The loneliness she experiences forces her to put down those characters who are socially lower than her on the ranch. Steinbeck makes Curleys wife sound like she is trying to convince herself that her dreams could come true. Remembering that George said to go to the brush in times of trouble, Lennie sets off for their designated meeting spot, unaware that this accidental killing has sealed his fate. In the story, her name isnt mentioned, instead called "Curleys wife". Latest answer posted November 19, 2020 at 6:35:21 PM. Seems Curleys Wife admission to Lennie. Symbolizes her objectification. He says he was gonna put me in the movies.Soon's he got back to Hollywood, he was gonna write to me about it.". Candy tries to get her to leave, but she doesn't go. WebSherilyn Fenn. She is the way she is because of her own failed dreams, and her death, at the hands of Lennie, is the end of Lennie, George, Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. English with Ms S. 3. In the story, her name isnt mentioned, instead called "Curleys wife". eNotes Editorial, 30 Nov. 2020, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/in-of-mice-and-men-how-and-why-does-lennie-kill-162143. First, Lennie liked Share. How Did Critics React to Of Mice and Men? Curley's wife is usually referred to as a tramp, tart, or a looloo by the men on the ranch. TK Waters has been an adjunct professor of religion at Western Kentucky University for six years. The wife of the ranch owner's son, Curley, dreams of fame. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. On page 98 "Curley's wife lay with a half covering of yellow hay. He quickly and emphatically says he has a Luger that can do the job, and he has to be reminded by Slim to take a shovel so Candy will be spared the glimpse of the corpse. beach house with private pool south padre island. Latest answer posted The dress symbolizes Why does curley's wife come into crooks' room? In chapter 5, Curley's wife walks into the barn and starts a conversation with Lennie, who is worried about George punishing him for accidentally killing the dog. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. In short, Curley's wife dreams of a better life than the one she's currently living. The men have an inability to see past the gender of Curleys wife, look down upon her, and constantly shame her for her seemingly flirtatious actions. Lennie realizes right away that "I done a bad thing," though he seems unable to comprehend the consequences of his actions beyond making George upset with him. EXTRACT 1: CANDY TALKS ABOUT CURLEYS WIFE Seems to me like hes worse lately, said the swamper. When she grabs his hand and puts it on her hair, she is just trying to be nice, but it is a fatal mistake. Curleys Wife threatens to have Crooks lynched, all because he, Steinbeck presents Curleys wife as the only women in the ranch and because she doesnt have a name it shows that she is not important and she is someones belonging. George had to hit him over the head with a fence post to make him let go, and the woman accused Lennie of assaulting her. Candy has a newfound excitement about the dream, alike Lennies excitement about the rabbits, in the dream of a life away from the prejudice of the ranch | Themes ~ Curley's wife's last words were: "Look out, now, you'll muss it. You stop it now, you'll mess it all up Let go You let go!." When Curley's wife attempts to console him, she discovers that he likes to pet soft things and allows him to feel her hair. Before the action of the story begins, circumstances have robbed most of the characters of these wishes. Among those who are living the dream of homeownership is Kewanna Shaw and her husband, Kalen, and two sons, Kingsley and Christopher. All page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the penguin books edition of of mice and men published in 1993. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even funny'. A man once told her he'd put her in movies, but Curley's wife never heard back from him. This manipulates us by leading us into having a negative view of her., Curleys wife Flirting with the workers to gain attention because of how she is shunned by everyone just like Crooks. I She wants to be famous and have a tremendous acting career. In three walls there were small, But after she left her home, to live with Curley, her life started to go downhill because discrimination against women suppresses many of her rights as a human. WebCurleys wife Of Mice and Men is not kind in its portrayal of women. Crooks, the black stable-hand only dreams of being able to have friends and be seen as an equal to others. Although she is defined in a negative light by both the characters and author throughout most of the story, as a temptress and manipulator, after her death John Steinbeck conveys her sense of youth and innocence. Her dream is to be who she wants to be without anyone judging her and no one telling her no you cant do this (her mother) . Please give page numbers if possible. Curley's Wifes American Dream. When Curley's wife is killed and placed in the hay by Lennie, Steinbeck writes, 'And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. Says I was a natural. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. WebCurleys wife is focused on how her life could have been if she had been an actress, showing how her dream is a type of escapism for her. Crooks joins George and Lennies dream of owning their own land, in effort to restore his dream of living and playing on his fathers ranch with white people. (Whichlet's just say itmaybe a tad impractical for a ranch?) 3. I don't know why. This descriptive passes comes at the point in the novella when Curleys wifes body is discovered. She is often portrayed as an antagonist, a character who stands in opposition to the main character, but her more human side emerges as the novel progresses. Large place. acceptance. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Why can't I talk to you? George specifically recommends Lennie to not even look at that bitch I never seen no piece of jailbait worse than her (p.36) knowing Lennies reputation for trouble. Like Curleys wife, Crooks is labelled by the other men of the ranch and discriminated against. Lennie and George are migrant workers. In Chapter 2, Lennie sensed that the ranch is not a safe place for them. Flirtatious: Curley's wife is flirtatious to the point where it makes the men on the ranch uncomfortable. -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Curleys Wife appears in, ago, and has been cockiern ever recently in an attempt to show off for his. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. She is compared to Eve in the Garden of Eden, and she is portrayed as bringing ruin to the men. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. She admits to Lennie that Curley is not a nice man and regrets marrying him. WebOne time when Curleys wife was in Riverside Dance Palace a man came up to her and told her he was going to put her in the movies. Dress. what was her dream? In fact, women are treated with contempt throughout the course of the book. While the rest of the workers are playing horseshoes, Lennie laments to himself inside the barn about accidentally killing his puppy. Says I was a natural. Firstly, Curleys wife is not actually given a name. She uses this feminine appearance and flirtatious, predatory behaviour in an attempt to communicate and attract attention to herself. Although they may seem like polar opposites as Crooks is a black male and Curleys Wife is a white female, they have underlying similarities such as the discrimination they faced, not only from the men on the ranch but, from the society of the 1920s and 30s. But he kills her and the dream too. Curley's wife is a Wistfully, she adds. When confiding in Lennie, in the final scene of act 5, she tells him I dont like Curley. (2020, Jun 01). Slim in Of Mice and Men: Description & Quotes, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Of Mice and Men: Literary & Historical Context, Lennie Small in Of Mice and Men: Description & Quotes, Who is Candy in Of Mice and Men? When they attempt to dismiss her, Curley's wife responds by saying: Whatta ya think I am, a kid? Summary and Analysis Number of pages. Curley's wife's dream is to become a movie actress. Finally, Curleys wife dreams of being a famous actress. katniss everdeen had to fight against a corrupted 'government' to reach freedom. "I could of hoed in the garden and washed dishes for them guys. The wife of Curley is young and naive, and she talks to men by flirting with them. Went out to the Riverside Dances with him. She goes on to insult her husband, telling them that she isn't going to stay confined in their small house and that she knows his hand is busted because he was beaten in a fightthough he claims to be incredibly tough. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. What does the title Of Mice and Men mean. Answered by Aslan on 10/11/2014 5:44 PM Lennie- "If you don' want me I can g off in the hills an' find a cave. The theme for Of Mice and Men is everyone has dreams and dreams dont always come true., Many people aspire for greatness in life; whether its being famous, or living the American dream, there is always more out there that people want. Crooks. Web181 Words. She is also talked about harshly by some of the men on the ranch, being labelled as a rat-trap and being refused to be spoken to. Just like with Eve, her actions have a tragic outcome. 1. Lennie originally was in the barn mourning the death of his puppy. But he's drawn to Curley's wife by the softness of her hair as well as her overpowering sexuality. What is the main conflict in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Page: Curleys wife has one similarity to Lennie and George. In this Curleys decision to hunt Lennie down for the murder of his wife is one circumstance in which a characters morals are deemed more important than the laws that govern society. In chapter 4, she insults Lennie, Candy, and Crooks, telling them that they are all cowards. Curley's wife is depicted as one of the loneliest characters on the ranch, and she is unhappily married to the insecure, domineering Curley. WebOf Mice and Men: Chapter 2 Lyrics. She is discussed in terms of what she looks like, not her personality. But, unfortunately her dream was corrupted because of the society she is living in. Her words, which are shocking to the men, show that she is more than what meets the eye, and will not let her gender categorize her and set her apart from others. I get awful lonely.. The first time you hear about Curleys wife is when candy describes her to George. An error occurred trying to load this video. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. A man pretended that he was from hollywood who took advantage of curley's wife, he lied to her She tells Lennie her story about wanting to become an actress, and about how lonely she is, manipulating Lennie into spending time with her. However this backfires and leaves her in a no-win situation as her heavily sexualised manner is the key point of criticism amongst the men as they describe her as a tart and a piece of jail bait who, if approached, will only lead to trouble as she can ultimately cause the destruction of their own versions of the American Dream. Curley treats his wife like a possession. She is defined by her role: Curley's wife or When Curleys wife was fifteen, she coulda been in the movies an had pitchers took of me. It is. She is simply referred to as Curleys wife, which suggests that she is merely a possession of Curleys and nothing more. Dreamer: Curley's wife has dreams of becoming rich and famous by starring in movies. This is not the only villainous quality Curleys Wife has; she is also very harsh towards some of the ranch workers, especially Crooks the black stable buck. The wife of Curley is pretty and is described as wearing a lot of makeup. She holds on to that dream and talks about what could have been. I aint doin no harm to you (Steinbeck 96). "A man got to have some rights even if he don't like 'em." Curley's Wife has always had the childhood dream of becoming famous, and still has the dream by the end of the book, but loses hope. George. Source: izquotes.com. Curley's wife, whom Steinbeck does not give a name, is described as pretty and wearing a lot of makeup. And then she goes on to speak about the dreams she once had: I tell ya I could of went with shows. Foreshadowing is heavy in this chapter with the repetition of the mens' attitudes toward Curley's wife. This answer will tell us to which extent, is Curley's wife a victim, whether towards her flirtatious behaviour, or to everyone's representation of her. succeed. Study Key Quotations/ideas - Curley's Wife flashcards from hannah thomsett's class online, or in Brainscape's iPhone or Android app. What George does not seem to realize is how dangerous Lennie's strength can be, a danger that Steinbeck makes clear when Lennie crushes Curley's hand. While looking for her husband, Curley's wife says to Candy, "Nobody can't blame a person for lookin." Not jus one, neither. In the barn Soons he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about itI never got that letterI always thought my ol lady stole it (Steinbeck 44). - Description & Quotes, Who is Curley in Of Mice and Men? I'll talk to you later. In the first sentence I meant the "pictures" as in movies. She said darkly, "Maybe I will yet." Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Everyone goes out of their way to ensure that they dont Curley's wife is a young, pretty woman whose name is never mentioned in the novella. Topic Tracking: Dreams 5. So, she says, she was not going to stay at home with her mother preventing her from finding opportunities to become an actress. For most of the novel, Curleys wife is depicted as the tramp tart and loo loo that the men perceive her to be. It stems from the following: "I tell you I ain't used to livin' like this. Curley's wife has big dreams of becoming a famous actress in the movies, but her death signifies the end of her dream. Wife lives over in the bosss house. In addition to becoming an actress, Curley's wife also dreams of leaving her pugnacious, domineering husband. This is the familiar theme of loneliness an isolation so prevalent in this novella except from a young woman's point of view. Lennie is too rough, and he panics when she tries to get away from him. Curley's wife desperately wanted to feel like somebody special. quotes from Candy, George, Lennie, Curley's Wife. She gets no attention and doesn't really have anything to live for anymore. Eve is also depicted as a temptress in the Genesis story, and is blamed for her and Adam's expulsion from the paradise of Eden. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. In the Genesis narrative, Eve tricks Adam into eating the forbidden fruit. She is the way she is because of her own failed dreams, and her death, at the hands of Lennie, is the end of Lennie, George, Crooks, and Candy's dream of getting a farm together. Candy. Other quotes: She had full, rouged lips and wide spaced eyes, heavily made up. For example, quickly, cautiously. Chapter 3 brings that prophesy to light with a number of occurrences that are dark and violent. Most of the men go off to a brothel one night, and Lennie and Candy, who were not of the party, made their way to Crooks's room, where Curley's wife shows up, again, looking for her husband. Page 78. What quotes show that Crooks is lonely in Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck? Her early dream was to become an actress, the achievement of which was thwarted by the objections of her mother. Email Invalid email. Removing #book# Accessed 4 Mar. Furthermore, his room is separate from the others because they dont want nothing to do with him., Curleys wife is the only female on the ranch and is described in a very feminine and incongruous manner, full, rouged lips and wide spaced eyes, heavily made-up. Towards the end of the novel, the fact is that each of the characters American Dream is just that, a dream, which is unattainable. What page does curleys wife tell us that she wanted to be a movie star. Steinbeck uses these adverbs to show that Curleys wife is talking rather fast but also watching what she is saying because she might not be able to 100% trust Lennie but as we read on we learn that she starts to trust Lennie as she opens up to him about her feelings and dreams. WebBe it any kind of academic work and from any domain, our writers will get it done exclusively for you with the greatest efficiency possible. Why did Curley's wife marry Curley in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men? :dont you worry about talkin to me) while they were talking she is asked him to touch her hair and that leads to her death and the end of her dream. Even though Curleys wife despised Curley she could never leave him. Candys American Dream is to be apart of Lennie and Georges farm. She wanted to leave her little life in her small town behind with visions of grandeur. because the american dream is all about opportunity and self_invention and be who want to be. Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife after he begins shaking her so violently that he breaks her neck. This prompts Curley's wife to ask him why he likes rabbits so much. Curleys wife back story Curleys wifes dreams reflect the American Dream. Copy. The other characters refer to her only as "Curley's wife". Rather, there are many parallels between her and Eve from the Genesis 'Garden of Eden' story. The man that Curleys wife was conversing with about acting, he never talked to her again. Of Mice and Men Chapter 5 quotes. Now her rouged cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly.' As an African American, Crooks has the lowest station on the ranch and so Curleys wife intimidates him through racism - Listen, Nigger (p.80) in order to make herself feel, The characters of Crooks and Curleys Wife are similar in the sense that they are both outcasts on the ranch. In the 1930s, the year this novel was set, once married the women became the mans belonging, and the womens belongings also became his such as; money, clothes etc. There was another opportunity: "a guywas in pitchers. Lennie carefully answers that he likes to pet soft things. They have a master's degree in religious studies from Western Kentucky University and a bachelor's degree in English literature and religious studies from Western Kentucky University. For example Curleys wife, has become very bitter due to her loneliness and unfulfilled dreams. Categories: Character Wife Download Essay, Pages 4 (987 words) Views 2123 The character of Curleys Wife is one of the most significant characters in the book as she In chapter 4, Curley's wife walks into Crooks's small room attached to the barn and interrupts the men having a conversation. Her unfulfilled dream serves as a commentary on the limitations and injustices faced by women in the 1930s, when the novel is set. What chapter and page please. Before she married Curley, his wife dreamed of becoming an actress. She may be lonely; she may be happy to sit down and pour her heart out to Lennie; but that's about as far as she's prepared to go.