to Slim as the final authority. Slim is so respected and admired on the ranch that even Curley listens to him. When Lennie smashes Curley's hand, Slim is the one who intercedes and tells Curley he will not have George and Lennie fired. Slim understands Curley's fear of ridicule, and he uses that fear to help George and Lennie. Slim also inspires confidences because he is not judgmental. When George first meets Slim, George tells him about Lennie's troubles in Weed. George senses in Slim a person of intelligence and empathy who will not be mean to Lennie, make fun of him, or take advantage of him. Slim is the only one on the ranch who appreciates the difficulty of George's position. He understands the constant oversight George must exercise in watching Lennie and keeping him out of trouble. It is Slim, in the end, who suggests that George did the right thing in killing Lennie mercifully. He explains the alternative: "An s'pose they lock him up an' strap him down and put him in a cage. That ain't no good, George." Slim is present at every crucial juncture in the story: the death of Candy's dog, the smashing of Curley's hand, finding the body of Curley's wife, at the pool after George has shot Lennie. In each case, there is violence or the threat of it. Each time Slim helps make the assessment to do what is merciful or what is right. Read more:...

Words: 344 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Of Mice and Men

...Curley is mean, aggressive and a lightweight-boxer. Because he is so small he doesn’t like big guys, he feels threatened by them. So an aggressive look and a rude attitude is his first reaction when he sees big Lennie. The next day when Curley comes into the room, Lennie is attacked by Curley. But strong Lennie defends himself and crushes  (accidentally) the hand of Curley, because he tried to stop him. When Curley goes to the doctor, he said that his hand was trapped in a machine. He said this because he is known as a “strong” man and he didn’t want to look stupid and weak.  One day Lennie sits in the barn playing with one of the puppies. Of course he kills it, unintentionally, because he pet the puppy to hard. A little while later, Curley’s wife comes in. Lennie remembered the thing...

Words: 2159 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Of Mice and Men Analysis

...Anon 6.3.15 Per. 2 Literary Analysis: Of Mice And Men In the book Of Mice And Men here are many there are many ropy that take place in this novel, for example the mental health of Lennie. The character Lennie helps the author John Steinbeck, show how people with mental health issue would've been treated in those days by Lennie's childish behavior and the affect it has in his actions , how he's dependent on George and the way he's treated, his forgetfulness and the outcome of the novel. The behavior of Lennie is childish as it's demonstrated in this quote."Lennie who had been watching, imitated George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew his knees, embraced them, looked over to George to see whether he had done it just right. He pulled down his hat a little more over his eyes, the way George's hat was." He's trying to copy George just like a child copies their parent. Since Lennie was watching George, he was trying to copy the position that George was in. When Lennie is copying George's position, Lennie looks over to George to make sure that he's "done it just right." Therefore George treats him like a child. On the other hand, everyone else but Slim and Candy don't treat him like so. An example of that would when Curley mistakens Lennie's smile as if Lennie is making fun of him. But that's not the case because he is smiling over the idea of taking care of the bunnies. Therefore Curley ends up picking a fight with Lennie and loses. In the book it shows that...

Words: 791 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Im the Best

...another group, you must choose another. c. An audio-visual analysis of the scene must be presented to the rest of the class by two members of the group. Presentation (5-10 minutes) Your presentation must include the following elements (in any order you see fit): a. Introductory remarks about the structure of your presentation b. Comments on your scene in relation to The Hollywood Model c. A detailed audio-visual analysis of the scene (use your analysis sheet for guidance) d. Comments on the scene in relation to the rest of the film, including the opening sequence. e. Each of these elements must be followed by partial conclusions and you must also include a final, overall conclusion to your presentation. You will be able to show your audience small extracts the movie while doing the presentation, stopping the images when you find it necessary. Alternatively you may use a PowerPoint with stills from your scene. B: Point of no return: George sees that Lennie has killed the mouse. Climax: George gets mad and throws away the dead mouse. Fade-out: Afterwards he cheers up Lennie who is devastated of him loosing the mouse. C: Angles: Long-shot; when they are walking, high angle, (09.00-09.30) Medium-shot; the cousins talking together, horizontal lines (mountains) – gives a calm effect, eye-level – makes us feel at the same level as the characters. Position of characters: They are walking with /and close to each other. Camera...

Words: 414 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Great Gatsby Quote Analysis

...she never loved Tom. Why else would she stay with a rich, handsome man? For the wealth and the way other people will see her. -Introduction of example #3: Although the characters in both books are hopeful to make their dreams a reality, in the end their dreams do not come true. -Example / Quotation: “Angry, and half in love with her, and tremendously sorry, I turned away” (Fitzgerald). "Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock" (Fitzgerald). "O.K. Someday—we're gonna get the jack together and we're gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an' a cow and some pigs and—" "An' live off the fatta the lan'," Lennie shouted. "An'...

Words: 889 - Pages: 4