Curley@S Wife of Mice and Man

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John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a touching tale of the friendship between two men--set against the backdrop of the United States during the depression of the 1930s. Subtle in its characterization, the book addresses the real hopes and dreams of working-class America. Steinbeck's short novel raises the lives of the poor and dispossessed to a higher, symbolic level.
Its powerful ending is climactic and shocking to the extreme. But, we also come to an understanding of the tragedy of life. Regardless of the sufferings of those who live it, life goes on.
One of the most significant characters in John Steinbeck's novel "Of mice and men," is Curley’s wife, as she is known to the audience. The only women on the ranch she is the wife of the boss's son. She does not have a name because she does not have her own identity. She is just Curley's wife, she belongs to him. She has no real sense of purpose. She does not fit in with the ranch workers. She lives a lonely existence. She has no friends.
Curley's Wife is portrayed through her appearance, conversations with other characters, and what other characters say about her.
Steinbeck presents her as a negative married woman.
Before Curley's wife makes her first appearance, she is introduced to the reader through gossip on the ranch. Curley is said, to have his “glove fulla vaseline” to keep soft for his wife, who is shown as his trophy. Candy, the old swamper tells George that, although she has only been married to Curley for two weeks, she has already "got the eye." He describes her as "a tart" that has been flirting with both Slim and Carlson.
Steinbeck presents her in a crude manner. The word “tart” is a derogatory term and has obvious negative connotations. This affects the reader to prejudge Curley’s wife even before she entered.
She is portrayed as dangerous. When Curley’s wife first appears both George and
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