Even Lennie is guilty of crimes and petty cruelty, and no one is above being awful to others. Notice that Lennie's face is bloody and bruised up from the fight with Curley. What is are the functions of diverse organisms? Her main reason is because her husband doesn't allow her to be social. In order to prove that society makes it impossible for certain people to attain The American Dream, Steinbeck objectifies, sexualizes, and kills Curleys wife to show that women cannot reach The American Dream. Curley's wife tells Lennie of her life and her missed opportunity to travel with the show that came through her hometown. George again shows that he is caring when George encourages, In the novella of Mice And Men, although the men on the ranch are threatened by and, Lennie is in many ways helpless and does not know how to care for himself. Curley treats George and Lennie poorly when he first meets them. How Did Critics React to Of Mice and Men? She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. The reactions to her death start a manhunt against Lennie. Do ACE inhibitors cause shortness of breath? In Chapter 5, Curley's lonely wife finds Lennie in one of the stalls, stroking his puppy that has died, probably because he has handled it too much. She is defined by her role: Curley's wife or possession. When looked at more in depth, Curleys Wife can be seen as a victimized character. What does curley's wife tell Lennie about her past? What quotes show that Crooks is lonely in Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck? Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife by shaking and breaking her neck. He made Lennie think that their dreams could come true to make him happy, even though George knew that it wasn't possible. She stays, however, and again asks him what he is covering up. Curleys wife was murdered by Lennie in John Steinbecks story, Of Mice and Men. In summary, these brief comments are the only comments Lennie makes about Curley's Wife. Before he breaks her neck, he puts his hand over her mouth to muffle her screams, and says angrily to her that "You gonna get me in trouble." How long do you keep a Suboxone pill under your tongue? First, George could have let Curley and the rest of the guys handle getting rid of Lennie. Curley objectifies his wife by threatening the other men, monitoring her movements, and dismissing her individual needs. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. she tells him she lost her virginity at the age of 15. In Chapter 5, Lennie is sitting alone until Curley's wife enters. In Chapter 5, Lennie is sitting alone until Curley's wife enters. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. from your Reading List will also remove any She doesn't have a good relationship with her husband. She knows she can get Lennie to talk with her while the other men are playing games outside. She gets angry because she doesn't understand why she cannot talk to anyone besides Curley. Both of them start to talk, and Curley's wife launches into a discussion of her own failed . Curley's wife did not know that day in the barn would be her last. Lennie, however, is still trying to figure out how to get rid of the dead pup so that George won't know. Is Lennie guilty of killing Curleys wife? Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. George goes to the bunkhouse. Lennie tries not to be drawn into a conversation with Curley's Wife, and tells her it's because "George says you'll get us in a mess." I aint mad, an I aint now. Lennie repeats George's instructions that he is not to talk to her. He tells Lennie about the 'little place' that they are going to get with 'a cow' and the 'little piece alfalfa' that is 'for the rabbits'. What happened that made George stop playing tricks on Lennie in Of Mice and Men? Curleys wife is introduced just like any other; however, the emphasis on her feminine features are metaphoric to where women stand in society. Describe Curley's wife. Curley's wife, like the other players in the drama, is simply a character type and the only woman in the plot. Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Character Analysis. She is painted as an emotionless tramp who is looking to get with anyone she can. A stomach wound results in a most painful death. She starts talking to Lennie and then lets him touch her hair because it is soft. Lennie is fascinated by her and cannot take his eyes off her. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Curley shows his vindictive nature in recommending that Lennie be shot in the stomach. The death of Curley's wife is ultimately unimportant to the novel's outcome since it is clear that George and Lennie were never going to achieve the American dream and live on a farm of their own. He will do whatever George tells him to: "Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie's hand". Both of them start to talk, and Curley's wife launches into a discussion of her own failed dreams. Once Curley sees his dead wife, he says he will shoot Lennie in the guts. He tries to make her stop screaming and kills her by accident. What does Curley's wife say she could have done to Crooks? and didnt want to talk to her because george wouldn't let him to She is lonely and 853 words Read More Outline For Of Mice And Men Loneliness Essay Essay Outline Why does Curley's wife offer to let Lennie pet her hair? Of Mice and Men is about the American Dream, Of Mice and Men is about the loss of innocence, George and Lennie's dream of owning a farm, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-does-curleys-wifes-death-symbolise-mice-men-284566. He grabs a hold of her hair and muffles her screams. Georges actions in the end of the book results in him murdering Lennie. Indeed, the gentle giant's final downfall is caused because of the vain wife. George knows that he has to kill Lennie in order to protect him. He can't stop but she wants him to stop and she screams. In Of Mice and Men, innocence is the only quality that can keep a man from becoming old, lonely, and bitter. He then, at her invitation, starts stroking her hair, commenting "that's nice," before he accidentally breaks her neck after she starts screaming when he strokes too hard. The swamper says that Curley keeps a glove full of Vaseline on it to keep his hand "soft" for his new wife. George first shows that hes caring when he and Lennie run away from Weed because Lennie touched a girls dress. Already a member? Lennie has a soft spot for touching soft things, this has caused him to make outrageous action like killing Curleys Wife: "I like to pet nice things with my fingers, sof' things." (Page 90). https://velvetblory.co.uk/post/11076202092/steinbecks-letter. Curly's wife married him because she wanted to escape her mother. She sees the dead puppy and consoles him, saying that no one will care about the loss of a mere mutt. Everyday we are influenced by our goals or dreams. When Lennie realizes that she is dead, he panics and paws the hay to partially cover her. < (1 of 2) Next argument > The Argument The death of Curley's wife sets off a chain reaction for the events that close out "Of Mice and Men". George also made Candy feel better when his dog died. She screamed, and he grabbed her, telling her to be quiet. She understands his fondness of soft things. When Curleys wife is killed, George knows that Curley will likely torture and kill Lennie. The protagonists of the novella, George and Lennie, are heading to work at a ranch after fleeing from their last job.. She consoles him, and starts to talk. The four people responsible for Lennies death are George, Curleys wife, Lennie, and Curley. 2019, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-did-lennie-say-about-curleys-wife-2061. It's her fault Curley enters the bunkhouse when Lennie crushes the small man's hand. Meester states that John Steinbeck isnt being outright. In Of Mice and Men, how and why does Lennie kill Curley's wife? Without Lennie, George cannot envision himself carrying on, and he realises that the dream was never really possible. Lennie begins to feel her hair and likes it very much indeed, which leads him to pet it too hard. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. "tend them rabits" if he talks to her. Curley's wife wanted to be an actress and she's lonely because Curley does not pay attention to her. Lennie is responsible for killing Curley's wife because he did it. He is upset at the puppy for dying. Curley's wife lets him touch her hair because she likes attention, she also likes soft things and she is not afraid of him. Let's be honest I was glad she died. Lennie would not fare well in a prison setting, nor would he be able to defend himself if Curley or the other men attempted to hurt him. The death of Curley's wife comes as a tragic result of Lennie's ignorance of his strength. He was willing to lie about being Lennies cousin to get him a job. Curley's wife is a. Lennie easily lets down his guard. Some people have coarse hair. She said this, not knowing that Lennie likes to pet soft things. Curley, carrying a shotgun, tells Carlson to take Crooks' shotgun, and the men leave, taking George with them to find Lennie. But was she? In the scene in Crooks' room, she reminds Crooks of his place and threatens to have him lynched if he doesn't show her the proper respect as the wife of the boss' son and a white woman. As she tries to get her hair away from Lennie, he becomes scared and holds on more tightly. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. The novella contains many iconic characters that serve as a metaphor to our societal standards. Curley's wife comes into Crooks's room because she's lonely. Lennie has a mental disability, making him dependent upon George to manage day to day life in the difficult environment in which they live and work. Curly's wife has many reasons for being lonely. Curleys wife regrets marrying her husband and strives for attention by flirting with the workers on the ranch. How do you draw a princess easy for kids? First, Curley's wife insists on talking with Lennie even after he warns her that he "ain't supposed to" because "George's scared [he'll] get in trouble." Then Curley's wife invites Lennie to pet her soft hair, but when he gets too rough, she " jerked her head sideways, and Lennie's fingers closed on her hair and hung on People who are murdered should not get the blame for the killer's actions when not due. person she could talk to. George decides to end Lennie's life while describing their dream homestead one last time . Are smallmouth or largemouth harder to fight. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Lonely 878 Words | 4 Pages. After Lennie kills Curley's wife, George shoots him in the back of the head to protect him from what would have been a horrible death at the hands of Curley and the other men. What are the Physical devices used to construct memories? Later in the novel, Lennie is in the barn with a puppy that he has accidentally killed, and Curley's Wife walks in. This is an echo of the story George earlier related to Slim about Lennie stroking a woman's red dress too hard back in Weed and the woman claiming rape. Character Analysis A struggle ensues Lennie panicking and Curley's wife's eyes "wild with terror" until her body flops "like a fish" and then she is still. and any corresponding bookmarks? Carlson and Curley return, and Carlson claims that Lennie has stolen his Luger. Wiki User. Curley's wife enters the barn and asks Lennie what he has. Curley's wife angrily asks him why he is so obsessed with rabbits, and Lennie thoughtfully replies that he likes to pet nice things. [P3] The manhunt ultimately results in the death of Lennie. "You are nuts , but you kinda nice Curlys wife is the loneliest character she is willing to talk to anyone even Lennie. The death of Curley's wife is also symbolically important and represents the futility of dreams. In the book Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, there are some characters who are good, and some who are bad. Candy asserts that he and George can still have their farm, but George realizes that it will never happen. First, Curley's wife insists on talking with Lennie even after he warns her that he ain't supposed to because George's scared [he'll] get in trouble. Then Curley's wife invites Lennie to pet her soft hair, but when he gets too rough, she jerked her head sideways, and Lennie's fingers closed on her hair and hung on . Their lack of wealth, Lennie's lack of intelligence, and their negative past experiences in Weed all create a barrier that is impossible to breakthrough. His death was symbolic because it could have represented the American Dream and the hope for a better tomorrow because it showed how their dreams did not come true and that their hopes were ruined by the end of their life. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Having a wife shows possession of power and a higher rank., She is objectified and embarrassed by her husband, linking to the lack of respect for women in the 1930s. When Lennie is holding the dead puppy, he looks at it and says, You aint so little as mice. On what page did Curley say he wanted to shoot Lennie in the guts in Of Mice and Men? And then about a year later when Lennie accidentally killed Curleys wife, the whole farm was after him. From the beginning of the novella, Steinbeck foreshadows that Lennie will accidentally kill Curleys wife while trying to stroke her hair. She complains about nobody talking to her and then, thinking Lennie is like a child, lets Lennie pet her hair. Why is Curley's wife blamed? Also, she just wanted anyone who would talk to her and listen to her. Immediately after killing Curley's wife, Lennie travels back to his hidden meeting spot by the river and waits for George while Curley leads a lynch mob after him. Her death at Lennie's hands means the end of George and Lennie's companionship and their dream. Latest answer posted December 31, 2020 at 3:22:45 PM. He is worried that he won't be able to tend te rabbits. She is utterly alone on the ranch, and her husband has seen to it that no one will talk to her without fearing a beating. Curley's wife begins to struggle, which sends Lennie into a panic. Following his comment, Curley's wife chatters on, explaining more about her lost chance to become an actress and how she met Curley. I mean not the way she died, but I was glad it happened because like I said before I hated her, because she always caused trouble and never, In the novel Of Mice and Men, it strongly sets a devastating scene towards the end, yet what was done was necessary. Latest answer posted November 30, 2020 at 4:09:18 PM. George says, She yells and we got to hide in an irrigation ditch all day with guys lookin for us, and we gotta sneak out in the dark and get outta the country (13). Lennie, who gets frightened and uses his strength to hold on to objects, is just like a child. When Curleys wife screeches and shouts when Lenny will not let go of her hair, he shakes her violently to make her stop, yet he does, Curleys wife begins to regret living on the ranch with Curley. How does George feel after killing Lennie? Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, takes place during the time of The Great Depression; an era extremely difficult for women. DEROGATORY depiction of Curley's wife by Curley., Characterisation of Curley's wife is based on her appearance . I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble. He did this . George is immediately alarmed by this, and with uncharacteristic vehemence, he instructs Lennie to stay away from her. Latest answer posted August 09, 2017 at 8:49:59 AM. Removing #book# She is the only woman on a ranch full of grown men who work all day, I can see how she could get lonely and seek attention to herself to pass the time. What are two examples showing how Lennie is discriminated against because of his disability in the book Of Mice and Men? On page 90, Curley's wife said When I do my hair sometimes, I jus set an stroke it cause its so soft. To show this she did it, she ran her fingers over the top of her head. out of anger she blamed her mother and hastily rushed into a Eventually, she brings about the end of the dream of Eden, the little farm where George and Lennie can live off the fat of the land. The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted. Lennie is crying because he has killed his puppy. The reactions to her death start a manhunt against Lennie. She knows she can get Lennie to talk with her while the other men are playing games outside. Curley's wife says he can get another one. Accessed 4 Mar. Curley's wife is depicted as a manipulator and a temptress throughout Of Mice and Men. Curley's wife is a critical character in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Lennie, who has been warned to have nothing to do with her, tries to resist being drawn into conversation, but she prevails, telling him that the other men are too busy with their horseshoe tournament to care whether he talks to her or not. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Before he knows it, he has broken her neck. Immediately he remembers to hide in the brush until George comes. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. He tells George that she is pretty, and he tells her that he can't talk to her because she'll get him "in a mess," which he tells her again just before he breaks her neck. Steinbeck's initial portrayal of Curley's wife shows her to be a mean and seductive temptress. One of the handfuls of characters with impairment in this book is Curley's Wife. He keeps repeating "she's purty." Well, I can go away, said Lennie. from your Reading List will also remove any Is it right to blame anyone for their own death on themselves when they were murdered for doing nothing wrong? He does, but his big, clumsy fingers start to mess it up, and she angrily tells him to let go. Before he knows it, he has broken her neck. At the end, when Lennie killed Curleys wife, Curley wanted Lennie dead, he didnt care if someone like George will be hurt by killing his own friend, he just wanted him dead. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Essential Quotes by Character: Lennie Small. In the first section, George scolds Lennie for petting mice until they die. Steinbeck reiterates this impression by portraying her innocence in death: Curley's wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. He accidentally broke her neck while trying to calm her down. The person most responsible for Lennies death is George. Someone once said, A villain is just a victim whose story hasnt been told. The character known as Curleys Wife in Of Mice and Men is portrayed in John Steinbecks writing as an antagonist. When she continues to struggle, Lennie grows angry. Why was the decision Roe v. Wade important for feminists? Who is Katy mixon body double eastbound and down season 1 finale? When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin. Curley's wife says he can get another one. Curley's wife comes by the bunkhouse and does a bit of flirting with George, Lennie, and any other males within viewing range. What did Curleys wife tell Lennie? It would be easier to carry a dead puppy than a dead woman to hide. Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? She brings evil into mens' lives by tempting them in a way they cannot resist. Her "best laid plans" involved a stint in the movies with all the benefits, money, and pleasure that would provide. She starts to wish that she would have lived somewhere else and became an actress. Lennies death paralleled Candys dogs death because they were both considered burdens. This adds extreme tension to the story. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Being the only woman on the farm and her past, resulted in her being depressed and lonely. she says Well, a show come through, and I met one of the actors. The death of Curley's wife comes as a tragic result of Lennie's ignorance of his strength. Curley's wife basically confided the future she would have liked George helps him by giving him short commands and telling him to repeat things to himself to remember things. When George claims that they might find Lennie first and bring him in and lock him up, Slim explains that Curley will want to kill him, and even if he doesn't, how would Lennie like being locked up and strapped down like an animal in a cage? Why did curley's wife rush to marry curley? In the barn scene, however, Steinbeck softens the reader's reaction to Curley's wife by exploring her dreams. Her dreams make her more human and vulnerable. Had Curley found him, he would have exacted his revenge for both breaking his hand earlier in the novel, and for murdering his wife, he says "I'm gonna get him. George and Candy call her by other names such as "jailbait" or "tart." George, realizing Lennie's fascination, warns him to stay away from her. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. The text states, "'That big son-of-a-bitch done it. She is usually described as Curley's possession and is frequently objectified by the ranch hands. Lennie is responsible for killing Curleys wife because he did it. George sacrifices the chance to have a better and more fulfilled life to stay with Lennie. Lennie experiences two visions in this last scene. George was also influenced by his dream of protecting Lennie. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Why did Curleys wife let Lennie pet her hair? As she tries to get her hair away from Lennie, he becomes scared and holds on more tightly. Curley's wife regrets marrying her husband and strives for attention by flirting with the workers on the ranch. Everything that George did or tried to do was always influenced by Lennies wellbeing. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? Also, she just wanted anyone who would talk to her and listen to her. She believes that there is both a lack of reason to truly hate this woman, and the undeniable urge to do so. I myself find Curley 's wife to be a bit misunderstood. What is are the functions of diverse organisms? What are the 4 major sources of law in Zimbabwe. In fact, Curley's wife leads to all of the trouble Lennie has on the ranch. She is clearly starved for conversation and launches into a reprise of her discontented story of what might have been. He was scared that George would get mad at him and not let him tend the rabbits. She is, after all, the wife of the boss's very jealous son. Curley's wife is lonely as we know, and we know that she is childish she says "sometimes when I brush my hair I like to stroke it for a little while". Curley's wife tells Lennie that she only married Curley because she didn't want to stay in a place where she couldn't get anywhere, and she doesn't even like Curley, and she chose to confide in Lennie because she thinks he's not one to tell for fear that it he does he will get in trouble with George. He grabs a hold of her hair and muffles her screams. Curley's wife is always flirting with the ranch hands, because she wants attention that she does not get from Curley. He panicked and shook her and when he stopped, she was dead. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. After she became mad about her hair being messed up, she began to yell and Lennie thought she was going to get him in trouble. 2 Pages. George and Lennie have a dream: to scrounge enough money together to someday buy their own little house and a plot of land to farm. George shot him in the temple of his head for a quick and painless death. In Chapter Five, Curley's wife enters the barn in a dress decorated with red ostrich feathers. Why does Curley's wife always seek out the ranch hands? He does not take responsibility for being too rough with the puppy and begins to worry about Georges reaction. In the depression stricken 1930's, George Milton and Lennie Smalls are saving money until they can buy their dream homestead. What are the 4 major sources of law in Zimbabwe. In the first chapter of Of Mice and Men, what does George say to Lennie about how his life could be better without him? They treat her wrong because in this novella they only calls her Curleys wife they never called her by her name so no one will ever know what it was. After finding Curley's wife dead, Curley had a horrible idea of making Lennie suffer. When George questions Candy for the reason he acts that way, Candy . Curley's wife regrets the path her life has taken, and laments having missed her chance to move to Hollywood and become a movie star. Summary and Analysis Her and Lennie as he acts like a child and likes to feel soft things. She told Lennie that she didn't like Curley and that she had had other opportunities to go places and make something of herself, but she couldn't take advantage of them, so she married Curley as the next most likely way to get out of her hometown. What happened to lennies puppy? George then warns Lennie to keep away from her. Her death also is a reminder of the incredible strength Lennie held and how incapable he was at managing it. Now George has no dream, and he will end up working like the other ranch hands and spending his money in a poolroom or "some lousy cat house.". Explain what happened between Lennie and Curley's wife? However, right before and after her death, we see a softer woman who was a dreamer, and still retained her innocence. Why did George feel like he had to kill Lennie? Also I believe that Curley's wife obviously knows that Lennie broke Curley's hand and therefore that shows that Lennie is shown as powerful and I think that Curley's wife likes a powerful man and finds that attractive hence the reason why she chose Curley to marry in the first place as he's quite powerful as we know. A bit hurt and confused, Lennie points out that George was looking at her too. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Curley's Wife. What does Curleys wife tell Lennie and why? Lennie is certainly strong; in the very opening of the book he is described as a bear and is constantly referred to in animal terms. He enjoys "pettin'" soft things, puppies, rabbits and mice but he is so strong that he kills them with his fingers as he did in chapter one whilst George and Lennie were walking along. And it's her who. Lennie becomes so angry that he hurls the dead puppy across the barn. Lennie responds absently with concern about his dream farm and the rabbits he will have. He was her friend because Curley never spend time with her When Lennie started touching her hair, she got upset and started screaming. Hearing the horseshoe game outside, he understands that someone will come in sooner or later and discover the bad thing he has done. More books than SparkNotes. The movie made you look at her in a different light. She also states that the reason for her current life is that Lennie easily lets down his guard. Curley was also rude towards everyone and, he even attacked people who he thinks were with her wife. Lennie repeats George's instructions that he is not to talk to her. He doesn't mean to do it; as always with Lennie, he doesn't . fella". George and Candy call her by other names such as "jailbait" or "tart." She wears too much makeup and dresses like a "whore" with red fingernails and red shoes with ostrich feathers. Many of the male characters on the ranch feel threatened by her, calling her jailbait because she is flirtatious. She wasnt aware that being friendly and kind would take a turn for the worse. Thats a thing I want ya to know (Steinbeck 106). I chose Curley for no empathy because, Curley didnt care about anyone except for his wife, and I think that Curley didnt even care about her wife, it was just lust. If you're interested in learning more about Curley's wife, I've provided a link to a copy of a letter that Steinbeck wrote to an actress who was playing Curley's wife in a stage adaptation of the story. Lennie's puppy died because he handled it too roughly; he killed it. He doesn't mean to do it; as always with Lennie, he doesn't . In the book Of Mice and Men, the character of Curley's wife best captures the isolation felt by so many characters because she is the only woman on the ranch and her husband has forbidden everyone from talking to her, she really is the loneliest person on the ranch. In the movie version she was a damsel in distress. Of mice and men book. But in the movie she was in a very different situation. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. This one dream has influenced George by so much that it began to take most of his freedom, and in the process, becoming an aspect of his life. She tries talking to Lennie, Crooks, and Candy, but they want her to leave. To be honest I hate her. What did curley's wife confide in Lennie?