Depiction Of Sexism In Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck 615 words [Essay Example]
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Depiction of Sexism in of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

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Words: 615 |

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4 min read

Updated: 27 January, 2025

Essay grade:
Good
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Words: 615|Page: 1|4 min read

Updated: 27 January, 2025

Essay grade:
Good
arrow downward Read Review

Has our culture improved of how women are widely viewed? Looking at the book Steinbeck introduces a character named Curley's Wife who is treated poorly simply because she was a woman. Steinbeck's portrayal of Curley's Wife is his indictment of how women were viewed in the 1930’s society. Has anything really changed for women since then? In Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck shows how sexism degrades women and creates false public representation.

Curley's wife is a major female character in Of Mice And Men and is clearly married to a character named Curley, an egotistical farmer that tries to prove his manliness by picking fights with other workers and proving his masculinity by marrying an attractive women. Her name was never given in the book. I believe that she was given no name to emphasize the facts of her basically being Curley's property. Curley's wife hated the idea of being dehumanized and thought of as property, of belonging to someone, but she was. Curley had huge control over his wife which was very common during the Great Depression era. He forbid any other man from talking to her due to his own jealousy. He degrades and humiliates her is every way possible but he's still with her due to wanting to build a reputation. In addition to being ̈ property ̈ and not viewed as a human being, it needs to be added that she was alone female in a very aggressive male environment that went the whole book nameless. I believe she didn't have a name because her opinion and presents wasn ́t important to the ranch. Steinbeck betrayed her like a nobody because she wasn't anybody to the ranch. When she wasn't in the presence of the men insults we're constantly thrown at her. Curley's wife is compared to an animal in an attempt to reduce her being. The men would refer to her as a “tramp”, “bitch”, and “rat-trap”. 

Towards the end of the novel, Curley's wife shows a more emotional side of her when talking with Lennie privately. She finally opens up and reveals her frustration and pent-up emotions. She cried out loud ̈What's the matter with me?̈ Ain't I got a right to talk to nobody? What do they think I am, anyways. I ain't doing no harm to you. Seems like they ain't none of them cares how I got to live.¨ She seemed frustrated and as the only woman on the ranch throughout the entire book it's clear that Curley's wife is mistreated by the sexist men she lives around and has continued to be blamed for her own death. The workers on the ranch look down on her and often speak very negative behind her back. Some could say it's clearly her fault on how she's viewed due to the way she portrays herself publicly. 

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I believe Steinbeck wants us to dislike her at the beginning of the book because, we only seen her as an arrogant, self-absorbed girl who needed to have every ranchers attention. It can be argued that she fits the stereotype of a tease and leads on guys to make herself feel better but, what would you do if the man you unwillingly agreed to spend the rest of your life with continuously puts you down and makes you feel ugly and worthless? She was lonely and the only man who wasn't afraid to talk to her was her own husband and which she loathed. She wasn't some whore she was sought out to be, she was lonely and desperate for human contact. Loneliness is one of the most devastating feelings you can experience. It was a frequent theme I saw throughout the whole story.  

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This essay was graded by
Dr. Charlotte Jacobson
Essay’s grade:
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Expert Review
This essay provides a thoughtful analysis of the depiction of sexism in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," particularly through the character of Curley's Wife. The writer effectively highlights how Steinbeck uses this character to comment on societal views towards women during the 1930s, as well as the impact of those views. The essay delves into Curley's Wife's lack of identity and agency, emphasizing her treatment as property and her isolation in a male-dominated environment. However, while the analysis is insightful, the essay lacks coherence at times due to some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing that can detract from its overall clarity. Additionally, while it touches upon important themes like loneliness and dehumanization, it could benefit from deeper textual evidence and more structured arguments to strengthen its claims. Overall, this essay demonstrates a solid understanding of Steinbeck's critique but would benefit from refining its structure and language for greater impact.
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What can be improved
This essay offers a commendable analysis of sexism in "Of Mice and Men" through the lens of Curley's Wife. However, several improvements could enhance its overall effectiveness. Firstly, the essay would benefit from a clearer structure. Each paragraph should have a distinct focus that contributes to the central thesis. For instance, separating discussions on Curley's Wife's identity, her relationships with men, and themes of loneliness into individual paragraphs could improve coherence. Secondly, while the insights into Curley's Wife's character are valuable, incorporating more textual evidence would strengthen the argument. Specific quotes from the novel can provide concrete support for claims about her treatment and feelings of isolation. Additionally, grammatical errors and awkward phrasing occasionally disrupt clarity. A thorough proofreading session could help eliminate these issues and enhance readability. Lastly, expanding on how societal views towards women have evolved since the 1930s could enrich the conclusion and provide a broader context for Steinbeck's critique. Overall, with these refinements in structure, evidence usage, language clarity, and thematic exploration, this essay has the potential to convey its insights more powerfully.

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Depiction Of Sexism In Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck. (2021, December 16). GradesFixer. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/depiction-of-sexism-in-of-mice-and-men-by-john-steinbeck/
“Depiction Of Sexism In Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck.” GradesFixer, 16 Dec. 2021, gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/depiction-of-sexism-in-of-mice-and-men-by-john-steinbeck/
Depiction Of Sexism In Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck. [online]. Available at: <https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/depiction-of-sexism-in-of-mice-and-men-by-john-steinbeck/> [Accessed 14 Feb. 2025].
Depiction Of Sexism In Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck [Internet]. GradesFixer. 2021 Dec 16 [cited 2025 Feb 14]. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/depiction-of-sexism-in-of-mice-and-men-by-john-steinbeck/
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