Curley's Wife

Question 1

How is she described and represented?

Answer 1

• She is simply a character type: Candy is the only old man; Crooks is the only black man and she is the only woman
• She is a possession of Curley: never given a name
• She wears too much make-up and dresses like a “whore” with red fingernails and red shoes with ostrich feathers
• Described often as “jailbait” and a “tart”
• Lennie is tempted by her, calling her “purty” and George has to get him out of a trance like state

Question 2

What is Steinbeck’s initial portrayal of her?

Answer 2

• A mean and seductive temptress
• A liar and manipulator
• Threatens to have Crooks lynched if he disrespects her
• Builds a negative portrayal of her

Question 3

How is hatred towards her softened towards the end?

Answer 3

• Steinbeck explores her dreams
• She wanted to be in movies and was led to believe she could be in them by a man who promised to write to her
• She thinks her mother ripped up the letters he sent her ( it can be assumed he didn’t send her any)

Question 4

What is her biblical connection?

Answer 4

• She represents Eve in Eden: she brings temptation into men’s lives in a way they can not resist
• Like Eve, she is responsible for the corruption of Eden, which is represented by her tempting Lennie, dying, then destroying the ranch dream

Question 5

How do her dreams create sympathy for her?

Answer 5

• They make her seem forgotten

- And the fact she also has a dream makes her appear more human and vulnerable: even the worst of us have our humanity