Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Language Analysis

"Jesus, what a tramp!" George of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men exclaims after meeting Curley's wife (Steinbeck 32). Steinbeck’s humor is distinct in the famous novel, but does the text have a deeper meaning? As a female, it is unfathomable to comprehend such acrimony towards women. Yet while reading this world-renowned text, I became infuriated with every word typed. John Steinbeck’s 1937 novel “Of Mice and Men” clearly shows an utter disregard for women through the use of derogatory language, objectification, and stereotyping.

Undoubtedly, the men’s first impression of Curley’s Wife was negative. The minute the only female character was introduced, hateful and derogatory language harshly rolls off of the men’s tongues. “Don’t even take a look at that bitch. I don’t care what she says and what she does.” George says when Lennie claims how ‘purdy’ she is (Steinbeck 32). Although Lennie tries to reassure George that he ‘meant no harm’ looking at her, George responds saying

For instance, in the first few pages of the story we learn about Lennie’s love for soft things and his terrible luck with keeping anything fragile alive. “I wasn’t doin’ nothing bad with it, George. Jus’ strokin’ it.” Lennie explains as he hands over the dead mouse into George’s outstretched hand. (Steinbeck 9). “You broke it pettin’ it.” George observes, proving that Lennie’s innocent petting crushed the life out of the small fragile mouse (Steinbeck 9). Assuredly, this is the same way Curley’s Wife was killed. This objectifies women like a mouse, weak and fragile. As if that wasn’t enough, women are not only compared to weak animals, but also treated like them. Just as owners care for their pets, Curley is constantly criticized for not “looking after his god damn wife.” (Steinbeck 62), as if women were something men have to constantly look after and keep locked away. The objectification of women is clearly shown and is