Of Mice And Men- Curley's Wife Essay

How is Curley'sWife presented in 'Of Mice and Men'? Do you find her portrayal a sympathetic one? In of mice and men, Curleys Wife is presented in many various ways. At first impression, she comes across as the seductive, troublemaker the ranchers see her as. However, as the story progresses, we learn that this is only one of many sides to a very lonely woman. The readers sympathy for this character also changes throughout the novel, as her secrets are revealed and the real Curley's Wife is found. Curley's Wife is a very complex character. The reader's first impression of her is created before she actually appears in the book. We find out what the workers think of Curley's Wife through Candy when George and Lennie first arrive at the ranch. Candy, who considers Curley's Wife to be the reason for everything wrong in the whole of Soledad, creates an image of

Throughout the 1930’s in California, where and when the novel “of mice
and men” was set, women were frequently suppressed and treated as
objects. They were put down and often abused. They were forced to do
anything their husband says otherwise they were condemned by the
family and general public. Several of these issues are reflected in
the character of Curly’s wife. This character is portrayed in many
different ways in the different stages of her life. This character is
nameless and is only ever referred to as ‘Curley’s wife’. I think this
may mean that she is not a major part and as a woman is thought of as
insignificant and maybe Steinbeck feels that it is not necessary to
name her as it was viewed at the time as she does not need or deserve
one.

Immediately as you meet Curley’s wife, she is portrayed as a common
tart. ‘ “she has the eye”... “a tart”’ are some of candy’s view which
he refers to in chapter two. So, as soon as George and Lennie met he
they thought of her in this way not knowing...

Curley’s wife has no name and is initially seen as the possession of her...