Dreams Flashcards
Curleys wife
Curley’s Wife is the quintessential example of why the American Dream was never meant for everyone. Her unfilfilled dreams and austere life served as a poignant reminder that for many, especially women, the American Dream was not just unattainable, but an illusion never meant to be idolised. Her tragic existence is heigtened in her final moments in the novella. She laments in the belief that she “could made somethin’ of herself”, accentuating the novellas theme of how the American dream always fails the working class. Steinbeck includes this moment to not only underscore her personal disillusionment, but also the broader reality of unattainable ambitions for most during the Great Depression - most workers remained chasing their dreams forever. Curley’s wife is Steinbeck’s mouthpiece; the American Dream is a myth. The colloquial syntax of “coulda” and “somethin’” reflects Curley’s wife’s working class background, subtly reinforcing the socio-economic barriers that have diminished her potential. Furthermore, the vagueness of “somethin’” implies an undefined longing - she does not articulate a specific path she wishes to take until later, highlighting her desperate and tragic notion that she was meant for more. Moreover, Steinbeck could be suggesting that she clings to her unrealistic dreams simply as a way to escape the misery that surrounds her on the ranch. In visualising “all them nice clothes” they wear in Hollywood, she is able, if only briefly, to inhabit the glamorous world she so desperately longs for. Like the ranch workers who fantasize about owning land, her dreams are no more than a facade crushed by the harsh realities of the world Steinbeck depicts. Curley’s wife, and her dreams, serve as a deep metaphor for all who are trapped by their circumstances, with no room to dream big or thrive.
