Of Mice and Men - Curley's Wife

Question 1

Main points for Curley’s Wife

Answer 1

• Initial impression: promiscuous/flirtatious
• Flip side
• Lonely
• Oppressed

Question 2

Promiscuous: ‘tart’ ‘her body thrown forward’ ‘rouged lips’
- Candy’s description

Answer 2

Her posture is seen as seductive by displaying of curves
Her red lips represent sex + danger

Question 3

Promiscuous: ‘jail bait’

Answer 3

Her beauty is dangerous and dsastrous
Link to eve = symbol of temptation, leads to downfall of mankind

Question 4

Flip side

Answer 4

All her movements are sexualised **‘breathed strongly’ **

She gets ready as she wanted to be a Hollywood star (her dream)

term ‘jail bait’ means that women were so beautiful which caused men to have no control over their sexual urges

Steinbeck describes Curley’s wife physically more than other characters -> to show women were objectified

They judge Curley’s wife but respect the women at Old Susys?

Question 5

Lonely: ‘I’m looking for Curley’

Answer 5

Curley’s wife is isolated

Question 6

Lonely: ‘lookin in’ ‘she stood in the doorway’

Answer 6

Symbolises her marginalisation
A man and woman’s world are seperate

Question 7

Lonely: ‘I never get to talk to nobody. I get awfully lonely’

Answer 7

Opens up with Lennie
She longs for companionship, not sexual desire

Question 8

Oppressed

Answer 8

Curley’s wife is the only woman on the ranch -> women were trapped in a misogynistic world of men

Question 9

Oppressed: ‘Curley’s Wife’

Answer 9

Nameless, no identity
She is objectified

Question 10

Oppressed: ‘I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny’

Answer 10

Finds greater weaknesses in others to feel a little power

Steinbeck emphasises that power makes people cruel, and gain power by exploiting other’s weaknesses