Explore the ways One or Two Minor Characters are Presented in ‘Of Mice and Men’ ________________________________________ John Steinbeck's "Of mice and men" was written in the 1930's, a time of great depression throughout the world. It was a time when racism and sexism where still widespread in America. It is based on a ranch in California. Crooks and Curley’s wife are two minor characters in the novel who both receive some form of discrimination from the other characters on the ranch. Curley’s wife Tart Curley's Wife, in John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, is an example of how the reader's perception of a character can change without the character actually changing.
Already, the reader is introduced to the idea that Curley's wife is an immoral "tart" which is strengthened upon her first appearance, which follows shortly after. She is first seen in the doorway of the bunkhouse , asking about the location of her husband, which is soon revealed as being a weak excuse to interact with the ranchers. She is wearing a "red cotton house dress" and a pair of mules decorated with "bouquets of red ostrich feathers." emphasisinig her sexual presence as the colour red, which is expressed repeatedly when Curley's wife's clothes are described, is often reffered to as the colour of love and passion. Additionally, the bouquets of ostrich feathers, also described as red, on the insteps of her shoes would have been extremely expensive in the times Of Mice and Men was set; and that Curley's wife not only wears them on her feet but in the middle of the 'Dust Bowl' expresses her desperate need for attention as she is willing to possibly ruin her best shoes in order to entice the ranchers, despite the fact that she has a husband.
This perception is further emphasized by Curley’s Wife’s first appearance in the novel. Steinbeck shows that she can be trouble and perhaps danger when the “rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off”. Showing that something dark has entered the room. Her physical appearance of “full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made-up” as well as painted fingernails and elaborate hair, further builds up on our first thoughts of her. She also acts flirtatiously in front of the other ranch workers.
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.
Curley’s Wife’s appearance and actions around the ranch workers portrays her to be trampy. She is “heavily made up”, has a red cotton house dress on, “full rouged lips”, red slippers with ostrich feathers, and “her hair hung in little rolled clusters”. This means she is making an effort to impress the ranch workers in the barn. She needs to be heavily made up to look attractive to get the attention of the ranch workers. Curley’s Wife asks about where her husband is Curley.
He uses symbolism when she is first introduced; “Both men glanced up, for the rectangle of light was cut off.” The reference to the light can suggest that she cuts off the light because she is a negative character, and/or she takes away anything, which is good. The description of Curley’s wife starts with “a girl” that suggests that she appears looking sweet and innocent, childlike even. During the description, the colour red is repeated several times, “rouged lips”, ”her fingernails were red”, “red mules” and “red ostrich feathers”. This is a key thing because usually the colour red means; love, danger, blood, prostitutes – red light district, and passion. Red is also a primary colour in which young children are attracted to, this could explain why Lennie likes her so much; he has a childlike manner.
Explore the Significance of Curley's Wife in 'Of Mice and Men' How is Curley's Wife presented in 'Of Mice and Men'? In this essay I will be discussing the significance of Curley's wife and outlining the main issues during the time era used in Steinbeck's novel. I will also be giving a brief look into the emotional turmoil of Curley's wife and why she was forced to mingle with others in hope of maybe achieving her version of the 'American dream' which ultimately is proven as useless since it leads to nothing but the demise of one of the main characters Lenny in a devastating turn of events. In some way one ciuld call this novel, very pessimistic or cynical, The novel reflects society's prejudice. People of color had no rights in America; they were considered sometimes 'unfit' for the world.
Author John Steinbeck is honored for the deep description in his novels that allow the reader to picture the story in the mind as if they are actually there. This is especially true with his details given about a story’s characters. However, in his novel Of Mice and Men, although he provides substantial detail about her personality and appearance, he leaves Curley’s Wife without of name. In the novel, Curley’s Wife was a possession to her husband, an outcast on the ranch, and a misunderstood victim of her circumstances. In the time era in which Of Mice and Men took place in, woman were considered second class citizens.
All the while, the headmistress Miss Mackay tries to break them up and compile information gleaned from them into sufficient cause to sack Brodie. Miss Mackay has more than once suggested to Miss Brodie that she should seek employment at a 'progressive' school. At this point Mr Lloyd asks Rose and the other girls to pose for him as portrait subjects. Each face he paints ultimately resembles Miss Brodie, as her girls report to her in detail, and she thrills at the telling. One day when Sandy is visiting Mr Lloyd, he kisses
In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Curley's wife demonstrates multiple time that she is a villain and in many ways is the cause of her own death. One example would be when Curley's wife when she is in the stable with crooks and she slams him. He was just trying to defend himself and Curley's wife made sure he knew that he was beneath him.