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Curley's Wife Victim Analysis

Decent Essays

Imagine running away from home. Then picture marrying someone that you never loved. On top of all of this, envision not being able to fulfill your dreams. This was exactly the case for Curley’s wife. Throughout the novel Curley’s wife was portrayed as a victim in many instances. Curley’s wife appeared to be a victim because she didn’t fulfill her dreams, didn’t love her husband, and was lonely.

To start off, Curley’s wife had a dream of becoming an actress. She was unable to fulfill this dream because she didn’t receive a letter from Hollywood. After never receiving the letter, she gave up and settled for marrying Curley. This is the first reason Curley’s wife appears to be a victim. Curley’s wife confessed her dreams of being an actress to Lennie. She mentioned how she believed that her mother stole …show more content…

She was always visiting the bunkhouse stating that she was looking for Curley when actually she was just looking for company. She never acquires the opportunity to really talk to anyone because Curley doesn’t allow them to speak to her. Along with not being allowed to speak with anyone other than Curley, she is also the only female on the ranch. Being the only female makes many of the men on the ranch prejudice toward her. Throughout the novel this woman is only referred to as “Curley’s wife”. Steinbeck never gives her a name to show that she is an object that is owned by Curley, showing again how she is a victim.

In conclusion, not fulfilling her dreams, not loving her husband, and being lonely were all examples of how Curley’s wife was characterized as a victim. Curley’s wife confessed all of these things to Lennie. She told of how she had no one to talk to, and how she didn’t love her husband. There were also many instances in the novel when she would wander around the ranch “looking for Curley” when all she wanted was someone to talk to. Imagine, if this were your story, would you consider yourself a victim as

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