Curley's Fate To Be Violent

Question 1

Essay structure

Answer 1

IFNTHSQ:
Intro
Fate
Name
Tightly
High
Stiffened
Questions

Question 2

1. Intro

Answer 2

Throughout the novella, ‘Of Mice And Men’, Steinbeck fates Curley to be violent

Question 3

2. Fate

Answer 3

Events are predetermined and cannot be escaped
Novella was originally called ‘Something That Happened’ but was changed to ‘Of Mice And Men’, a line from the poem ‘To A Mouse’ by Robert Burns, all about fate
Fate is presented through the novella’s structure; Curley is never on the same page as Curley’s Wife, until he finds her dead body.
They are fated to not have a close relationship

Question 4

3. Name

Answer 4

Names reflect a character’s personality
Curley’s name is a connotation to a tightly-coiled spring, ready to unwind and jump at any moment
He creates a lot of tension, just like a tightly-coiled spring
Contrasts with Slim’s name, which suggests he is an upstanding and respectable character
Slim and Curley are fated to disagree and oppose each other; Slim gets angry at Curley for constantly asking where his wife is: ‘I’m gettin’ God damn sick of it’

Question 5

4. Steinbeck describes Curley as having ‘tightly-curled hair’

Answer 5

He is an unstable character who finds it hard to contain his anger

Question 6

5. ‘Like the boss, he wore high-heeled boots’

Answer 6

Curley must assert his authority, as it is not inherently respected or valued.
‘High-heeled boots’ reflect his dominance over the other ranch men, that he is higher than them in the tree of authority.
Lower body clothing suggests his authority is not especially recognised and therefore must be asserted

Question 7

6. ‘He stiffened and went into a slight crouch’

Answer 7

Reflects the image of the tightly-coiled spring

Foreshadows fight between Lennie and Curley; it is fated to happen

Question 8

7. Curley always asks questions

Answer 8

Opens up to George and Lennie with, ‘You the new guys the old man was waitin’ for?’
He is the dominant figure who asks questions and people do not question him, which reflects his authority
‘By Christ, he’s gotta talk when he’s spoke to. What the hell are you gettin’ into it for?’
This blasphemous language portrays him as the villain of the novella.