Of Mice and Men - Curley Flashcards
Main points for Curley
- Powerful
- Neglectful of his life
- Insecure
Powerful: ‘boss’s son’
Carries high status on the ranch due to his privileged position
Powerful: ‘high - heeled boots’
Tries to establish his power by dressing like the boss (his father)
His power is artificial -> contrasts Slim = natural leader
Powerful: ‘won’t ever get canned’
sets him apart from other characters
he can afford to cause trouble -> contrasts George (worrying about getting into trouble)
Powerful: Context
Steinbeck uses Curley to represent landowners at the time, which he viewed as exploitative of ranch workers
Unemployment rates were high due to Dustbowel and Great Depression -> employers could afford to treat the workers cruelly as they could easily be replaced
Steinbeck criticises Capitalism and says it placed power into the wrong hands
Neglectful of his wife: Curley’s wife says ‘I’m looking for Curley’
Always looking for Curley -> creates distance
Even though they have been married only 2 weeks, he goes to Old Susy’s Brothel
Neglectful of his wife: ‘comes to life’
Loveless marriage
Sees it as an attack of personal property giving him a chance to reestablish his authority
Neglectful of his Wife: Context
The poor treatment of his wife mirrors patriarchal society where women were seen as the weaker sex
Insecure: ‘a glove fulla vaseline’ to keep his hand ‘soft for his wife’
He requires attention and pride, does not want to lower it
Insecure: Candy says that ‘Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys’
He tries to picture himself as a strong person, but really he is just like another small guy
Insecure: Fight scene
Targets Lennie because he think that he is laughing at him but is actually smiling while thinking of their future ranch.
To prevent embarrassment, he listens to Slim of saying that his hand ‘got caught in a machine’ when Lennie crushed it
Insecure: Context
Man were pictured as strong + a provider
Curley was the opposite, as he did not physically have the body of a ideal man, so seeks to prove his masculinity
The have a lustful wife was an insult as it suggests that he is uncapable of controlling the ‘weaker sex’
Violent + exerts his power on other ranch members: ‘Hands closed into fists’ ‘into a slight crouch’
He is defensive
He is always ready for a fight
Violent + exerts his power on other ranch members: Lennie covered his face with his huge paws and bleated with terror’
Attempts to instill fear in others to gain superiority
Violent + exerts his power on other ranch members: Context
His violence links to the exploitative nature of the ranch
Steinbeck critiques the brutal world created by capitalism. It has created a desire for power + fear of losing it -> results in the oppression of the weakest members of society
