Natalie Boyle
Mr. Marshall
Humanities
9/23/14
Committed to Misery
The red boots she constantly wore reflected her fiery personality. Curley’s wife, from the novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, is a lonely distraught women trapped in her marriage. Her husband, Curley, is a wealthy ranch owner in the midwest who is very possessive and protective of his dear wife. The novel focuses on two workers that land up at their ranch and their experiences on the farm. In the end, it was her admirable beauty that lead to her fatal death, yet she treated the workers with cruelty and ended up becoming a victim.
Curley’s wife was a tall, beautiful woman that almost all of the ranch workers admired. On the farm she had many names, some should not be repeated but the most common was trouble. Her long auburn hair pulled up into a tied twist contrasting with her vibrant red finger nail polish and ostrich feather boots made her irresistible. "Lennie's eyes moved down her body, and though she did not seem to be looking at Lennie she bridled a little." (Steinbeck,31) Lennie watched her, fascinated by her beauty. She was a very captivating women. Because of her physical beauty she was able to manipulate and exploit men.
Curley’s wife took the pain and suffering she felt from her marriage and treated to the workers so they would feel the same. Curley was very protective of his wife. Often times throughout the novel he would be running all over looking for her trying to figure out where she is. In reality, the more Curley tried to protect her, the more she felt trapped and lonely. She expresses her pain by treating the men on the ranch with brutality and at one point she even threatens one of the workers. Still, in order to make herself feel bigger, she has to seek out those who seem smaller. She cruelly cuts down Candy for his old age and meekness, Lennie for being a dumdum, and worst of all, she threatens Crooks with a lynching. Curley’s wife exposes she is a true villain when she threatened Crooks. She seems like she hates the workers but the truth is she hates herself for choosing to marry Curley and committing the rest of her life to him and the ranch. Curley's wife may have been cruel and evil but a small part of her heart was sweet.
Curley’s wife acted as a villain, however, she was merely a victim herself. When she was younger, Curley’s wife had the opportunity to go to Hollywood and become a star but when that failed, she married Curley. Ever since then, she has become a cold and bitter woman with a longing for freedom. In the end she finally does find freedom; in her death. "She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. Now her rouged cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly. The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted. " (Steinbeck, 125) Curley's wife was released from her torment through her murder.
Throughout the novel Curley’s wife is expressed as a flirtatious and beautiful woman yet her life is ended when she gave up her tormenting personality and shows her true vulnerability. The walls she built up inside could no longer protect her from her fatality. The question that lingers is, was Curley’s wife an evil manipulator after all or a victim of her circumstances?
https://docs.google.com/a/hightechhigh.org/document/d/1caJTDD3TPtwDBPzm3dIWamoYHBpfZn8DM4DiaEfTj20/edit?usp=sharing
Mr. Marshall
Humanities
9/23/14
Committed to Misery
The red boots she constantly wore reflected her fiery personality. Curley’s wife, from the novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, is a lonely distraught women trapped in her marriage. Her husband, Curley, is a wealthy ranch owner in the midwest who is very possessive and protective of his dear wife. The novel focuses on two workers that land up at their ranch and their experiences on the farm. In the end, it was her admirable beauty that lead to her fatal death, yet she treated the workers with cruelty and ended up becoming a victim.
Curley’s wife was a tall, beautiful woman that almost all of the ranch workers admired. On the farm she had many names, some should not be repeated but the most common was trouble. Her long auburn hair pulled up into a tied twist contrasting with her vibrant red finger nail polish and ostrich feather boots made her irresistible. "Lennie's eyes moved down her body, and though she did not seem to be looking at Lennie she bridled a little." (Steinbeck,31) Lennie watched her, fascinated by her beauty. She was a very captivating women. Because of her physical beauty she was able to manipulate and exploit men.
Curley’s wife took the pain and suffering she felt from her marriage and treated to the workers so they would feel the same. Curley was very protective of his wife. Often times throughout the novel he would be running all over looking for her trying to figure out where she is. In reality, the more Curley tried to protect her, the more she felt trapped and lonely. She expresses her pain by treating the men on the ranch with brutality and at one point she even threatens one of the workers. Still, in order to make herself feel bigger, she has to seek out those who seem smaller. She cruelly cuts down Candy for his old age and meekness, Lennie for being a dumdum, and worst of all, she threatens Crooks with a lynching. Curley’s wife exposes she is a true villain when she threatened Crooks. She seems like she hates the workers but the truth is she hates herself for choosing to marry Curley and committing the rest of her life to him and the ranch. Curley's wife may have been cruel and evil but a small part of her heart was sweet.
Curley’s wife acted as a villain, however, she was merely a victim herself. When she was younger, Curley’s wife had the opportunity to go to Hollywood and become a star but when that failed, she married Curley. Ever since then, she has become a cold and bitter woman with a longing for freedom. In the end she finally does find freedom; in her death. "She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. Now her rouged cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly. The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted. " (Steinbeck, 125) Curley's wife was released from her torment through her murder.
Throughout the novel Curley’s wife is expressed as a flirtatious and beautiful woman yet her life is ended when she gave up her tormenting personality and shows her true vulnerability. The walls she built up inside could no longer protect her from her fatality. The question that lingers is, was Curley’s wife an evil manipulator after all or a victim of her circumstances?
https://docs.google.com/a/hightechhigh.org/document/d/1caJTDD3TPtwDBPzm3dIWamoYHBpfZn8DM4DiaEfTj20/edit?usp=sharing