The Corrupting Power of Women The portrayal of women in Of Mice and Men is limited and unflattering. We learn early on that Lennie and George are on the run from the previous ranch where they worked, due to encountering trouble there with a woman. Misunderstanding Lennie’s love of soft things, a woman accused him of rape for touching her dress. George berates Lennie for his behavior, but is convinced that women are always the cause of such trouble. Their enticing sexuality, he believes, tempts men to behave in ways they would otherwise not.
This is sexist because he believes that she shouldn’t be on a ranch as it should be a place only for men. Also, he says she will cause problems just because she is the only woman there. The word ‘jailbait’ In the 1930’s was a sexual connotation that is very sexist in the way George uses it. This insinuates that CW is not equal to the workmen, as she is believed to be weak willed and a troublemaker. Steinbeck uses short sentences to create tension among the bunkhouse as George is sending a message across to Lennie that CW is dangerous and nasty to be around.
She would flirt with the ranch hands for her own fun and she stupidly tried the same with Lennie. She was racist and a bit of a "tart". You could also look at her sympathetically. She was the lonely wife of jealous husband. All she wanted is someone to talk to but all there was were the ranch hands who didn't want anything to do with her because they would get in trouble.
For instance, when Curley’s wife tries to talk to Lennie in the Barn while he avoids her, she says, “I get lonely, I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad”(42). Curley is careless with his wife since she is always solitary and had no one to talk with because of Curley’s jealousy. Curley is not a good husband since he constantly does not let his wife to speak with George or any other worker of the ranch because he gets upset and jealous. Also, when Curley’s wife is talking to Lennie, Candy, and Crooks in Crooks bunk she states “I think I know where they all went even Curley”(37).
Her behaviors make the reader/s get feelings of contempt or even remorse due to the way she lacks moral and social discipline for herself by acting in such a flirtatious, attention seeking, obnoxious way towards the ranch workers. This is due to her husband depriving her of the attention she deserves, being confined to an all man ranch where she is deprived from socializing with women or traveling to see women and the small house she lives in. “think I’m gonna stay in that tac by four house and listen to how Curley’s gonna lead with his left hook, and then bring in the ol’ right just’ the ol’ one-two and he’ll go down.’’ She lets voices her anger and frustration to Lennie, Candy, and Crooks about her marriage with Curley. During the story she expresses a great deal of loneliness. “I never get to talk to nobody
She is portrayed as a 'tart' (28) and as a flirtatious lady who is going to cause the men trouble (32). Her alienation stems from not having anyone to converse with other than her husband Curley. Also her efforts at conversing with the other males of the ranch went poorly as she was many a time rejected. For example when she tried to talk to George he shrugs her off as much as he can (32). Since she does
Curley’s wife is first introduced when candy describes her to George. Candy says ‘she got the eye’ which implies she spends her time staring at every man she encounters. Following that he also calls her a ‘tart’ indicating that she is a woman that is sexually suggestive. Candy is a genuinely kind and truthful person and calls everyone a ‘hell of a nice fella’ so when he dislikes her we also disapprove of her. Furthermore Steinbeck emphasises this impression of her by her physical appearance in the novel.
Curley’s wife clearly feels neglected by her husband and she likes to create attention for herself as she feels she isn’t noticed. She is extremely lonely, and that is why she is constantly going in to the bunkhouse to allegedly ‘look for Curley’ but really she is crying out for the attention and affection that her loveless marriage lacks. “Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while?” and “Standin’ here talkin’ to a bunch of bindle stiffs – a nigger an a dum dum and a lousy ol’ sheep – an’ likin’ it because they ain’t nobody else.” This shows how desperate she is for contact with people. She is isolated because she is the only woman on the ranch, and because of this Curley is possessive over her. No characters in the novel care for Curley’s Wife (except for Lennie for a brief time) and very little attention is given to her- partly because they are intimidated by the potential wrath of Curley, son of the boss, if they step out of line concerning his wife.
Darl is also brings humiliation for Anse because other townsfolk are always talking about Darl and how strange he is. His parents aren’t the only ones who have a troubled relationship with Darl. Jewel absolutely hates his brother Darl. Darl frequently torments his younger brother giving reason for Jewel to shun Darl. Dewey Dell hates Darl because she can’t keep any secrets from him, because he can look at her and know what she’s hiding.
‘No one cares about me’ this makes the reader feel sorry for her as nobody cares about her and nobody wants to be with her. At Curley’s wife death the reader feels for her as when Lennie is touching her hair and gets harder and harder it says ‘her eyes were wild with terror’ which makes the reader feel bad as she only wanted somebody to talk to and when she finds someone to talk to she gets killed for just being nice and letting Lennie feel her hair. Curley has something to do with his wife wanting attention as he goes out to town every Saturday with the men and they go to the brothel while she sits at home and isn’t even allowed out just to the town. Curley also sort of traps Curley’s wife by not letting her speak to the men but his allowed to do what he wants. She only gets attention from Curley and she doesn’t even get much attention from him so wants to speak to others to make her feel less