Curleys Wife Flashcards
Historical context for curleys wife
Represents the misogyny of women in society of 1930s
Women were expected to do the traditional role of being a housewife and mother at home
Star system out an emphasis on the image rather than acting- glamourised them to look like young ladies
Womens dreams were to become a Hollywood actress as they didn’t have the same privilege and opportunities as men in society
Never Seen a worthwhile individual
Quotes to demonstrate the isolation of curleys wife
“Nobody’d listen to you”
“Everybody out doin something and what am I doin?”
“Bindle stiffs”
- bitter insulting only men left on the ranch while everyone at the brothel.
“I get awful lonely” - desperation by confessing
“Sometimes I’d like to bust him myself” summarises her relationship with Curley
This remark gives us a brief image of what life was like for women as they had no status or value
Quotes for her
“Guess i better look some place else” provocative nature. “Adverb playfully”
“Tramp” “jailbait” by other ranch workers
Red symbolises love romance and danger
- Steinbeck presents her as temptation of female sexuality in male dominated environment
“She looked at her fingernails” - feminine Qualities in prescience of men
Marginalised
Emphasises colour red a lot
