Comparing Gender Roles In John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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.

In the novel, the character Curley’s wife is the wife of the Boss’ son and does not have a name that everyone can call her besides Curley’s wife. She is shown to be the only women in the ranch. She presents herself, as a dolled up woman who seeks men’s attention and a flirtatious character. Firstly, when Curley’s wife is introduced, she was seen attractive.

The historical views of woman have set a common pattern that influences the expression of thought regarding gender. This is evident in the book “Of Mice and Men”, within the character of Curley’s Wife. She is the only woman on the ranch, it is described to us that she has a flirtatious attitude. They see her as someone who is a source of temptation and evil and give her no voice in the matter. It is shown that they see her as a source of desire and sin by trying their best to avoid her and evade conversations. George even goes to the extent of telling Lennie to stay away from her since she has the potential to create trouble. She has no voice in this and becomes extremely lonely. This is proven when she opens up her past to the new and mentally

If Curley’s wife could just make some friends and be able to live a little, she may be a lot happier with Curley. However, knowing that she will never get her true dream shows how she most likely will never get the closure and happiness she deserves. Something that many women back then and sometimes nowadays have to deal with and this can be seen in her relationship with Curley, which highlights that same issue. Overall, she deserves to be treated like somebody who is beautiful and talented and has a wonderful personality, not like something that belongs to somebody or is just a pretty thing to look

Women during this time period were only supposed to be in the house doing chores. Curley’s wife had more expectations. In her future she wanted to be a Hollywood star. As she grew up reality caught up with her. She got married and society only saw her doing household chores. In every man’s mind, women did the chores while they work. Curley’s wife’s dream suddenly went down the drain. Curley never paid her any attention and that’s when she started getting flirty with the ranchhands. All the ranchhands saw her as a slut, but all she wanted was to be noticed. She was lonely and wanted to socialize. She wanted someone to hear about her dream, but no one would. Society had it set that women were in charge of the house and only the house. They weren’t supposed to be out and about making big names for themselves. That’s why Curley’s wife’s dreams never came true. She was outcasted based on her

All she wanted was friends and shortly after she dies unable to reach her dreams. Curleys wife is the only woman and her dreams got crushed multiple times throughout her life of wanting to be an actor.

In Of Mice And Men Curley's wife is the most hopeless and misserable character in the story. She has no future as she is stuck with her former husband (Curley) who hates her leaving his sight, she has no friends as she is the only woman on the ranch and Curley will not allow her socializ with the men because he feels that they would steel her, and she has no respect from anyone on the ranch because why should they; She gets the men in trouble just by looking at them because well lets face it shes made out to be a "whore" who is stunningly beautiful, why wouldnt you look; she doesn't even withhold a name (which isnt even mentioned within the story) She is just known as Curleys wife because she is his possesion, his property. I truly feel frustrated

Curley’s wife was a stereotypical housewife in the 1920’s. She never truly wanted to live the type of life she was leading. The reader can infer Curley’s wife was not too satisfied with her life. As a result of her unhappiness, she floated around the ranch in search of the attention and affection that she was missing out on. Her aspirations were torn from her by her mother and had to marry Curley so she could live a some-what decent life.

Curley’s wife felt like her mother held her back from her dreams so in order to hurt her mother, Curley’s wife ran off and married Curley. “’Nother time I met a guy an’ he was in the pitchers. Went out to the Riverside Dance Palace with him. He says he was gonna put me in the movies…Soon’s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it. I never got that letter, I always thought my ol’ lady stole it. Well, I wasn’t gonna stay no place where I couldn’t get nowhere or make something of myself, an’ where they stole your letters. I ast her if she stole it, too, an’ she says no, so I married Curley...” (Steinbeck 87) Curley’s wife felt angry with her mother about getting in the way of her dreams, she wanted to do something that her mother would hate, so she ran off and married Curley out of spite. Curley’s wife sacrificed her own happiness by marrying someone she didn’t love in order to exact revenge on her

This demonstrates how Curley’s wife’s uses her attraction of her body to achieve her desired outcome over the men, thus showing how Curley’s wife goes through the temporary nature of the shifts and notions of power to control the other men while having her life influenced by her husband.

When Curley and Carlson get into an argument about Curley’s wife, Carlson shows that women aren’t equal. He says, “Why’n’t you tell her to stay the hell home where she belongs” (Steinbeck 61). Later, when talking to Lennie, Curley’s wife says, “Wha’s the matter with me? I don’t know why I can’t talk to you” (Steinbeck 85). The first quote shows that men don’t believe women shouldn’t be equal and that they have one purpose, staying at home. The second quote shows what Curley’s wife’s dream is. She just wants someone to talk to and she wants to be able to go anywhere she wants. But dreams take work, and her dream came to an end because of Lennie. When Curley’s wife went to talk to Lennie, she made the mistake of letting him feel her hair. Lennie froze up when she told him to let go and Lennie only panicked. When it was all over, the book says, “When she didn't answer nor move her bent closely over her. He lifted her arm and let it drop. For a moment he seemed bewildered” (Steinbeck 89). This shows that Curley’s wife’s dream will not be realized because she was killed. But even if she didn't get killed, Carlson’s viewpoint on women wouldn't change. Also, Curley’s wife still wouldn't be able to go places and talk with the guys on the ranch. These facts show that women won't be getting equality for a long time. Therefore, Steinbeck shows that equality is hard to come by, by utilizing the character Curley’s wife, and her dream.

Curley’s wife is a complicated character. She is unfaithful and bitter. But that’s only because she is extremely lonely and feels unwanted by her husband. She takes the feeling of dissatisfaction and projects it at all of the men on the ranch. She regrets the direction her life has taken but still has hope that she can achieve her dream. All the characters in the novel feel like outsiders and Curley’s wife is no

Curley’s wife is the major female character in the book. She is domestic, as she is

John Steinbeck uses different methods to present Curley’s Wife and women in the 1930s. Throughout the novella Steinbeck represents women to be lower in society than men. In the novella women only have three different roles. A wife, an aunt and prostitutes. Steinbeck uses these roles to show the roles of women in society. Curley’s wife, Aunt Clara and Susy and Clara from the cathouse represent he microcosm of the women in American society.

She was very attention seeking. She had high hopes and dreams but she couldn’t do what she wanted because women in the 19th century had limits. She moved frequently to find better jobs. She married James Hughes.