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Curley's Wife Character Analysis

Decent Essays

In John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, the lonely, flirtatious character, Curley’s wife, is portrayed in many different lights. Curley’s wife is a complex character who is introduced in the early chapters of the book and ultimately causes the end of the novella. During the first four chapters, Curley’s wife is first introduced through Candy, an old ranch worker, who describes her by saying that “she got the eye” and calling her “a tart”, which stands for a sexually provocative woman (Steinbeck 28). Candy’s descriptions were seemingly accurate, as Curley’s wife’s first appearance was her effortless search for her husband––Curley. As the story progresses, the reader can easily assume that her continuous search for Curley is an excuse …show more content…

However, her actions costed her life, for Lennie broke her neck as a result of being frightened. This acts as a turning point in the story because her character, that was affected by a dejected past and long-term loneliness, was put to death, which brought George and Lennie’s dream down with her. Curley’s wife’s depressing past can further be explained through John Steinbeck’s letter to the Broadway actress, Claire Luce. In the letter, Steinbeck gives background about the character Curley’s wife, and details that impacted her character development. Steinbeck describes that “she grew up in an atmosphere of fighting and suspicion” (Steinbeck). These conditions that no child should have grown up in caused her to never trust anyone in fear of being hurt. In conjunction with “moral training [that] was most rigid,” Curley’s wife became someone “impossible to seduce” (Steinbeck). The consequence of being unapproachable was her inability to form strong and meaningful bonds with other people. Accordingly, Curley’s wife felt lonely and disregarded due to having no one to depend on in times of need. Through the information provided by both Chapter Five and John Steinbeck’s letter, Curley’s wife can be seen in a more sympathetic light. The setting in which Curley’s wife grew up in is certainly disreputable and is definitely responsible for the adverse effects of her maturation. It was also disheartening to learn that a “natural trustfulness broke through

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