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Representation of women in literature
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Representation of women in literature
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Curly’s wife, a tart with an eye or a lonely, depressed woman. According the male characters in the book Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife is seen as a woman who cheats and wants to sleep around with everyone. However, I think there is another side to the story. One reason is that from the book Of Mice and Men the character Candy says, “An’ Curley’s pants is just crawlin’ with ants,” (page 51). Another reason is Curley’s wife says Crooks, “Think I like to stick in that house all the time?” (page 77). Finally, my last reason a worker on the ranch, George says, “Ranch with a bunch of guys on it ain’t no place for a girl, specially like her.” With these reasons this is why I think Curley’s wife’s personality is misinterpreted. The fact that Curley is known to enjoy starting fights by the other workers on the ranch is my first theory on his wife’s depression. She also says to Lennie, who had fought with Curley, “I’m glad you bust up Curly a little bit. Sometimes I’d like to bust him myself.” This leads to a point that Curley maybe abusing his wife. In the story, Slim tells Curley’s wife that he had seen Curley heading to their house looking for her, she seems to not be able to get out of the room …show more content…
The book doesn’t mention Curley’s wife having any friends or family that would visit her. However, the book mentions quite often how she would visit the other workers claiming to be looking for her husband. With this point, it seems instead of flirting, Curley’s wife is looking for attention that her husband doesn’t give enough of. In the story when she says, “They left all the weak ones here,” (page 77) I don’t believe she was talking about Candy, or the other workers still there. It seems that she knows her place as a woman and when her husband leaves for a ‘good time’ she is left behind. In result her flirting perhaps be a
In John Steinbeck’s book Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck portrays Curley’s wife as a flirtatious, mischievous, and over all isolated woman. Steinbeck doesn’t give this character a name, yet she is one of the most important characters in the story. Curley’s wife first comes off as flirtatious to the main characters, George and Lenny, when they first hear about her from the character Candy . Candy is talking about how she gives men “the eye”. He also displays his feelings about her by saying, “Well, I think Curley’s married… a tart”(28). This is setting George and Lenny up to expect she is a flirt.. Steinbeck describes Curley’s wife in her first introduction as a scantily dressed woman.. Steinbeck writes, “Both men [George and Lenny] glanced up, for the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off. A girl was standing there looking in. She had full, roughed lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled cluster, like sausages. She wore a cotton house dress and red mules, on the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers”(31). The color red is sometimes considered for portraying a sign of danger or sex. This passage supports Curley’s wife as being flirtatious and also how she’s dangerous and can cause trouble displaying herself while she is married. Also, when George and Lenny are talking to Curley’s wife she tries to flirtatiously talk to them too. After their first conversation she re-adjusts herself. Steinbeck displays her with “She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward”(31). Steinbeck is explaining to the reader in detail that Curley’s wife is trying to show herself to Lenny and George to get thei...
She needed people to talk to, like the others do. “A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I’ll tell ya a guy gets too lonely and he gets sick.” (Steinbeck, 72-73). Crooks has shown us that he truly needs someone however he can’t because he is different. This goes for Curley's wife as well. Those who are different are lonely because no one wants to get involved with them. When she is lonely, Curley's wife goes to talk to people but they never accept request. “I get lonely, you can talk to people but I can't talk to nobody but curly. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?” (Steinbeck, 87). Curley's wife explains that she is lonely. However, no one really notices it. She knows that she is claimed by someone she does not love. She only wants someone else to talk to him. Have her being viewed the way she was, was unlikely to happen. Being the woman on the ranch was awfully hard to live happy. She knew that they won't talk to her, so depression became a factor.
Curley's wife, comparable to most other characters in the novel, is a type of character with little discrepancy, moreover being the only woman in novel. Curley’s wife is demonstrated by her position and part. This part is however, being a possession of Curley or a wife. She is heavily insulted and looked upon as inferior: George and Candy call her "jailbait" and "tart", which supports the fact that he has no voice and as a matter of fact, no name – simply being referred to as Curley’s wife. Due to her lack of power, she attempts to gain it by leeching off those with power. This leeching is portrayed as her seducing the other men on the ranch who have large presence like Slim: “Hi Slim” supports a casual and somewhat flirtatious approach to the other men. She seduces other by wearing far too much makeup and dressing like a "whore" with “red fingernails” and red shoes with ostrich feathers.
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck describes the simple dream which enlightens hope for George and Lennie’s life. Especially Lennie, all he thinks about until the end is tending rabbits. And George wants to get their own ranch so they don’t need to work for others anymore. It seems as if they are going to achieve it. However, several characters complicate the dream and finally cause the tragedy. The character of Curley’s wife doesn’t mean to complicate the dream. while Curley intends on doing so. Therefore, in regards to the issue of complicating the dream, I believe that Curley and Curley’s wife are to blame.
Curley’s wife’s femininity may be seen as her greatest weakness or flaw to most, but she rapidly discovers that it is also her only weapon on the ranch and learns to use it to her advantage. Therefore, she puts up an alluring and sultry front in an attempt to receive attention, because she is aware that none of the men on the farm respect her because of her position as a woman. The men's blatant lack of respect for her belittles the miniscule amount of power she has acquired
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.” This explains his views on Curley’s wife. And when she dies he calls her a ...
Steinbeck describes Curley's Wife as a very friendly young women. For example, when Steinbeck describes her when she says, “She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward” (31). When reading this, one can learn that Curley’s Wife is a very friendly women who is just looking for someone to talk to. She is forced to live on the farm and needs to find something to do, or someone to talk to while she is stuck there.
All through the book Curley’s Wife is very “open” to everyone she meets. The reason for this can be interpreted by her and Curley’s “so-called” marriage. The relationship between Curley’s Wife and Curley seems to be somewhat unstable as he is always asking “Any you guys seen my wife?” (pg. ). This also shows how protective Curley seems to be as he is always checking up on where his wife is. Curley’s insecurity seems to cage in his wife from having any kind of a friendship with any other men. In turn, the wife gets so sick of being isolated like this and relieves her loneliness by conducting secret conversations with many other men on the ranch. As a result many of the ranch hands see her as a tramp but it can be viewed that all she really wants is a person to talk to.
Curley and his wife are constantly looking for each other, and problems arise because of her existence. The following quote is presented by Slim towards Curley. “Well, you been askin’ me too often. I’m gettin’ God damn sick of it. If you can’t look after your own God damn wife, what do you expect me to do about it? You lay offa me” (Steinbeck 60-61). This quote foreshadows that Curley will start one of his fits. Steinbeck is showing an example of misogyny; Curley’s wife’s existence is ultimately the reason why Curley mauled Lennie. Candy explains how Curley’s wife potentially ruins George and Lennie’s dream: “‘You God damn tramp,’ he said viciously. ‘You done it, di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.’ He sniveled, and his voice shook. ‘I could of hoed in the garden and washed dishes for them guys’” (Steinbeck 95). Candy and the other men on the ranch know that Curley’s wife is a threat, and her death means even more trouble. Candy complains that he could have helped George and Lennie accomplish their dream, but now, it is nearly impossible. He previously cautions George and Lennie that they could lose their jobs because of her. However, Lennie is one of the “weak” characters that Curley’s wife plans to manipulate, and so he soon gives into her persuasion. This
Therefore, she receives some attention from the migrant workers, but, ironically, Curley’s wife also faces isolation for being the only female. Because of this, she tries to attract attention and talk to the men to counteract her loneliness. An example of this, is when she comes to the bunkhouse “trying to find Curley...” (31). When Lennie is first introduced to Curley’s wife, he notices that she is pretty, and stares at her, which satisfies her longing for attention: “Lennie’s eyes moved down over her body, and though she did not seem to be looking at Lennie she bridled a little” (31). Because she knows Lennie is interested in her, while many of the other men tend to ignore her when she flirts, Curley’s wife begins to talk to Lennie more and more as she tries to find companionship. In addition, Curley’s wife is looked down upon by the other men: “ Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good” (95). She is seen as property, and the men working on the ranch frequently refer to her in derogatory ways: “... I never seen no piece of jailbait worse than her… she’s a rattrap” (32). Furthermore, since Curley has authority, the men stay away from Curley’s wife when she is being flirtatious. Even George, the newcomer to the ranch, picks up on the clues and realizes that interacting with Curley’s wife could mean trouble; he tells Lennie, “...you keep away from her…” (32). Later, when Curley’s wife is trying to talk to Lennie, he tells her, “George says I ain’t to
The first description of Curley’s Wife states that she gives multiple ranch workers “the eye” despite being “married two weeks.” From this we can instantly deduce that she is somewhat of a “tart” however if we evaluate further this could explain that she is lonely and not content with her new husband. The fact that she is giving other ranch workers “the eye” despite being married makes us feel no sympathy for her and instantly portrays her as endeavouring and potentially dangerous, although, on the other hand we can understand her restriction by Curley which makes us feel sympathy.
Curley?s wife had the most pathetic and depressing life. Curley?s Wife spent her whole life trying to grab attention. She was always labeled and ignored by everyone on the ranch, an example of this is when George tells Lennie that she was trouble and to stay away from her. Curley?s wife was ignored and used from early on, when she was given false intentions on being a movie star.
Curley’s wife is probably the most loathed on the ranch. Because of the way she looks and acts, people think she is easy, or a "tart". " ‘Jesus, what a tramp,’ he said. ‘So that’s what Curley picks for a wife.’ " said George, p.35. She just wants someone to talk to.
The character of Curley’s Wife is very hard to unravel, as throughout the book, Steinbeck’s representation of women through characters such as George and Candy, is very harsh. This is because the sociological opinion at that time was that they were either, mothers, sisters, or prostitutes, as the audience soon see, George and other ranch workers refer to her as “bitch” “loo loo” and “tramp”. There were also a growing number of prostitutes during the Great Depression period, as they would offload their services to those whom were able to pay and have some decent income during the Depression. Other aspects that may make Curley’s Wife seem like a tart, is Curley’s “Glove Fulla’ Vaseline”. Curley literally keeps a glove full of Vaseline, in order to keep his hand soft, possibly for a sexual act. Curley boasts to Candy that the hand is for his wife, which tells us that she gives him consent to do these acts to her, and also, Curley’s nerve to inform fellow workers about his glove shows that he believes that his own wife is a tart, which is very controversial today, but back then, women were seen as nothing more than possessions, yours to do what you will. George informs Lennie to avoid Curley’s Wife at all costs, and not to talk to her, because of her promiscuous behaviour, he believes t...
Curley's wife was just misunderstood by the characters in the book and even most of the readers. Because she represents sexism and many people are judging her without looking at the bigger picture or thinking about why she might have did what she did just goes to show how quick we are to discriminate. Just like in today's society people still think we're in the 1950's when in reality it's 2016 and times are changing. Women don't "belong" in the kitchen and men don't have to fit the picture perfect image of "manliness". If you don't continue to move forward, you will be left behind, people need to learn how to have an open mind or it will stop our society from growing as a