Curley

Curley’s Wife In the Steinbeck novel ‘Of Mice and Men’, he introduces us to the character of Curley’s wife. She could be interpreted as a mis-fitting character in the novel, as no one relaters to her. This essay will go on to examine the character of Curley’s wife and how characters perceive her and how this influences the readers interpretation of her At the beginning of chapter 2, we hear candy tell George and Lennie about Curley’s wife. Rumors and gossip has been spreading around the ranch. George and lennie are informed that Curley’s wife has only been married for time length of 2 weeks and she is already giving “the eye” to other men on the ranch. If so, than the relationship between Curley and his wife is plain and simple, a loveless affair. Which means Curley’s wife is missing attention, which leads to her flirtatious behavior in the story. Curley’s wife is given a reputation of causing trouble between other characters from different characters in the novel. There is no evidence of her living up to all of the reputation in the novel. Candy says “Well she got the eye” which could have many meanings and then he backs that up with “I seen her give Slim the eye” and finally he says “Well I think Curley’s married…a tart.” Her appearance in the story suggests that she is incongruous on a working ranch and that she is living an opposite life of that she would want to live. She is clearly too overdressed for ranch life. Being a pretty woman is proof to her incongruous actions. She boasts with importance and dresses like a tramp. Her appearance is actually a cry to be noticed and admired by men on the ranch. This could be a result of the failing, empty marriage she is in.

Curley’s wife is probably the most loathed on the ranch. The way she looks and acts leads other characters in the novel to see her as a “tart”. George makes his opinions clear just after he first met her “Jesus, what a tramp”, and “So that’s what Curley picks for a wife”. She just wants someone to talk to. Males on the ranch don’t like her because they think she will get them into trouble. They make judgments without getting to know her first. They judge a book by its cover. Curley, her husband doesn’t trust her with the other ranch hands. She was just out of place on the ranch, and because of that, must have been a really lonely person with lonely feelings. During her first meeting with George and lennie, she had thrown her body forward and leaned against the door frame to imply deliberate and provocative body language. “so that her body was thrown forward” (32) Curley’s wife has a certain way of talking to other men, a flirtatious way. In terms of her behavior, curley’s wife spends a lot of time flirting with other men.” She said playfully” (33) this may also be the aftermath of the loveless affair of curly and his wife She claims to be looking for Curley, and George tells her, without looking at her, that Curley isn't in the bunkhouse. Lennie, however, stares fascinated at the pretty lady in the doorway, which Curley's wife seems to enjoy, "she smiled archly and twitched her body" (35). Curley's wife then leaves and George is more disturbed, realizing that Curley and his wife pose a serious threat to Lennie. Her constant search for her husband is a desperate need for company. She must have also used this as an excuse to mingle with other men. George is frightened, afraid, and scared .he is aware of what curley’s wife is capable of doing .He warns lennie to not look at Curley's wife and Lennie says that he wants to leave, that "this ain't no good place" (36). George refuses to take heed of Lennie's ominous words, claiming that they need to stay and make a little money before they can leave. With this I conclude my essay on curley’s wife. Done by: Abdulla Yousif Alrayes