Character Development of Curley’s Wife in of Mice and Men

Character Development of Curley's Wife in Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men, dives into the lives of migrant workers during the Great Depression. One of the characters who really stands out is Curley's wife. She's not around a lot, but her role is pretty deep. Through her descriptions and how she interacts with others, we see she's more than just a flirt. This essay is gonna look at how Curley's wife changes, showing her vulnerability, loneliness, and dreams. By the end, we'll see she's actually a victim of a society dominated by men.

Vulnerable and Lonely

Curley's wife is first described in terms of her looks. Steinbeck calls her a "girl" with "full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes" (Steinbeck 31). This makes it seem like she's just about looks at first, focusing on her appearance and sexuality. But as the story moves along, it's obvious she's more than that. She's young, trapped in an unhappy marriage, isolated from the other ranch folks.

Steinbeck paints Curley's wife as lonely; she craves attention and company. When she first bumps into Lennie and George, she admits, "I get lonely. You can talk to people, but I can't talk to nobody but Curley" (Steinbeck 87). That says a lot about how alone she feels and how much she wants to connect with others. Even if she acts flirty sometimes, it’s clear she just wants some companionship—no bad intentions there.

Steinbeck uses red to show Curley's wife's vulnerability too. Her red lips and nails aren’t just about her look—they show her need for attention. Red might usually mean passion, but for her? It’s all about needing love in a world that doesn’t quite get her.

The American Dream and Unrealized Potential

No matter what happens around her, Curley's wife has dreams. She tells Lennie about wanting something better: "I coulda been in the movies...I coulda sat in them big hotels, an' had pitchers took of me" (Steinbeck 88). This reveals her unrealized potential—a longing for life beyond the ranch.

Her dreams are like the American Dream back then where success was everything. These hopes make her relatable and challenge the view that she's just trying to flirt with everyone. Steinbeck shows us she wants more from life but is stuck because of gender roles.

The Victim of a Patriarchal Society

The development of Curley's wife's character ends tragically though. When she steps into Crooks’ room and things get heated, she threatens him by saying, "I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny" (Steinbeck 116). Here you see both frustration and vulnerability come out together—it’s rough being denied power when you're surrounded by men who hold all control.

Her death strongly comments on women’s treatment during this period—a victim caught between dreams crushed by an oppressive society.
Steinbeck challenges us readers to look beyond surface judgments toward deeper understanding here.

Conclusion

Curley’s wife’s development throughout Of Mice And Men highlights Steinbeck's skillful portrayal creating complex characters.
Through vulnerabilities alongside unfulfilled dreams entwined within loneliness make one recognize injustices faced daily during those times–and maybe still today too!
So let’s reconsider our initial impressions: perhaps beneath any facade lies someone yearning freedom away from constraints imposed upon them unjustly–like what happened back then under societal norms limiting expression altogether!

References:

• Benson, J.J., & Loftis, A.C., (1990). John Steinbeck Companion.
• Lewis E.J., (2019). The Significance Of Color Imagery In Literature.
• Meyer H., (2007). Reading Life Narratives Through Visual Descriptions
• Priestly B.R., et al..(2015). Literary Criticism During Depression Era America
• Singh D.M.(2020) Women Representation: Past To Present